AMLE Announce Inaugural Esports League Champions

The schools will each receive a $500 prize to support their Esports programs. Beyond the prize money, the winning coaches report that the students benefited in other ways from the League. “It is really hard to put into words all the numerous positive outcomes that students got out of participating on an Esports team this past Fall,” said Coach Durand, “It provides our students with a place where they feel they belong, regardless of their background.  It created opportunities for students to learn leadership, sportsmanship, and have meaningful conversations around digital citizenship.  It also created relationships between our students and our coaches so that they had another opportunity to have a connection with a trusted adult in the building.” Coach Zilm agreed, adding, “I appreciated that it was a chance for students to enjoy fellowship in competition in a non traditional sport.  They learned to work together and respect each other, as there were some younger students with high level skills and older students who were novice players in some games.

The champion students found the League provided a fun, non-toxic atmosphere where they could play with friends, and find new ones from around the country. One student shared that, “It gives my talent for gaming some meaning in life.”  Coach Durand added that the League helped them connect with a different population of students who were not yet participating in other extra-curricular activities or traditional sports. A video snippet from the League showcases the energy and comradery the League evoked among the participants: