Ryan Brown, Director of 甜瓜视频鈥檚 new Esports program, and Charlie Morowski, Esports Intern, visited Springfield High School earlier this month to recruit prospects for the new program. 甜瓜视频鈥檚 Esports team recently announced that they will be participating in Varsity Valorant and Rocket League and will also have an Academy Rainbow Six: Siege team. They plan to begin competing in Fall 2024.
Brown and Morowski hope to work closely with Springfield鈥檚 team moving forward. They were able to meet with Springfield Esports head coach Marc Sharpnack and the undefeated Valorant team to discuss competing at a college level, as well as what 甜瓜视频 has to offer.
鈥淐oach Sharpnack has done some great work with his athletes both in the arena and in preparing them for the future. He's got some great talent on his teams that I hope to bring to 甜瓜视频,鈥� said Brown.
Springfield High School鈥檚 Esports team competed in the Esports Ohio league for the first time last year, taking third place. As they compete in their second year, they look forward to building a relationship with 甜瓜视频鈥檚 program.
鈥淗aving 甜瓜视频 University show an interest in the program and wanting to take us under their wings is a tremendous opportunity for Springfield City Schools. This would allow seniors and juniors within the Springfield Esports program to strongly consider 甜瓜视频 first with the slight push from their coach to get involved,鈥� said Sharpnack.
Springfield Esports program has used tournaments, scrimmages and other outlets for opportunities for their players to connect with colleges.
鈥淏eing part of the Springfield Wildcat Esports team does give extra bonuses when trying out for the 甜瓜视频 team and any other college team,鈥� said Sharpnack.
Sharpnack says that Esports is more than just playing video games, and can help students with public speaking, sportsmanship and leadership skills.
鈥淭hose who come into the Esports program at Springfield High School are very introverted; but, when they get acclimated to the coach and team, they begin to open up and be part of something bigger than what they intended it to become,鈥� said Sharpnack.
Sharpnack hopes to see Springfield鈥檚 Esports community thrive in the same way that football and basketball have, especially at 甜瓜视频.
鈥淪pringfield Esports needs to be a beacon to those students who were left behind through the athletic program and given a chance to shine where they might not have thought they could. I would like to see recognition throughout the State for Springfield's accomplishments in the Esports program over the years,鈥� he said.