NAZARETH, Pa. — A new Nazareth Area High School varsity team just got second place in a statewide tournament, traveling to Pittsburgh Technical College after a season of managing dozens of participants at various levels.
No, it wasn't football, basketball or baseball. Or even pickleball or some other craze.
- Nazareth Area High School's varsity esports team took second place in the statewide Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament
- The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association is a quickly growing organization for games on Nintendo Switch
- Parkland, East Penn, Nazareth Area, Allentown, Bangor Area and other school districts in the Lehigh Valley all have begun esports teams. Some, such as Parkland and Emmaus, already boast championship titles
These students competed in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association spring state championships for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a popular fighting game on the Nintendo Switch.
"Our immediate reaction to coming up just short was heartbreak, especially for the seniors on the varsity team," said coach and school librarian Sarah Strouse.
"But looking back over the course of the entire season, I think we're all just going to remember the joy — the experiences they all had, the friends they made within their school and across the state, and the lessons learned through their many successes."
The students competed against high schools throughout Pennsylvania all year, completing individual sets to contribute to a team score to determine the winner of each match online.
For the culminating event, they and other top-ranked schools competed in person — eliminating the influence of internet lag and adding the pressure of crowds cheering them on.
Words can't express how proud we are of these 🔵🦅s who represented Nazareth well at the @PIEA_esports
— NazHSesports (@NazHSesports) May 13, 2023
Super Smash Bros Ultimate finals today in Pittsburgh. Varsity team takes 2nd overall in the state! (JV results TBD). THANK YOU SENIORS for your dedication to our program 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/YUPBgxEvSh
Nazareth senior Joshua Berstler is in his first year in the program. He said while still new to Smash Ultimate, the coaches and teammates helped train him to where he could make the team and find a place to make friends, hang out after school, and have fun.
"It's still very wild, wild, west here," Berstler said. "It's just a great place to hang out — a great place for people who don't necessarily have anything else or don't feel as connected [as] anything else. And it's a growing scene and I'm glad I got to be a part of the early, early stages of it."
About 70 students are involved in Nazareth Area High School's esports club. Thirty-two of those participate in teams for Smash or another game called Rocket League.
Friendships and competition
Nazareth isn't alone in the esports field in the Lehigh Valley.
Parkland, East Penn, Allentown, Bangor Area and other school districts all have begun esports teams — many starting just before or during the coronavirus pandemic, and now wrapping up seasons of online and in-person competition.
Some, such as Parkland and Emmaus, already boast championship titles for their teams.
They often are hosts for a variety of games across different gameplay genres, typically including titles such as Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Valorant and Overwatch.
The programs provide technical, broadcast and managerial opportunities for students, going beyond the typical offerings for traditional interscholastic competition, participants say.
There also are often casual opportunities for those who wish to just play games and meet other students.
The club is very welcoming — very, very kind. And you wouldn't expect it like it's essentially a family of sorts.Courtney Pavidis, vice president of Parkland's club
Students and advisers are quick to point out how esports can bring people together in the school — people who otherwise may not have met or become friends.
For some students, it's the first type of team competition they have undertaken in school, letting them connect with the school community under its banner like a traditional sport, music program or activity.
"I think everybody in school should have something that helps them feel connected to their school community," Strouse said. "And for some of these kids, this is their thing."
Players in the programs spoke of how it brought them together with people outside of their current social groups, forming friendships and bonds beyond the classroom or club. They can hang out, get help with homework, or use the online chats set up for the club for chatting beyond just team-related conversations.
"I've always kind of been a very shut-in type of person," said Courtney Pavidis, vice president of Parkland's club, who came to the district in freshman year and had to deal with a lot of anxieties related to that.
"When I actually managed to get into the club after having to lose so many friends from my old school, I got to know so many people on an interpersonal level," Pavidis said.
"The club is very welcoming — very, very kind. And you wouldn't expect it, like it's essentially a family of sorts."
Gavin Danner, a player on Parkland's Valorant team, agreed.
"I had like a good amount of friends, but this esports club actually introduced me to one of my best friends," Gavin said. "I would never have met him because the only other thing he does besides game is [going] to the gym."
A trajectory of growth despite professional setbacks
In its early days, the esports realm was formed out of titles such as Starcraft, Super Smash Bros. Melee and Halo. The modern scene now consists of titles including League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch and various iterations from the fighting game genre.
The esports industry has exploded in recent years, with spectators tuning in to view events on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. Some events have filled stadiums and convention centers across the globe.
The stability of the industry has recently come under question by investors in an environment where sponsorship-driven businesses are taking a hit, and shifts in which titles are most popular continue.
But interest continues to grow, with more people each year having grown up with online multiplayer gaming and understanding the ins and outs of the ecosystem.
