Unified through gaming: E-Sports and Unified E-Sports Clubs

Lyn Brush & Caitlin Vengazo Entertainment Writer & Editor

As online gaming has become increasingly popular in our world, electronic sports, or E-Sports, have enabled students to foster a community based on their shared interest. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the E-Sports and Unified E-Sports Clubs.

“E-Sports Club meets every other Wednesday and normally we just play video games,” E-Sports Club sponsor Mr. Victor Fuentes said. “We play ‘Smash Bros,’ ‘Overwatch,’ ‘Valorant,’ ‘Rocket League,’ and more.”

Beyond improving their gaming ability, playing E-Sports can teach many important life skills.

“The main areas I have seen members grow are communication, hand-eye coordination, teamwork/ leadership skills, and problemsolving,” Mr. Fuentes said. “I have seen many members come out of their shells and be comfortable with their peers since I took over the club.”

As a Unified Champion School, Maine South also has a Unified E-Sports Club that is inclusive to students with differing abilities.

“[Unified E-Sports Club] works exactly the same as our Maine South E-Sports Club,” Unified E-Sports Club sponsor Ms. Michelle Dwyer said. “We compete against other unified pairs of individuals with and without disabilities; there’s four per team— two individuals with disabilities and two without.”

The only major difference between E-Sports Club and Unified E-Sports

Club is where their competitors are from. The E-Sports Club competes against schools in Illinois as part of the Illinois High School E-Sports Association (IHSEA).

“ There are over 100 schools in the IHSEA League,” Mr. Fuentes said. “We have played Lane Tech, Romeoville, Springfield, and more.”

Since Unified E-Sports Club is sponsored by Special Olympics, they face competitors from many different states.

“We compete every Wednesday against other schools throughout the Midwest and East,” Ms. Dwyer said. “We played ‘Rocket League’ last year and ‘Mario Kart’ this year.”

For members of both clubs, E-Sports is all about having fun.

“I’m gonna be honest—I’m loving it,” junior unified peer Nick Milkowski said. “It’s a great time. I’ve never really played ‘Mario Kart’ except for on Wii, but I started practicing, and now I’m getting better.”

E-Sports isn’t exclusive to the most skilled gamers; it’s about more than just winning a video game.

“I’m not necessarily the best…I’ve only won a few games, but I’m pretty decent,” sophomore member of both clubs Tyler Galazka said. “[E-Sports club] has allowed me to make new friends and just have fun playing a video game every day.”

As the E-Sports Club sponsor, Mr. Fuentes has seen firsthand the impact of E-Sports on students’ friendships.

“I have seen multiple friend groups come in to play games casually for a good time after school and others who want to improve together for the competitive games,” Mr. Fuentes said. “The club meetings truly are a safe space for all members to come to and watch video games, talk about video games, show off their builds, and just hang out.”

In addition to the welcoming environment, the free-form nature of E-Sports is a major appeal to some members.

“You can play whatever you want… there’s no design to it,” sophomore E-Sports Club member Alex Nowlin said. “I play horror games. My favorite is ‘Resident Evil 4.’”

E-Sports allows for a variety of games to be played, which contributes to the club’s inclusive nature.

“My favorite game to play is ‘WWE,’” sophomore Unified E-Sports Club member Enzo Federico said.

Recently, the Unified E-Sports Club migrated to CTE room C1 in order to utilize the new TVs there.

“We got a lot of TVs,” Federico said. “[We used to practice in] Ms. Dwyer’s room, [and it had] two TVs. This is so much better.”

TVs weren’t the only new equipment the Unified E-Sports Club received this year.

“Special Olympics granted us a Nintendo Switch and an Xbox,” Ms. Dwyer said. “They will be loaning us something soon to continue to grow our program.”

Both the E-Sports Club and Unified E-Sports Club have provided the opportunity for students to bond through the competitive medium of online gaming.

“E-Sports is the best!” Federico said.