E-Sports
Hopatcong esports program is leading the way for student engagement
By Kathryn Coulibaly Video gamers are used to playing in the shadow of other high school sports, but that is changing in high schools across the country. Hopatcong High School’s esports program is not only leading the way, it is dominating the field. In March, Hopatcong High School’s esports team won a state championship for […]

By Kathryn Coulibaly
Video gamers are used to playing in the shadow of other high school sports, but that is changing in high schools across the country. Hopatcong High School’s esports program is not only leading the way, it is dominating the field.
In March, Hopatcong High School’s esports team won a state championship for the third straight year at the Garden State Esports Winter Championship event, held at Georgian Court University.
Esports, or electronic sports, are organized competitive video game competitions that are treated with all the electricity and fanfare of professional sporting events.
Led by Jim McKowen, a computer science teacher and esports coach at Hopatcong High School, as well as the vice president of Programs and Partnerships for Garden State Esports, the Hopatcong esports team is attracting more and more students who have typically felt left out of extracurricular activities.
“Anyone can participate in Esports,” McKowen says. “Garden State Esports has a unified league for students with special needs. The unified program plays asynchronous games, so all students are able to participate with each other.”
McKowen has seen esports attract students who are typically left behind. A member of the leadership team at Garden State Esports, a nonprofit scholastic esports league founded by dues-paying educators during the pandemic to help students stay connected, McKowen and his colleagues are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment in the sport.
“The students who traditionally don’t do any extracurricular activities are joining esports and making new friends,” McKowen says. “They’re getting the social experience that other students get. We give out student surveys at the end of the season. Students who usually don’t do anything at school have made at least one new friend as a result.”
For McKowen, Esports are a great way to connect students.
“Esports really took off during the pandemic,” McKowen says. “This was one of the few clubs that we could run remotely. Hopatcong’s program started while I was teaching at the middle school, but really expanded when I moved to the high school to teach computer science.”
While video gaming is not always as inclusive as it should be, Garden State Esports is focused on inclusion and equity. As a result of their efforts, there is an overwhelming population of female, nonbinary and transgender students participating at all levels.
Soft skills that prepare students for any environment
But the goal is not only to connect students, it’s also to teach them a variety of skills that will serve them well in every environment.
Students learn a lot of ‘soft’ skills by participating in sports,” McKowen says. “Things like teamwork, communication and leadership. Our students are getting all of those, plus career and technical education tie-ins.”
McKowen has students who are interested in journalism who are broadcasting the competitions live on YouTube, Twitch and other platforms. One Garden State Esports team member is a semiprofessional esports broadcaster who just started a program with students who are interested in broadcast journalism. The students get a chance to broadcast at the finals.
Some students are interested in videography or making highlight videos for the team that are uploaded to TikTok and YouTube.
Those students who are interested in the statistical and analytical part of the program critically examine the game play footage and dissect what went well and how to improve.
While there are many adult-themed video games, student esports games are age- and school-appropriate.
“Garden State Esports gives member schools the flexibility to compete in whatever their individual district is comfortable with,” McKowen says. “We have E for everyone, T for teen range, and games like Overwatch, Valorant, Fortnite and League of Legends.”
According to Garden State Esports, they are currently in about 48% of New Jersey school districts. More than 350 schools are participating across 259 school districts. All told, more than 14,000 New Jersey students are participating in some way.
Enhancing the high school experience
The competitions are held on college campuses, providing students with an opportunity to see what college is like. College esports students also participate and partner with younger students to talk to them. Some students have even won college scholarships through esports.
The atmosphere at in-person championship events is intense. Students play on a stage, in a spotlight and get rock star treatment. In 2023, Hopatcong filmed a video showing esports students striding confidently through the halls of their high school to fan appreciation. The video went viral on TikTok.
Enhancing students’ high school experiences is an important part of the program. Forty-two percent of students did nothing at their school before joining esports. Ninety-seven percent made at least one new friend through the program and 72% say being part of esports motivates them to come to school.
At the same time, esports is preparing students for college and the workforce. According to Garden State Esports, 89% of participants report that their team’s academic requirements motivate them to work harder in school. Sixty-eight percent want to attend college in New Jersey, and 57% of participants plan to major in STEM fields when they do.
