Connect with us

E-Sports

East Helena High esports aims for national glory | East Helena

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’ […]

Published

on


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.”



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

E-Sports

Husker football hall of famer teaching life lessons through esports

OMAHA (KMTV) — From the gridiron to gaming. Former Husker Ahman Green has an extensive resume on the football field, and now he’s fulfilling his love of competition in a different way: with esports. Video shows Ahman Green helping with and playing video games at an esports camp at Quest Forward High School. Green has […]

Published

on


OMAHA (KMTV) — From the gridiron to gaming.

Former Husker Ahman Green has an extensive resume on the football field, and now he’s fulfilling his love of competition in a different way: with esports.

  • Video shows Ahman Green helping with and playing video games at an esports camp at Quest Forward High School.
  • Green has been playing video games since he was five years old.
  • He hopes help young esports players learn valuable lessons applicable in esports and eventually the workforce, such as team work, accountability, respect and more.

WATCH KELSEY’S STORY:

Gridiron to gaming: Husker football hall of famer teaching life lessons through esports

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Not only is Ahman Green a Nebraska football hall of famer, he’s also a gamer.

“It was something that started then when I was five and then carried on through high school, back here to Nebraska,” he said. “It was the competitiveness of some of the games, trying to play against somebody to try to beat you. You either win or you lose, you gotta figure it out.”

In addition to coaching athletes in traditional sports, he’s also coaching esports.

“The only really physical thing we have is between your controller or your mouse and keyboard and putting on your headsets,” Green said.

Despite the differences, Green finds skills transfer over from the playing surface to not only video games…

“Goal setting, rules, team rules, team work, respect, accountability, all that ties in the same,” he said.

But also to life.

“You learn how to be somebody that has confidence in themselves, learning how to work with other people and how to talk to other people,” Green said. “Because if they’re not talking a certain way, some people might not listen.”

“Sometimes you need to work by yourself, but other times it’s easier and much more efficient to work as a team,” Maximus Johnson, an incoming eighth grader who attended esports camp at Quest Forward High School, said. “And learning teamwork is a vital component in completing or fulfilling a goal.”

“Concentration and like focus(ing) on stuff,” rising seventh grader and esports player Noah Schaffner said. “It doesn’t matter if you do it in Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Minecraft. If you lose your train of thought when you’re doing something important, you probably don’t get it back.”

And no matter if it’s scoring a touchdown or winning a Smash Bros tournament, Green wants kids to keep their competitiveness and succeed in the future.

“Esports gets you out of that comfort zone,” Green said. “And so that’s what I’m gonna do. I try to get them out of that comfort zone. And if they learn one more thing than they did the day before, then that’s a win.”





Link

Continue Reading

E-Sports

Revival Gets Announce in Xbox Showcase With First Teaser

ATLUS stated regarding Persona 4: Revival at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025. The game is returning, but differently, not a remake per se. This one brings a new appearance and modifications from the original. No release date announced as of yet, but more information is to come. The confirmed platforms are Xbox […]

Published

on


ATLUS stated regarding Persona 4: Revival at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025. The game is returning, but differently, not a remake per se. This one brings a new appearance and modifications from the original. No release date announced as of yet, but more information is to come.

The confirmed platforms are Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5, and Steam. It is apparent that ATLUS is attempting to introduce this game to more types of players, including old and new ones.

Inaba’s Mystery Comes Again with Changed Feeling

The action occurs in a small town called Inaba. Things were ordinary until some bizarre murders began. Meanwhile, students learn about a secret television channel that can be accessed only when it rains. What is found there is not ordinary. A world that is hidden, and shadows lurk behind screens.

 

 

Players track a high school team that gets far into the case-solving, as well as student life. The game retains turn-based battles and choices of the day, such as what to do after school. This iteration differs from Persona 4 Golden, which was a remastered version. Revival takes its own spin.

From the Director: Message and What Comes Next

 

Persona 4 Remake Rumored to Be Revealed This Week at Xbox Games Showcase -  OpenCritic

 

Kazuhisa Wada of P-STUDIO presented a message regarding the new title. According to him, Persona 4 is part of ATLUS’ heart. The team is taking care and working hard on this version. Wada informed that he is confident both fans and new players will have fun with what they create.

He also mentions that they are doing many more projects of Persona in the future. The work on the rest of the series continues strongly. So, the fans can wait for further updates.

