‘Sense of belonging’: CK’s students succeed in Esports, and find an extracurricular home

SILVERDALE — During normal school hours, teacher Erik Randall’s second-floor classroom at Central Kitsap High School is dedicated to the study of civics and economics.

Then the final bell of the day rings at 2:35 p.m., and it’s game on for members of the Cougars’ Esports team.

The first-year club is in the process of preparing for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association state playoffs, which begin May 3. Central Kitsap’s squad of 25-30 students, boys and girls, qualified for the season-ending tournament in all three games: Rocket League, League of Legends, and Super Smash Brothers.

Randall, who tag-teams with teacher Danny Sullivan to form the club’s coaching staff, chuckled when saying he often has trouble leaving school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. That’s when the club gathers for 90-minute practices and matches.

“Every day, I have to actively kick kids out of my room,” Randall said. “Kids want to stay. It’s really good to have people that want to be here.”

Esports arrives on the high school scene

When did high school students playing video games as an organized club become a thing?

The National Federation of State High School Associations first recognized Esports as an official sport in 2018. Since then, more than 8,600 high schools have created Esports teams.

In 2020, the WIAA’s executive board approved a measure to allow member schools to begin offering Esports as a new activity, but not an official sport. Roughly 60 high schools in Washington currently offer Esports.

In addition to Central Kitsap, other West Sound schools with official WIAA teams this school year include Bremerton, Kingston and Olympic. The season began in January and concludes in mid-May with the state tournament.

As a club, Central Kitsap’s Esports team receives no funding from the athletic program. The school district did contribute money for some equipment, which includes laptops, a flat-screen TV, two Nintendo Switches, and team shirts in CK’s traditional orange and black. Randall and Sullivan receive a small coaching stipend.

Central Kitsap senior co-captain Lilyahna North said the club is slowly starting to earn respect around the school. Heading into the state playoffs, the Cougars are seeded No. 1 in League of Legends, No. 3 in Rocket League and No. 6 in Super Smash Brothers. The club’s accomplishments were highlighted at a recent school pep assembly along with other spring sports teams.

North admitted some people are still confused about what Esports actually means.

“Why does it have sports in the name? There’s nothing physical about it,” North said, describing a sentiment she’s heard.

“There is still a pretty big bias against Esports being a real thing by some people,” Randall added. “I played football and baseball growing up. I don’t really even play video games. But if anyone were to tell me that this is less valid than football … I would tell them they are wrong.”

A place they can call their own

Randall’s room during practice doesn’t feel like a collection of high school students comfortable in a stadium, gymnasium or even theater. In fact, some team members haven’t been involved in any extracurricular activities at the school until Esports came online, Sullivan said. Now, there’s a “sense of belonging” that Sullivan says is undeniable.

“Some have said, ‘Being a part of this group is the only good thing that’s happened to me in high school’ or ‘I’ve never felt like I had a friend until this came together,'” Sullivan said. “That is the cool part. It’s the camaraderie, the social aspect of this that brings them together. We treat it like a normal sport. We got them uniforms this year. We have team rules and team meetings, goal sheets that we fill out. It’s overall a very positive, welcoming, inclusive vibe here.”

“It’s a safe place,” senior Ryland Long commented. “Everyone plays games.”

These students are competitive, too. Heading into the state playoffs, team members are doing their homework on upcoming opponents and discussing strategy. They have spreadsheets and scouting reports with data that they’ll utilize in matchups.

Senior co-captain Dee Denton, one of the team’s top League of Legends players, said Central Kitsap doesn’t rely on individual video game talent to succeed.

“Most of the teams are mechanically better than us,” Denton said, “but it comes down to how we work together.”

Don’t be surprised if Central Kitsap ends up earning a state title or two — or three.

“I’m calling a shot,” Denton said. “If we have everybody there, I don’t think we lose a game.”

Added senior Kaden Mahnke, one of the team’s best Rocket League players: “If we don’t make it top three, I’m throwing a fit.”

Call it whatever you want: sport, club, activity. When it comes to Esports, Central Kitsap has found a winner.

“Our hope is that by having success, recruiting like crazy, making these kids a part of the school community,” Sullivan said, “we can move this into something where it grows.”

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Central Kitsap High School Esports team competing in WIAA playoffs