Through expansions in youth opportunities for esports, many join competitive events themselves or participate in programs at their middle school, high school or college. Others are more casual players, but often can be found cheering on professional teams such as Team SoloMid and Cloud9.
Competitive gaming is not new to the area, either.
DeSales University has offered scholarships and varsity programs for esports players for years. Local grassroots fighting game tournaments also have a long legacy in the region, but what is growing out of the high schools now is building an infrastructure previously unseen.
Andrew Marth, Parkland High School's esports adviser, said there has been explosive growth across Pennsylvania, growing from seven or eight teams in their initial Rocket League season to more than double that the next.
Out there in the public, they're seeing kids play, they're seeing the productivity of it, they're seeing the opportunities. So it's it is a gradual process.Mike Heater
He said the current captain of the Rocket League team has a scholarship next year, something he and others in the high school scene say is becoming more common.
"And that's what we're starting to see with this," he said. "This is getting big just like all your other sports, and there's more and more colleges that are going to probably offer scholarships for these things.“
Building organization
Organizations such as the PSEL(Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League) and the PIEA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association) have been instrumental in not just encouraging involvement in esports, but also providing assistance and infrastructure for statewide competition.
PSEL was born out of Chester County Intermediate Unit, or CCIU, and collaborates with other IUs throughout the state, such as at Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, or CLIU, and the North American Esports Federation.
Congratulations to the @parklandesports Varsity and JV E-Sports teams on their 2022 championships! A big thank you to all the student&advisor participation throughout the region, and thank you to @RCNconnects for your support!#helpingchildrenlearn #esports #RocketLeague pic.twitter.com/rOiUi6FlQ5
— Carbon Lehigh IU #21 (@CLIU21) January 23, 2023
The organization provides infrastructure for statewide competition and provides esports support for "a little over 200" schools and organizations throughout Pennsylvania.
Kammas Kersch, the director of PSEL and STEM services coordinator for CCIU, said what exists now is a very grassroots experience, with a lot of collaboration among regional, state and national education leaders to build out the best they can for Pennsylvania by providing guidance and resources.
“The pace and the rate of growth are tremendous in high school and middle school,” Kersch said. "We know this is the wild, wild west. It can be difficult to navigate or confusing if you're not a gamer yourself."
She said what started as a small effort in June 2020 before starting competitions in winter 2021 has now grown to more than 80 teams competing in the recent season.
Michael Heater and Tony Mirabito have worked together to bring the infrastructure provided by PSEL to CLIU No. 21, and from there, to the high schools in the area with which they collaborate.
Both come from a traditional high school sports background. But their passion now is in the digital realm, and they're passionate about the growth and potential they see.
"I do feel like we're doing a decent job of changing some perception," Heater said. "Out there in the public, they're seeing kids play, they're seeing the productivity of it, they're seeing the opportunities. So it's a gradual process.
"But you know, some people are still sensitive to the fact that it's video gaming in schools. So we need to continue to try to grow this and create positive protection."
Some people are still sensitive to the fact that it's video gaming in schools. So we need to continue to try to grow this and create positive protection.Micael Heater, CLIU No. 21
"The guys at IU 21 have really kind of spearheaded esports in the Lehigh Valley," Nazareth's Strouse said. "They do a great job providing the structure for schools to participate in organized esports."
Heater and Mirabito say they are looking to expand their game offerings, improve skill divisions, and they are opening an esports facility on the intermediate unit's property to foster greater in-person competition.
Confronting costs
Samantha Bickel, executive director of PIEA, said the association is interested in building a state championship-focused esports league, but efforts to be organized under the state Department of Education have not been successful.
Bickel said the first season was just before the COVID-19 pandemic and included about 30 schools. Now it has more than 150 schools on its member list, with 50 to 60 schools and 120 teams in a given game's season.
Highlights from this past weekend's SSBU state finals! 🏆🔥#smashbrosultimate #esport #finals #gamingcommunity pic.twitter.com/8V8tsCcNIP
— Interscholastic Esports (@PIEA_esports) May 17, 2023
She said that while the PIEA often advocates and provides information to schools, a significant barrier is equipment cost. While some students can play at home virtually, many schools would prefer to provide students to compete on campus.
"A typical esports arena or computer lab could take, you know $10,000 to build, and to really be at the competitive level," Bickel said.
She said the PIEA is in conversations to have a national-level competition beyond state championships, which would involve standardizing the time seasons for games taking place and other challenges.
It also has an academic advisory board to build out an academic program consisting of coding, broadcasting, performance lessons and other related esports industry skills.
Both leagues said they currently operate with no fees.
I think [the leagues] do a very good job because this is new. They're both trying to navigate which direction to go," Geist said. "And I think the thing that they're both doing really well is they're letting the students in the schools help them try to figure this all out.Emmaus High School esports co-adviser Jason Geist
"I mean, honestly, I think [the leagues] do a very good job because this is new," said Emmaus High School esports co-adviser Jason Geist, who also teaches and coaches baseball at Emmaus.