This game is progressing with another game, Persona 5: The Phantom X, which will be available on June 26, 2025. With these, ATLUS and SEGA indicate how they are going to expand the world of Persona further.

Gamers can anticipate more news and updates on the game shortly. In the meantime, series fans have something to eagerly anticipate once again.

 

Written By Manika Kayal, Intern, India Today Gaming.



Link

Continue Reading

E-Sports

DACC’s Michael “Guido” Esteves Wins State ICCTA Pacesetter Award

 THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE   DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College is proud to announce that alumnus and current Director of Audio, eSports, and Community Engagement Michael “Guido” Esteves has been named the 2025 recipient of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Pacesetter Award. He was honored at the […]

Published

on


 THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE

 

DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College is proud to announce that alumnus and current Director of Audio, eSports, and Community Engagement Michael “Guido” Esteves has been named the 2025 recipient of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Pacesetter Award. He was honored at the ICCTA Awards Banquet held Friday, June 6 in Bloomington, Illinois.

The ICCTA Pacesetter Award recognizes recent community college graduates who have made outstanding achievements in their careers and in service to their communities. Esteves, who works full time for DACC, was chosen for his innovative work in music education, digital arts, eSports coaching, and student mentorship—all of which reflect the transformative power of community colleges.

A DACC graduate himself, Esteves returned to college as a non-traditional student, determined to create a meaningful path forward. He found that path at DACC, where he thrived academically and discovered his passion for teaching and mentoring students. Today, he serves as a volunteer music educator through the Project Success program, working directly with students at Danville High School. In this role, he uses music and creative expression not only as an educational tool, but as a way to introduce high school students to the opportunities available through community college.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Esteves is the driving force behind DACC’s nationally ranked eSports program. As head coach, he has guided Jaguar athletes to back-to-back national championships in Mario Kart and helped individual players achieve national rankings. His leadership has made DACC a standout in collegiate eSports and has opened new academic and career pathways for students interested in gaming, digital media, and technology.

“Guido is a powerhouse of creativity, energy, and heart,” said Dr. Randall Fletcher, DACC President. “Whether he’s teaching music, coaching eSports, or mentoring a student one-on-one, he gives his all—and students respond to that. His journey is a powerful example of what a community college graduate can accomplish.”

Outside the classroom, Esteves is known for his dedication to student engagement, diversity, and inclusion. He has helped hundreds of young people find their voice—whether through a musical performance, a digital project, or a competitive gaming experience. His work helps students see education as something personal, empowering, and achievable.

“Winning the Pacesetter Award is such an honor,” said Esteves. “But the real reward is seeing students grow into who they’re meant to be. DACC changed my life, and I’m just trying to pass that on.”



Link

Continue Reading

E-Sports

Chester County Intermediate Unit hosts inaugural PSEL Esports Expo with Rocket League Tournament

DOWNINGTOWN —  Over 40 educators and coaches, along with 25 students and 12 sponsors, gathered on Monday, June 2, for the inaugural Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) Esports Expo at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). The event featured a Rocket League tournament and offered a full day of exploration into the dynamic world of […]

Published

on


DOWNINGTOWN —  Over 40 educators and coaches, along with 25 students and 12 sponsors, gathered on Monday, June 2, for the inaugural Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) Esports Expo at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). The event featured a Rocket League tournament and offered a full day of exploration into the dynamic world of scholastic esports.

The event provided participants with opportunities to witness competitive gameplay, explore cutting-edge esports solutions, and build valuable connections in the esports education space. The tournament ran bracket style with top teams competing in the final competition.

“We were thrilled to welcome so many of our scholastic esports colleagues from Pennsylvania and beyond to our first PSEL Esports Expo,” said Kammas Kersch, director of the PSEL Esports League. “As an educator-led league, it is important to us to continue to foster learning opportunities for both students and educators. One of the highlights of the day was getting to spend time networking with our PSEL community!”

Kersch, who is also the CCIU STEM services coordinator, opened the event with a welcome and introduction that focused on key pillars for setting up an esports program in schools.

Several sponsors hosted engaging spotlight sessions designed specifically for educators, offering valuable insights, tools, and resources to help support successful scholastic esports teams.

The Rocket League finals saw an exciting playoff between West Chester Henderson High School and Chichester High School, with both teams showcasing impressive skill and teamwork. In a thrilling finish, Henderson High School emerged as the tournament champions.