“Esports is helping students find a community they may not have had before,” McKowen says. “We want to continue to foster self-esteem, strengthen connection with others and build skills that will serve students in and out of the workforce. The championships are fantastic, but the biggest impact is seeing students thrive.”
Kathryn Coulibaly is the associate editor of the NJEA Review and provides content and support to njea.org. She can be reached at kcoulibaly@njea.org.
Garden State Esports
Garden State Esports exploded onto the scene in 2020 and their ambitious agenda has led to massive growth and enthusiasm across the state. The organization is currently working to build legislative support and circulate curricula. Everyone on the leadership team at Garden State Esports is, or was, an educator, so they understand how to work with schools.
Working with NJEA representatives, they are putting out guidance for schools to fairly compensate esports coaches. At the same time, they are working to get New Jersey Department of Education approval as a career and technical student organization (CTSO). By getting that designation, they will be able to provide greater opportunities for students.
With a partnership with Epic Games to teach video game design classes, and Netflix building a facility in New Jersey at the former Fort Monmouth Army base in Eatontown and Oceanport, the stage is set for New Jersey Esports students to launch into careers in gaming.
But to get their programs recognized and a certificate for completing them, they need to have recognition as a CTSO.
Garden State Esports is the largest scholastic Esports organization in the country and is leading the way on many fronts. Other states are following New Jersey’s lead and creating more gaming opportunities for students.
E-Sports
Wasserman Music makes three key exec hires in Artist Services and Communications teams
Music agency Wasserman has added three senior executives to its Artist Services and Communications teams. Lydia Barry has joined as VP, Marketing & Communications. Barry will oversee all strategic communications efforts across the global music division. She joins Wasserman from WME, where she led music communications. She previously worked at public relations firms Sunshine Sachs and […]

Music agency Wasserman has added three senior executives to its Artist Services and Communications teams.

Lydia Barry has joined as VP, Marketing & Communications.
Barry will oversee all strategic communications efforts across the global music division.
She joins Wasserman from WME, where she led music communications. She previously worked at public relations firms Sunshine Sachs and BerlinRosen.
In the Artist Services division, Emily Kennedy has joined the company as VP, Business Development, Pop, and Michael Delle Donne has joined as VP, Digital Partnerships.
All three executives are based in Wasserman’s New York office.
As Business Development lead for the Pop roster, Emily Kennedy will help “spearhead growth initiatives across several key verticals”: Film & TV, Digital and Gaming, Literary (Books, Podcast, Audiobooks) Branding, Sponsorship, and International.
Kennedy will also work closely with all Wasserman businesses globally including Sports, Talent, Creators, and Brands & Properties.
Kennedy joins Wasserman from LoyalT Management, which she helped co-found in 2017, and where she worked with artists such as AURORA, Stephen Sanchez, Lord Huron, Neil Frances, Sigrid, Olivia O’Brien, Wet, and Passion Pit.
Prior to LoyalT, she served as a Manager at Mick Management and as a Talent Buyer at C3 Presents in Austin.
Michael Delle Donne, previously of Warner Music Group‘s business development and artist services group, will lead initiatives across digital growth, gaming, partnerships, and rights management for Wasserman’s artist roster.
At Warner, Donne worked on activations with Charli XCX, Coldplay, Fred again.., Tiësto, NLE Choppa and Aminé across platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, Twitch, Meta Horizon, and Discord.
Prior to this, he oversaw business development for Superfly’s creative agency, Listen; and was the first full-time U.S. employee for Resident Advisor, the dance music editorial and ticketing platform.
According to the company, Wasserman’s Artist Services team is focused on creating “cross-disciplinary opportunities for all music clients.”
The team “sources and executes business development deals and initiatives across Content & IP Development, Film & TV, Literary, Gaming, Digital Partnerships, Client-owned Experiences, International Services, Social Impact and beyond.”
The team is led by SVP Vince Amoroso, and includes SVP, Business Development, Country & Americana Chappel McCollister; VP, Business Development, Electronic Taryn Haight; and VP, Business Development, Rock Adam Krefman.
