
Sheldon Mackinnon in the eSports club at Ridgewater College
By DEREK TELLIER
Editor
Ridgewater College is gearing up to introduce a new eSports activity this fall on its Hutchinson campus, offering students a chance to connect through competitive gaming while developing digital skills and teamwork.
The new eSports program, designed as a club sport, will be open to all Ridgewater students enrolled either part-time or full-time. Much like the college’s clay target teams, the eSports club will provide opportunities for students of all experience levels, from seasoned gamers to curious newcomers, to join teams, compete in tournaments, and hone their skills in strategy, communication, and digital media. A dedicated gaming lounge is also being created to support the activity.
The initiative was proposed last year by Heidi Olson, Ridgewater dean of students, who sought to expand student life offerings on the Hutchinson campus. Unlike the Willmar campus, Hutchinson lacks a gymnasium and therefore does not host traditional sports like volleyball, basketball, or wrestling. eSports, which has seen growing popularity across the state, presented an opportunity to fill that gap.
“This is an activity that has grown in recent years,” Olson said, noting that more than 100 Minnesota high schools and more than 2,000 students were involved in eSports during the past school year. “We hope that by giving high school students a path to continue competing at the college level, we’ll help them stay engaged, build connections, and take on challenges in a fun way while preparing for their careers at Ridgewater.”
The program will be coached and launched by Sheldon Mackinnon, an instructor in Ridgewater’s Nondestructive Testing Technology program.
Mackinnon, a longtime gamer himself, is enthusiastic about mentoring students through this new venture. “Games are great at stimulating our critical thinking by having us make split-second decisions that can win or lose the game,” he said. “When we fail, we rethink, we strategize, and we try again. The video games I played growing up have helped shape who I am today.”
Students and community members can follow the progress of Ridgewater’s eSports club on the Ridgewater Warrior Athletics website at www.ridgewaterathletics.com.
With its fall launch, the eSports club aims to give students a competitive outlet, foster a sense of community, and position Ridgewater College as part of the growing collegiate eSports movement.