‘Building futures:’ Westmont Esports teams see major growth as program eyes championships

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — A local high school is proving that Esports are more than just playing video games.

All three of Westmont Hilltop’s Esports teams have qualified for the 2025 state championships.

Westmont’s Esports program started just four years ago, and in that short time, it’s gone from a struggling startup to the team winning multiple district titles.

Participating in the state quarterfinals this week, Westmont’s Esports program is showing growth, and one coach says it is only going to get bigger.

Westmont Hilltop has created three competitive teams, two in Overwatch and one in Rocket League.

All three have made it to the 2025 state finals and are hoping to make the state championship that is set for the end of this month at Mount Aloysius College.

“For them to all have their opportunity to do what they want to do for it because it’s not just video games nowadays, you could be in casting or production, on that end of it; you can be in the back end for video and production. They’re advertising and marketing. There are so many different avenues now, it’s not just based on the game, it’s a whole sport. It’s a career you can make out of it,” said team manager Paul Zeris.

The entire program is run by volunteers and supported by fundraisers.

Regardless of it not being an official school sport, the team practices three times a week and often against one another online from home.

“It’s really nice. It’s amazing. I’ve been here since it started and helped it grow. It’s really nice to see the progress and how the kids are there, they experience it,” says junior Anthony Zeris.

Esports at Westmont is co-ed, 9th through 12th grade, and full of opportunities.

With scholarships, career paths in production, and community support growing, the school is working with other schools in the district to get the sport officially sanctioned.

From starting out with only six players to now having over 16, Westmont’s Esports teams are not only building winning records, they are building futures.