Esports

E is for everyone

E-sports club opens up about club goals

Mia Brant brantmia000@hsestudents.com

As of 2020, only 18% of newly released video games featured female protagonsits, according to statista.com

Infographic by Mia Brant.

The esports club consists of 15 boys and two girls, which has prompted the club's newfound goal of gender diversity. e clubs' new sponsor, English teacher Samuel Vorhees, stands behind this goal. “We had a few [girls] in attendance at the beginning of the year and I was excited about them getting involved just because it's great to have diversity in general,” Vorhees said. An esport is a multiplayer video game played competitively by spectators. According to femme gaming, an organization that strives to empower female gamers, female esports players only make up 8% of players in college esports arenas. “I think it's important that students have avenues to get involved and to know that those avenues exist,” Vorhees said. “It is unfortunate that there are girls out there who do game and want to get involved and don't know about those avenues.” Club member Luke Trahin thinks that the lack of gender diversity is due to the negative attitude that is received by girls who game. “A lot of guys grew up with video games but with girls, it was more frowned upon,” said Trahin. Club president Joseph Michalowicz thinks that it is essential for girls to have representation in gaming as well. While women-only esports tournaments do exist, they do not compare to regular maledominated tournaments in terms of publicity and prize money, according to British Esports. “I think gender diversity is important in video games because everyone should feel included and accepted,” said Michalowicz. Michalowicz started the club in the spring of 2021 with the goal of being in a leadership position. e club was originally shut down because of Covid in 2020, before his freshman year. “I decided to recreate the club because I had to lead something of some sort for membership in NHS (National Honors Society),” said Michalowicz. “My friends were really talented in games associated with esports, so I thought it would be a fun thing to do with friends.” e club members are facing new challenges while trying to achieve their goals for this year. Fundraising has been a big part of club meetings, according to Trahin. “Right now we're in a funding stage,” said Trahin. “Our ideal goal is to get computers, but right now we're not near there.” Vorhees said the team is also trying to raise money for jerseys that they can wear to tournaments. e club members are raising money this month by serving concessions at Colts games. “We would love to nd other fundraising opportunities but just haven’t found any that have really suited us just yet,” said Vorhees. “Our hope is to eventually have enough money saved to start purchasing gaming systems for the club that our team members can start using for their tournaments.”