Esports
Griswold High School's Esports team was created in 2021 to compete against high schools across the country via the High School Esports League (HSEL), and hopefully make the HSEL tournaments.
The Griswold team started with competitive games of Rocket League, and has since offered Valorant, Minecraft, and Super Smash Bros. Other games may be offered as interest and league offerings allow.
The Esports team utilizes GHS's state-of-the-art advanced technology Nexus Lab to practice and compete on professional-level gaming computers. They participate in HSEL's Fall Season.
Tune in to GHS Wolverines Esports Competitions on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/griswoldsportsnetwork
Follow Griswold High School Esports on Twitter @GriswoldEsports
What is Esports?
Esports is a worldwide phenomenon and a billion-dollar industry; it takes video gaming to another level, with organized competitive play between teams, while following strict rules and guidelines.
In addition to gaming, students participating will need to learn IT skills to keep the network running, along with business components, broadcasting, and streaming to Twitch. Streaming includes pulling the gaming screens, face cams, and commentary all together across the network. Students also set up a Discord server to be able to communicate with each other during play.
Esports help students cultivate teamwork and soft skills, such as self-confidence, critical and strategic problem-solving, communication, collaboration, sportsmanship, creativity, and leadership. Fostering these skills can help students in future academic endeavors, careers, and leadership roles.
High School students are being recruited by colleges and receiving scholarships for esports (more than 200 colleges and universities currently offer esports).
Read more about GHS's Esports team in a 2021 CT Examiner article.
Who can join?
The Griswold High School esports team is currently limited to 20 students. Just as any other team on campus, esports is open to students in all grades (9-12), and students must have passed at least four (4) classes in the previous semester, and maintain a solid attendance and behavior record (the GPS Athletic Director will determine if a student is eligible to participate in any team sport). Since all gaming takes place online, travel is not required. The team meets after school Monday through Thursday for practices and competitions during HSEL's Fall Season.
Just as with other GHS athletics, students can register for esports through FamilyID.
Griswold High School Esports coaches: Jim Rand and Kyle Gunderman
Griswold Esports Recognition
Read more about GHS's Esports team in a 2021 CT Examiner article.
Griswold High School's Nexus Lab was recognized as one of the Top 10 Esports and Gaming Labs in the Country by Generation Esports and the High School Esports League in April 2022. Watch the video on YouTube here.
Griswold High School Esports' Valorant Green Team ranked 7th in the HSEL East (eastern US) and 1st in the State of Connecticut during the 2022 Fall Major. Congratulations to the team for their hard work!
More Opportunities for Esports
Griswold High School offers several elective courses that focus on Esports, and skills that would help students pursue competitive esports or Game-related majors in college.
Current Esports Courses:
- Gaming Concepts 1.0: Fundamentals
- Gaming Concepts 2.0: Interactive Media
- Digital Streaming
- Shoutcasting
- Esports Business Management
Related courses that could relay into careers in game development and game design:
- Python Coding
- Animation
GHS often invites guest speakers from the gaming industry and representatives from colleges that offer Esports Teams and/or Gaming Majors to speak to students enrolled in esports-related courses and/or on the esports team. Sometimes these presentations happen after school, and parents are invited to join.