Vince Amoroso commented on the new additions to his team: “This year, we’ve made significant investments in our Artist Services team to expand the opportunity center for our roster globally.”
“This year, we’ve made significant investments in our Artist Services team to expand the opportunity center for our roster globally.”
VINCE AMOROSO, WASSERMAN MUSIC
Added Amoroso: “Emily brings deep artist management and talent buying experience to our Pop division, reinforcing our artist-first approach.
“With Michael, we’re doubling down on the digital space — his expertise in digital platforms, partnerships, rights management, and gaming is crucial to where our business is headed.”
In May, Jazmyn Griffin and Tessie Lammle joined Wasserman Music to expand its Hip-Hop/R&B division.
In January 2025, Wasserman made five hires across artist services, brand partnerships, festivals, event strategy and hospitality, and corporate and special-events bookings, with the aim of “helping to open new touring and non-touring revenue channels and drive long-term career success for artists.”Music Business Worldwide
E-Sports
Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Partnership with IMG to Launch Flagship Broadcast Series EWC Spotlight
Live from the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, the weekly series will blend esports,entertainment and pop culture to captivate global audiences Premieres Thursday, July 10 with live performance by Post Malone at EWC 2025 Opening Ceremony MEDIA KIT LONDON and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Esports World Cup Foundation has partnered with […]

Live from the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, the weekly series will blend esports,
entertainment and pop culture to captivate global audiences
Premieres Thursday, July 10 with live performance by Post Malone
at EWC 2025 Opening Ceremony
MEDIA KIT
LONDON and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Esports World Cup Foundation has partnered with global sports marketing agency IMG to elevate the broadcast coverage and reach new global audiences for the Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest esports tournament and gaming festival, which has returned to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 7 through August 24.
The agreement will see IMG provide premium broadcast production, content strategy, global rights management, and international distribution via SNTV, a joint venture between IMG and The Associated Press, for the Esports World Cup 2025. Throughout the tournament, IMG will create and produce over 50 hours of programming, covering the thrilling live esports action, as well as digital and social content, and an original documentary showcasing the biggest teams in the competition.
This includes an action-packed two-hour show, ‘EWC Spotlight,’ that will be produced live Friday through Sunday every Championship weekend from a custom-built studio in the heart of Boulevard City, Riyadh. EWC Spotlight will blend esports highlights, entertainment and pop culture features, behind-the-scenes access, celebrity appearances, educational segments and unforgettable moments with world-class broadcasting, giving viewers worldwide an immersive, all-access experience with esports’ most compelling event.
EWC Spotlight kicks off with a special premiere on Thursday, July 10, including a live performance by superstar entertainer Post Malone, as the Esports World Cup 2025 gets underway with the Opening Ceremony. Hosted by Hugh Woozencroft and Rachel Stringer, EWC Spotlight will welcome more than 60 high-profile celebrity, entertainment and sports guests throughout the summer, solidifying the show as the cultural heartbeat of the Esports World Cup for fans around the world.
“With EWC Spotlight, we’re creating a new gateway into esports, not just for the millions already engaged, but for the billions yet to discover their passion for competitive gaming,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation. “By blending elite competition, mainstream entertainment, and cultural storytelling, we’re breaking barriers between esports and traditional media. Partnering with IMG, a global leader in sports production and content, allows us to show the world what esports truly represents: an evolution in global entertainment, sports, and culture.”
E-Sports
Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Partnership with IMG to Launch Flagship Broadcast Series EWC Spotlight
“We’re creating a new gateway into esports…for the billions yet to discover their passion for competitive gaming.” Post this The agreement will see IMG provide premium broadcast production, content strategy, global rights management, and international distribution via SNTV, a joint venture between IMG and The Associated Press, for the Esports World Cup 2025. Throughout the […]

The agreement will see IMG provide premium broadcast production, content strategy, global rights management, and international distribution via SNTV, a joint venture between IMG and The Associated Press, for the Esports World Cup 2025. Throughout the tournament, IMG will create and produce over 50 hours of programming, covering the thrilling live esports action, as well as digital and social content, and an original documentary showcasing the biggest teams in the competition.
