OCSA E-Sports Levels Up

Edward Chen

Swoosh. You step outside of the Annex building and into the incandescence of the sun. A flash of movement catches your eye. Rubber meets gravel as students play on the basketball court, their hands gripping the asphalt-stained rubber of the basketball. Hollers fill the air as the ball makes it into the net, seamlessly curving through the woven strings of the net fabric. You instinctively duck your head as the ball flies towards you, escaping the confines of the white markings plastered over the blacktop. Amidst the sea of students enjoying their lunches near the shade of the blue containers, this basketball game juts out. Yet, this isn’t the only place in this school where sports reign supreme. Your feet quicken their pace as you head towards DMS 101, the bastion for passion and the nucleus of sports. Electronic sports.

Since its founding during the pandemic, the OCSA Esports Club has grown to over 100 members. Under the leadership of Willie Yao (CAH ‘24), the club has continued to expand its reach, growing to include an online Discord group, monthly tournaments and an ever-expanding community of passionate gamers. Joseph Ho (IM-SO ‘24), the co-vice President of the club, stated that the best part of the club is the “sense of community and dedication members have to the games they play.” Connor Taing (IM-J ‘23), the tournament and team manager, organizes and plans events for members to compete in, including Minecraft events, Valorant tournaments, and Super Smash Bros tournaments. During club meetings, members “are able to enjoy monthly Kahoot questionnaires and giveaways,”  said Tane Kim (IM-SO ‘24). This is more than just a school club. It’s a lively hub of ambitious pre-professional gamers.

The most notable achievements of this club are the partnerships that have been cultivated. Since its inception, this club has received over $30,000 in funding for gaming equipment and giveaways from companies like HyperX and Twitch. As an avid leader, Yao has enjoyed being invited to panels and discussions about esports, where he flies out-of-state to network and collaborate with the international esports community, and through these events, Yao has most recently secured a $10,000 sponsorship for his club from Glorious Gaming, an esports gaming gear company. A remarkable achievement, the $10,000 will be directed towards building a new esports lab, where the club and OCSA conservatories can host tournaments, play games, and train.

Currently, the esports team is building a Valorant roster to compete under the OCSA name as part of the North America Scholastic Esports Federation, which will allow the club to represent OCSA in esports competitions for the first time. With its trailblazing expansion and excellence, this club provides leadership roles for passionate student gamers, designers, and developers. If you’re interested, give their website and Instagram a look! You might find their electrifying esports and collective camaraderie a refreshing reprieve from the stresses of school and the tedium of traditional sports.

Website: ocsaesports.club

Instagram: @ocsa_esports