"They're both trying to navigate which direction to go," Geist said. "And I think the thing that they're both doing really well is they're letting the students in the schools help them try to figure this all out.
"Not everyone has the infrastructure at their school to be able to use computers in a lab for the kid to play after school. Some kids have to play at home. So they both have been very supportive and adjusting."
Amazing day today unveiling our new innovation lab @CLIU21! @HarrisburgU @HUStormEsports joined us today and told our students about all the opportunities that can be had in the esports world. Students built resumes and portfolios for careers they are interested in! #esportsedu pic.twitter.com/0jaLD4FXjC
— tony_mirabito (@tony_mirabito) May 4, 2023
He said that while PIEA has been doing a better job of expanding throughout the state, PSEL has been more involved in pursuing the educational route of not just incorporating competition.
Still, just the act of teamwork is something he sees as beneficial, and is being given to many who otherwise wouldn't participate in competitive sports.
Broadening student skills
Who says a sports team can't prepare you for a future in tech or media? Certainly not these clubs.
Unlike most traditional sports, esports clubs and teams at Parkland, Nazareth, East Penn and others provide students the opportunity to have hands-on involvement not just in managing their organizations, but also broadcasting matches to parents, students and other fans via streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
The co-curricular efforts such as broadcasting, marketing and team management can often find their way into student roles.
"They're getting all kinds of tech skills out of this content creation that they could turn into a career pathway," Strouse said. She said her students are creating content, organizing fundraisers, and managing brackets and event registrations.
There's just a lot of aspects that you could start off with here that can lead you into something else later down the line.Tristan Reiser, who acts as a broadcast manager for Nazareth Area High School esports while also competing
Tristan Reiser, who acts as a broadcast manager for Nazareth Area High School esports while also competing, said there's an opportunity in learning early for what can turn into a career later on in broadcasting, audio management, graphic design and other sought-out skills.
"There's just a lot of aspects that you could start off with here that can lead you into something else later down the line," Reiser said.
Reiser said it already is giving him a leg up as he approaches college, where he said he is interested in pursuing greater esports opportunities.
Arleigh Shilling-Askew, co-president of Parkland's esports program, said his participation has sharpened his communication skills — a byproduct of gaming he didn't necessarily expect.
"So having to learn that at high school and not having to try to relearn ... in university where the work probably gets even harder, I think is going to be huge for me in the long run," Shilling-Askew said.
Even just competition itself can bring opportunities to learn, according to advisers.
"It forces these guys to be collaborative," Emmaus's Geist said. "They have to organize. It's not just like they pick up a controller and they just go in there and push a bunch of buttons.
"There's a lot of strategy that goes into this. So students have to learn problem-solving skills. They have to learn how to collaborate, work as teams."
Looking to the future
Organizers — both students and advisers interviewed for this article — remained optimistic about the growth of esports over time. Many spoke hopefully about adding more offerings for titles and in-person competition.
"It's going to gain more notoriety," Geist said. "I think my parents' generation doesn't really see the sense of any of this and they don't see the value in what the people do.
"But these future generations, I think, do see the value. I mean, for how many people who watch this stuff — people playing Minecraft, Rocket League, other things through YouTube videos and on Twitch — the numbers are streaming. I think it's drawing a lot of attention.
Who knows? Moving forward, this might become more of a high-profile thing, and maybe I need to give it up to somebody who could actually coach these kids.Nazareth coach and school librarian Sarah Strouse
"I do believe the trajectory is that competitive esports is going to move away from clubs and actually become something — maybe not necessarily part of, like all of PIAA [Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association] — but I do think organizations like PSEL and PIEA are going to create their own organizations through schools.
"And the schools will fund these, and you'll have infrastructure in the buildings where they have actual labs like colleges do."
Many students shared the optimism of their advisers in the growth not just of the programs, but in what they bring to students.
"It's just grown, everything is kind of falling in place for the most part this year," said Pavidis, who will be Parkland's club president next year. "But we're winning, we're pulling together. We're learning to kind of strategize against the other schools."
Nazareth's Strouse, who grew up with an NES playing Super Mario and other games, is optimistic the structure will only continue to grow and organize. In the meantime, she said, she loves what she is able to give the kids as a cheerleader and in pushing the organization forward, alongside the students.
"I grew up in traditional sports," she said. "I played basketball. I don't think I could be a basketball coach. But this kind of gives me that ability to be a coach — something a little like that, at least for now, less stressful.
"Who knows? Moving forward, this might become more of a high-profile thing, and maybe I need to give it up to somebody who could actually coach these kids.
"For right now, I'm more of just their team manager. I help organize their matches — and I cheer them on."