This includes an action-packed two-hour show, ‘EWC Spotlight,’ that will be produced live Friday through Sunday every Championship weekend from a custom-built studio in the heart of Boulevard City, Riyadh. EWC Spotlight will blend esports highlights, entertainment and pop culture features, behind-the-scenes access, celebrity appearances, educational segments and unforgettable moments with world-class broadcasting, giving viewers worldwide an immersive, all-access experience with esports’ most compelling event.
EWC Spotlight kicks off with a special premiere on Thursday, July 10, including a live performance by superstar entertainer Post Malone, as the Esports World Cup 2025 gets underway with the Opening Ceremony. Hosted by Hugh Woozencroft and Rachel Stringer, EWC Spotlight will welcome more than 60 high-profile celebrity, entertainment and sports guests throughout the summer, solidifying the show as the cultural heartbeat of the Esports World Cup for fans around the world.
“With EWC Spotlight, we’re creating a new gateway into esports, not just for the millions already engaged, but for the billions yet to discover their passion for competitive gaming,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation. “By blending elite competition, mainstream entertainment, and cultural storytelling, we’re breaking barriers between esports and traditional media. Partnering with IMG, a global leader in sports production and content, allows us to show the world what esports truly represents: an evolution in global entertainment, sports, and culture.”
IMG has also worked with EWC to develop an international distribution strategy for the tournament’s programming and will leverage its network of global media experts to manage the content worldwide. In addition, EWC has appointed SNTV to distribute daily content of the tournament to global broadcasters and media partners via its sports video production and distribution agency, Story10.
Captured using state-of-the-art studio cameras, wire-cams and augmented reality (AR) capabilities, EWC Spotlight‘s English-language broadcast will be available exclusively to select media partners globally, reaching a potential audience of over 250 million people.
The show will be available for fans to watch around the world on Fox Sports (U.S.), DAZN (16 countries globally), beIN/TOD (MENA), Channel 7 (Australia), TRT (Turkey), Astro (Malaysia), TAP (Philippines), GOAT (Brazil), Nsports (Brazil), Star Times (South Africa), WHATS TV (Spain), HoyTv (Hong Kong), CHZZK (South Korea), DirecTV (LatAm), among others.
Barney Francis, EVP, Studios, IMG, said: “The Esports World Cup is as big as it gets for gaming fans and we’re excited to help bring the tournament to fans across the globe through unmissable and headline-grabbing programming. Combining IMG’s premium production capabilities and creativity with our team of global media experts and strategists, this partnership enables us to provide an elevated viewer experience for fans worldwide, as they watch their favourite teams and personalities battle it out on a world stage.”
The Esports World Cup is the world’s largest professional esports event, uniting global gaming communities in a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2,000 elite players, and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million.
For the first time, EWC will feature chess, with five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen serving as both competitor and official Global Ambassador. Additionally, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo joins as a Global Ambassador, further strengthening connections between esports and traditional sports.
IMG works with some of the world’s leading esports organisations, providing media rights representation, brand partnerships and strategic advisory services, as well as digital and production services. To date, IMG has managed the media rights and brand partnerships for more than 20 globally recognised esports events, including EA Sports, BLAST, Epic Games, PGL Esports, Riot Games, the International Olympic Committee and the Global Esports Games.
IMG has also produced innovative programming for some of the world’s biggest sports leagues and competitions, including the viral sensation ‘UCL Today’ for CBS, Ligue de Football Professionnel’s (LFP) ‘Ligue 1 Show’, Premier League Productions’ ‘The Kelly and Wrighty’ show, and the ‘English Football League Highlights’ show for ITV.
About Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a premier annual sporting event and global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game format that pits the world’s top esports Clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 2025, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. esportsworldcup.com
About IMG
IMG is a leading global sports marketing agency, specializing in media rights management and sales, multi-channel content production and distribution, brand partnerships, strategic consulting, digital services, and events management. It powers growth of revenues, fanbases and IP for more than 200 federations, associations, events, and teams, including the National Football League, English Premier League, International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, ATP and WTA Tours, the AELTC (Wimbledon), Euroleague Basketball, CONMEBOL, DP World Tour, and The R&A, as well as UFC, WWE, and PBR. IMG is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company.
