Olathe West’s district-leading program is now home to the first students in district history to land esports scholarships.
Senior Elijah Kennedy has committed to play Super Smash Bros. at Baker University and will receive a $16,500 annual scholarship to help lead the school’s new esports program. Senior Elijah Custer has committed to play Rocket League at the University of Kansas, which makes him the first Division-I esports signee in Olathe Public Schools history.
Olathe West senior Elijah Custer.
Custer explained esports looks a lot like traditional sports at the college level, practicing after school, going to tournaments across the country and continuing to stay focused on classwork.
These scholarships are part of a concerted effort by West staff to go above and beyond in making the school’s program great. The program is leading the district in participation with 45 students, a result of coach Kurt Parker’s dedication to his students.
“There’s a lot of ways that kids can get involved with the world of esports,” Parker said. “That’s really been my whole goal is to expose them to [esports] … and just trying new things.”
West’s program features games on the PC and Nintendo Switch, while also allowing students to work on the production side of video and streaming, which Parker says is a big piece of college esports. The students visit tournaments and compete in a similar way to a track meet, with teams participating in several types of events.
As the program has grown over the past couple years, Parker has been working with local colleges to make his best competitors known in the hopes of securing scholarship opportunities.
“When we said we were starting esports people were like ‘Really?’ … and all of a sudden in our second year to have two seniors going to college on scholarships … these kids are going out there and representing and getting a chance,” Parker said. “It just means the world to see these kids are getting this opportunity and chance to do something else.”
Parker said esports fills a gap in the school community for students who may not want to or be able to play traditional sports, and subsequently builds confidence and community only similar groups can. That confidence has led to hosting tournaments for local elementary students, to others going out and trying traditional sports.
“There’s kids that can do amazing things, but they don’t have an outlet in school,” Parker said. “Esports is giving them a place to do that, step up to be leaders, do community events, go to college visits. They’re able to show off these amazing skills in a new way and represent Olathe West.”
Esports will only grow from here, West principal Jay Novacek said. Novacek sits on the KSHSAA board, which recently unanimously voted to make esports a sanctioned activity, similar to cheer or dance.
Currently the program relies on finding competitions in the midwest — the decision to sanction the sport will only increase those opportunities and give more freedom to when and where the team can compete.
Looking ahead, the district is implementing a new esports arena at its upcoming Innovation Campus, which opens by next school year.