Huntington’s Esports Gaming Club Recruiting Members

Huntington High School’s Esports Gaming Club is up and running and in the preliminary stages of recruiting members. Esports is the popular name given to electronic sports, which involve competitive video game competitions. Organized high school and college teams are becoming increasingly common across the country.

Huntington’s Esports Gaming Club is led by students James Masler (president), Estyven Arreaga Merida (vice president), Michael Mendikyan (secretary), DeAndre Simmons (treasurer) and Robert McCallion (historian). Teachers Debora Balducci and Michael Corcoran serve as the faculty advisors.

“We look forward to starting our winter season next month,” Ms. Balducci said. “The games we will be playing are Overwatch 2, Valorant, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Hearthstone, Madden NFL, College Football 25, GeoGuesser, Fortnite and NBA 2k.”

The club has rapidly gained respect among Huntington’s students and opposing teams near and far. “Last season was a great success as we qualified for the Electronic Gaming Federation's National Championship,” Ms. Balducci said. “We look forward to another successful season this winter.”

Esports should not be confused with video games, “because it’s much more than that,” according to the National Federation of High Schools. “What sets it apart is the level of organized competitive gameplay between teams and its own strict set of rules and guidelines. Esports is about teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and leadership in all the same ways that traditional sports are and then some.”

The NFHS pointed to a recent survey that found 72 percent of American teens regularly play video game. “Currently, there are nearly 200 colleges and universities offering esports scholarships,” according to NFHS. “Establishing esports in high school enables students to do what they love and provides them with additional opportunities to earn scholastic recognition.”

The Huntington High School club meets every Wednesday after school in Room 214. Those who are interested can still sign up at the next meeting.