SOURCE Esports World Cup Foundation
E-Sports
Western announces addition of Esports Co-Ed Team | Rocket Miner
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E-Sports
MTSU to offer esports majors next fall
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Middle Tennessee State University will offer two esports concentrations next semester. Classes will teach students about aesthetics, ethics, marketing and technology needed to create gaming-related content and streams, according to a release. The majors will provide esports players with skills in creating content and revenue streams along with minors to give […]

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Middle Tennessee State University will offer two esports concentrations next semester.
Classes will teach students about aesthetics, ethics, marketing and technology needed to create gaming-related content and streams, according to a release. The majors will provide esports players with skills in creating content and revenue streams along with minors to give them specific skills within their professional interests.
Truck crashes into bridge over Murfreesboro Road in South Nashville
There will be two MTSU undergraduate concentrations: Esports and Gaming Content Creation housed in the College of Media and Entertainment and Esports Coaching offered by Leisure and Sport Management in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences.
“Students will have the opportunity to learn about the variety of skills needed in the esports industry and learn specialized skills in areas in which they want to focus,” said Richard Lewis, esports and content creation coordinator associate professor, in a release. “There are hands-on experience opportunities working with the MTSU Esports club and a number of community organizations while earning their degree.”
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The Level Up Arena, located on the second floor of Middle Tennessee State University’s Student Union Building, opened last fall and is open to students across campus and will be used as a learning lab for students in the new esports concentrations offered beginning in the fall of 2025. (Courtesy: MTSU)
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The Level Up Arena, located on the second floor of Middle Tennessee State University’s Student Union Building, opened last fall and is open to students across campus and will be used as a learning lab for students in the new esports concentrations offered beginning in the fall of 2025. (Courtesy: MTSU)
The development of the esports program will “give students pathways to the needed skills and a degree for an industry that was previously unavailable in the region.”
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Esports majors will have access to the Level Up Arena in the student union and the Gaming Lab in the Business & Aerospace building, which is equipped with gaming PCs and Nintendo Switch consoles.
The average annual pay for a job in the esports industry in the United States is reportedly $156,348 a year with available positions like professional player, content creator, influencer, broadcast manager, social media manager, talent manager, team publicist, coaching, assistant coach, events manager, general manager, game analyst, commissioner and more.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
E-Sports
Western Wyoming Community College Adding Co-ed Esports Team
IS Lab computer arena. The computers the team will be using to compete with. Photo from Western ROCK SPRINGS — Western Wyoming Community College announced Tuesday that it will add esports as its sixth varsity sport beginning in fall 2025. Esports, one of the fastest-growing activities on college campuses, features online competitions between schools. The […]

ROCK SPRINGS — Western Wyoming Community College announced Tuesday that it will add esports as its sixth varsity sport beginning in fall 2025.
Esports, one of the fastest-growing activities on college campuses, features online competitions between schools. The Western Mustangs will launch a co-ed team that will practice and compete against other institutions across the country.
According to the National Junior College Athletics Association Esports (NJCAA-E), “there are more than 400 high school and 300 college and universities currently supporting esports programs across North America and it is becoming clear that collegiate esports are paving the future of the Esports industry.”
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Esports began gaining traction in higher education in the early 2010s as colleges and universities recognized the popularity of competitive gaming and formed official teams. Many programs now foster both competition and career opportunities in the gaming industry.


“The addition of an Esports program within Mustang Athletics provides us with a great opportunity to extend the mission of Western Wyoming Community College to a wider audience,” said Lu Sweet, Western’s athletic director.
Esports student-athletes will be required to meet the same eligibility standards as other Mustang athletes, including being full-time, degree-seeking students, maintaining academic eligibility, and progressing toward a degree.
“We look forward to identifying our first head coach and working alongside that person to help guide our strategies for recruiting and developing our student-athletes,” Sweet said.
The team will compete in an upgraded gaming arena inside the Western IS Lab on the Rock Springs campus. League affiliation and specific game titles will be determined once a head coach is hired, the college said.
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