Matt Swan, CCIU STEM innovation specialist, emphasized, “The Rocket League matches were full of great highlight plays, and in the end West Chester Henderson walked away as the champions without losing a single game!”

Swan continued, “We want to congratulate the players from West Chester Henderson on their phenomenal performance and also recognize the players from Chichester High School & 21st Century Cyber Charter School. We look forward to our next chance to showcase the skills of these amazing student competitors!”

Karen Ruggles, DeSales University varsity esports program director, closed the event with a talk that channeled the day’s excitement into a reflection on the future of esports—encouraging attendees to recognize how gaming, competition, and community can fuel personal and professional growth, while inspiring them to embrace their individual potential to shape a thriving, positive future for the industry.

The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, sponsors, and students alike. Educators and parents praised the organization and valuable insights shared, sponsors appreciated the meaningful engagement, and students were energized by the high-level competition and community-centered atmosphere.

The CCIU Events Team and PSEL Esports Team is already planning for the next event and looks forward to bringing esports colleagues together again soon.



Link

Continue Reading

E-Sports

ESports pioneer-turned musician subject of new documentary | Local News

FAIRFIELD — Walter Day would say he’s living proof that it’s never too late to pursue one’s passions, and that’s the focus of a new documentary he’s featured in. Day, 76, who founded Twin Galaxies — a platform that tracks arcade game high scores — was featured in the 2007 documentary “The King of Kong: […]

Published

on


FAIRFIELD — Walter Day would say he’s living proof that it’s never too late to pursue one’s passions, and that’s the focus of a new documentary he’s featured in.

Day, 76, who founded Twin Galaxies — a platform that tracks arcade game high scores — was featured in the 2007 documentary “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.” But by that point in his life, Day had shifted gears and changed his passion. He’d moved on to music.


This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ s2J[ 9:D >FD:42= AFCDF:ED 3682? 😕 `hgd] w6 925 H9@ 96 56D4C:365 2D 2 “8=2>@C@FD 8:C=7C:6?5” 2E E96 E:>6[ 3FE E96? 96 8@E E96 42== E92E E9:?8D H6C6 @G6C] x? 9:D 962CE3C62<[ s2J D2JD 96 DE2CE65 962C:?8 D@?8D] qFE :E H2D?’E 2?JE9:?8 A=2J:?8 @G6C E96 C25:@ 2E E96 E:>6 — E96J H6C6 9:D @H?]k^Am

kAm“xE H2D =:<6 x H2D =:DE6?:?8 E@ 2 C25:@ DE2E:@? A=2J :?D:56 >6] x H2D 492??6=:?8 D@?8D E92E 925 G6CJ 56G6=@A65 =JC:4D 2?5 92C>@?:6D[ 2?5 92C>@?:4D 2?5 >6=@5:6D[ 2?5 x H2D ;FDE 2>2K65 3642FD6 x H2D D@ 3=@H? 2H2J 3J E96>[” s2J D25] “p?5 x DE2CE65 HC:E:?8 E96 D@?8D 5@H? 2?5 D:?8:?8 E96 D@?8D 😕 E96 E2A6 C64@C56C[ 2?5 3J E96 E:>6 E96 A96?@>6?@? 6?565[ x 925 `bg D@?8D[ 2?5 x E9@F89E E96J H6C6 H@?56C7F=]”k^Am

kAm(96? 96 E@=5 AC@5F46C t5 rF??:?892> 23@FE 9:D A2DD:@?[ 96 :?G:E65 9:> E@ A=2J D@>6 @7 9:D D@?8D 😕 “z:?8 @7 z@?8]” s2J H2D >@C6 E92? 92AAJ E@ @3=:86]k^Am

kAm“p?5 D@ E92E H2D 24EF2==J 2 DE@CJ=:?6 😕 ‘z:?8 @7 z@?8’ 2?5 (2=E6C D2?8 😕 @FC >@G:6 😕 a__f D2J:?8 E92E A=2J:?8 >FD:4 2?5 D:?8:?8 @C:8:?2= D@?8D — H9:49 2C6 G6CJ 8@@5 — E92E 96 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 36 E96 G:56@ 82>6 8FJ 2?J>@C6[” rF??:?892> D2:5] “%92E 96 H2?E65 E@ 36 2? 2CE:DE 2?5 D:?8 E96D6 D@?8D 2?5 AC@5F46 E96>]”k^Am

