Elkhart High School Esports Team Undefeated
ELKHART — Parents, you may be tired of your kids wanting to play videos games all the time, but there’s a new way for your kids to put the skills to good use! Some local students are now competing on an esports team.
The team at Elkhart Central is just like any other team at the school. The gamers go to competitions, have practices, and even have a coach.
So far they’re undefeated this season.
Garrett Mckibbin is a senior at Elkhart Central. He’s a student athlete on Elkhart Central’s esports — or competitive video gaming — team.
“My mom always told me to be involved in school activities. I was like, nothing really interests me, and they came up with this program and I just fit.”
The team is made up of 25 Elkhart Central and Memorial students.
They meet three times a week for 2 hours practicing their competition games, like Fortnite and Rocket League.
The team is coached by Steve Robinson, who is also a football coach at Central.
Robsinson got the idea from his college, who had a team, so he decided to bring it to central.
“A bunch of research, a bunch of talking to other universities like Robert Morris and Trine,” he said.
Funding for the computers and games came from an anonymous donor.
Robinson says the esports program is a big step for Elkhart high schools.
“We’re not looking at technology as much as we should be. I think this is something that’s going to put us at the forefront of it. We won’t be behind Michigan and Illinois.”
Robinson says although these gamers are not your typical athletes, he’s happy they have found a common connection.
“It’s a good thing for them because they get those social skills that they don’t get in the classroom.”
Some of the competitions the team participates in is just from their computers, which saves them money.
Their season just started last week and it lasts for 6 more weeks.
Source: WSBT