After winning their fifth state title in three years earlier this spring, East Helena’s high school esports team has set its sights on the ultimate final boss: the first-ever U.S. esports national championship.
East Helena High is one of three Montana schools invited to compete in the inaugural National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors’ high school tournament, taking place June 17 in St. Louis alongside the association’s annual convention.
Teams from up to 20 states are gearing up for the national showdown, and East Helena will face off against schools with more established esports programs from states like Washington and California. While some of these schools compete as part of official athletic associations with league play and school funding, East Helena has earned its spot the hard way.
A top contender in Montana, on the national stage the Vigilantes enter as the upstart and the underdog. Because this is the first year the national tournament will take place, the team had not expected to compete in St. Louis until the call on Apr. 7, the day after winning state.
“The call came out of nowhere,” said esports coach Mason Skains, who also works in maintenance and has been playing video games since grade school. “It’s a big step for our program.”
The thrill of the invitation, however, soon gave way to uncertainty: would the team be able to scrape together the $3,000 needed to turn this dream into a reality? A club rather than a sanctioned sport, esports teams across Montana need to raise their own funds.
Esports General Manager Marne Bender said the invitation to nationals came right after the team had depleted its budget at the state tournament. “So we were like, yay!” Bender said excitedly, then lowered her tone. “And then we were like…oh.”
Undeterred, the team launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the cost of flights, lodgings, and expenses for five student athletes and a coach. By Thursday afternoon, the campaign had sped past its goal and hit $3600. “It’s awesome,” said sophomore esports athlete Kayleigh Peterson. “I’ve never been on a plane before.”
The tournament is also a college opportunity. LeagueOS, a company that runs most U.S. college esports leagues, is sponsoring the national tournament. The event will include a “recruiting combine,” where high schoolers get the chance to play in front of college esports coaches.
Many universities with esports teams, including Boise State, University of Utah, Ohio State, and Valparaiso, offer scholarships and full-rides to top esports athletes. As of early 2025, more than 250 U.S. colleges and universities have varsity esports programs, and around 200 of them offer scholarships, including the University of Montana.
Initially nervous to join due to the stigma around video games, Peterson described joining the esports team as “probably” the best decision she’s ever made. Now, her teammates are some of her closest friends.
Critics knock esports as requiring little physical activity, and thus not an actual sport, but participants argue that it’s extremely mentally demanding. “The reality is so far from the stereotype it’s not even funny,” said Skains, adding that the sport requires strong collaboration and communication, technical skill, and advanced problem solving.
He also said it’s a good option for students who might not find success in physical sports. “Don’t knock it until you try it,” he said.
The team trains on multiple video games, but its Valorant team is advancing to nationals. Valorant is a teen-rated, first-person tactical shooter game in which two teams of five go head-to-head, alternating between offense and defense. The attacking team tries to plant the “spike,” an explosive device, while the defenders work to defuse the spike once it’s planted.
In addition to Peterson, East Helena students Ayden Dess, Myah Erickson, Joe Senecal, and Ben Paige play on the Valorant squad. Sophomore esports athlete Senecal attributed the team’s success to friendships built through playing together. His coach took a similar view.
“This is way bigger than sitting in front of a screen playing a video game,” said Skains. “This is a team of individuals trying to accomplish something great.”
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