E-Sports takes over Meridian High School

• 

  New to Meridian High School this year, students have the opportunity to compete with peers from across the country in video games. Photo by Ashley Barner

  New to Meridian High School this year, students have the opportunity to compete with peers from across the country in video games. Photo by Ashley Barner

New to Meridian High School this school year is the E-Sports League where students team up with classmates to compete with other high school students across the country in video games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, League of Legends, Minecraft or chess.

Twenty-four students have joined the team, meeting once a week during Jacket Period, or study hall, as well as after school to practice. Though Meridian ISD has a large television and fast internet, students provide their own game consoles or computers and games.

The team is a diverse mix of students all with a common interest – gaming.

Students said playing video games helped develop their focus and was a great way to expand and explore their interests. Plus, it feels really good when you smoke the other team!

But E-Sports is not just about playing video games. Students learn to communicate and work together as a team and learn fast-paced problem-solving techniques.

Students can use simulators to learn to pilot drones, building skills to help them after high school. The league is also a gateway into the Robotics program where students build and program robots using code similar to some video game code. Students have also shown interest in a programming class to learn to create games.

The program is poised to grow, with students enthusiastic about coming to school. A UIL sanctioned event, students must pass their classes to be eligible to play.