Waukesha South Esports Team Takes State Title

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Just over a year ago, there was no Waukesha South High School Esports team. This spring, the newly formed team won their first Wisconsin High School Esports Association (WIHSEA) Division 1 state title.

So what is Esports? And why is it suddenly so popular? Esports is a community that gathers and competes around video games. Many students who do not participate in traditional sports or activities for various reasons may find a welcoming community in the world of Esports. It is composed of different games, each with different requirements to play. Like other activities, it allows students to gather that have an interest in playing video games competitively. Because it can be team based, it can also build students’ communication skills with the teammates and opponents.

As Esports has grown significantly in popularity, access to the technology needed to compete can sometimes be a hurdle for those wanting to participate. That’s when Andrew Yep, Waukesha South math teacher and Esports coach applied for a WEF grant for support.  The grant supported the purchase of several gaming consoles for the team to use, as well as league fees for their first year. “I was approached by a student to coach the team. He had worked out most of the logistics and the timing was right. We applied for the WEF grant, and started recruiting students,” said Yep. There are currently over 100 schools participating in the WIHSEA throughout the state.

Video games have been a near constant presence in our lives for decades, and Esports is another avenue for students to discover more about themselves and find peers with similar interests. Yep hopes to expand into the fall and winters seasons in the WIHSEA, and build a team that will last for many years to come.

"Andrew's WEF grant is an excellent example of a unique way to enhance the educational experience and provide another extracurricular option for high school students,” said Janaka Subotnik, WEF board member and grants committee chair. “They have the opportunity to further develop their technology, collaboration and decision making skills as part of this team environment. I'm glad that WEF played a role in their establishment and we're looking forward to seeing the team's growth!"

Congrats to the Waukesha South Blackshirts Esports team for their victory!

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