kAm}62C=J EH@ 564256D =2E6C[ s2J H2D 2AAC@24965 3J s2G:5 2?5 r9C:D #6:496=E[ E96 4C62E@CD @7 E96 82>6 “r@=@C $H:E49]” %96J C64@8?:K65 s2J 7C@> E96 >@G:6 2?5 =:<65 9:D D@?8D[ 2?5 @776C65 E@ A2J 7@C 9:> E@ AC@5F46 2? 2=3F>] %96 ?6IE E9:?8 s2J 6H[ 96 H2D 😕 2 DEF5:@ 😕 r652C u2==D[ 2?5 “pC4256D U2>Aj {@G6 $@?8D” H2D AC@5F465]k^Am

kAm(96? H@C5 8@E 324< E@ rF??:?892> E92E s2J 925 7:?2==J >256 9:D 5C62> 2 C62=:EJ[ 96 6H 2 7@==@H\FA 5@4F>6?E2CJ H2D 😕 @C56C]k^Am

kAm“pE E9:D A@:?E[ D@>6@?6 E6==D t5[ E92E (2=E6C 😀 7:?2==J 5@:?8 9:D >FD:4 2?5 96 E9:?2? E@H2C5D 9:D 7:?2= J62CD ?6G6C 82G6 FA @? 9:D 5C62>]”k^Am

kAm“pC4256D U2>Aj {@G6 $@?8Di %96 q2==25 @7 (2=E6C s2J” 7@==@HD (2=E6C’D EC2?D:E:@? E@ >FD:4:2?[ 27E6C 36:?8 @H? 7@C J62CD 2D @?6 @7 E96 72E96CD @7 6$A@CED] %96 2=3F> H2D C6=62D65 uC:52J[ 2?5 E96 5@4F>6?E2CJ 😀 ?@H 2G2:=23=6 @? 2== >2;@C G:56@ @? 56>2?5 A=2E7@C>D] p44@C5:?8 E@ rF??:?892>[ E96 :?E6?E:@? H2D 7@C E96 EH@ C6=62D6D E@ 4@:?4:56[ EC62E:?8 :E 2D 2? 6G6?E]k^Am

kAm“(6==[ E96C6’D @?6 E9:?8 … x H2D ;FDE >6?E:@?:?8 (2=E6C’D 2=3F>[ 3642FD6 H6 <:?5 @7 D66 E9:D 2D x@H2’D !FCA=6 #2:?[ H96C6 2? 2=3F> 😀 4@>:?8 @FE H:E9 E96 >@G:6] *@F @H E92E H2D D@CE @7 E96 8@2= @7 E96 >@G:6] w6 H2D E@ A6C7@C> :E — 96 C64@C565 :E — H6==[ E96 =@8:42= E9:?8 😀 E@ C6=62D6 :E]”k^Am

kAmp D4C66?:?8 7@C E96 5@4F>6?E2CJ H:== 36 96=5 yF?6 ah 2E E96 u2:C7:6=5 pCED 2?5 r@?G6?E:@? r6?E6C] %96C6 H:== 36 2 c A]>] D4C66?:?8 @7 “z:?8 @7 z@?8” 2E c A]>][ 7@==@H65 3J “pC4256D U2>Aj {@G6 $@?8D” 2E f A]>][ 2?5 2 D@=@ D4C66?:?8 2E f A]>] @7 E96 ?6H 5@4F>6?E2CJ yF?6 b_ 2?5 yF=J `]k^Am

Donald Promnitz is the associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. He can be reached at dpromnitz@ottumwacourier.com. Follow him on Twitter @DonPromnitz.





Link

Continue Reading

E-Sports

Valhallan Esports Training opens esports hub in Frisco

Valhallan Esports Training opened in Frisco. The business held a grand opening June 4. The esports facility is a local hub for young gamers of all skill levels. Players can experience live, in-person gaming with teammates and peers, according to the company’s website. The business also offers camps, events and birthday parties geared towards esports. […]

Published

on


Valhallan Esports Training opened in Frisco. The business held a grand opening June 4.

The esports facility is a local hub for young gamers of all skill levels. Players can experience live, in-person gaming with teammates and peers, according to the company’s website.

The business also offers camps, events and birthday parties geared towards esports.

“>



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending