By Connor Donnelly
Freshman Riley Klemptner enjoys the life skills he can learn from Esports. He says, “Each game can teach you different lessons like how to work in groups and communicate as a team when you’re playing team-based games. It teaches you to never give up and to keep on trying to become better. I like team meets because you have to cooperate with teammates, and it teaches us how to work together which will be useful in the future.” He says that the environment is welcoming, and he enjoys Esports because he gets to relieve stress and hang out with friends.
The Rocket League and the Super Smash Brothers Esports teams have had a great season so far, and both teams qualified for playoffs. The Rocket League team is 9-2 and has their first playoff game on November 3rd. Team members include juniors Manuel Fontes and Adrian Gomez, and sophomores Connor Donnelly, Brandon Trausch, and Jeremy Sharp. The Rocket League team just needs to win two playoff games to advance to the state tournament. The Super Smash Team members won all of their first-round playoff games, and they will compete in playoffs in November as well. Super Smash Brothers is a one-versus-one competition. Members competing will be senior Jacob Borgman, Klemptner, and 8th grader Xander Journey. Mr. Knehans said, “It’s been a successful regular season and our records have allowed us to have great placing heading into playoffs, but at this point, it is win or go home.”