Esports Team Doubles in Size, Moves to New Arena
Christian Smith
While Manchester has been building a new stadium for its sport teams, the esports team has quietly been doubling in size and has a new arena of its own, too. Garrett Schieferstein, director of esports, has moved his team to a larger venue in Calvin Ulrey and hired an assistant coach as well.
“I am beyond excited to dive even further into the world of collegiate esports,” Schieferstein said. “Getting to coach, recruit and compete over the last year and a half has been a blessing and I’m looking forward to doing the things I love full time.” A 2019 MU grad with a degree in business management and entrepreneurship, Schieferstein is the full-time Esports director.
Schieferstein and his players define Esports as the competitive video games played for the entertainment of spectators, like conventional athletics. This sport can be played at any level such as amateur, collegiate or professional. Esports at MU began in spring 2020. Some of the games to compete in are: League of Legends, Super Smash Bro’s, and Rocket League. The choice of games is based up the interest of the university and other schools nationwide.
The new assistant coach is Orion Celentano, a 2021 graduate from the University of Miami. He has helped the team a lot as he utilizes his degree in games and simulation with a focus in esports to help players be successful.
One of the biggest accomplishments so far is becoming the 2020 Smash Bro’s Conference Champions. This year Schieferstein is excited for the upcoming season due to 28 high school players joining MU esports to earn starting roster spots. He and the MU players are looking to repeat as GLEC Conference champs and even place in the top 20 teams in the nation. They recently added Overwatch and Valorant rosters.
How do the e-athletes practice for video games? But the answer to that is the same as practicing for any sport. Their practices consist of match reviews, scrimmages against other teams, and 1 on 1 drills. Schieferstein coaches the team by working with them live in communications, telling them what they are doing right and what they are going wrong.
Braxton Dewey and Bryce Morales, two seniors, find esports to be a great way of self-identification and gaining new friends. Both players love how esports provide them the chance to represent the school in a way that they enjoy. Their favorite games are “League of Legends” and “Smash Brothers.” They both agreed that esports is great for mental health recovery after long hours of studying and reading. This allows their brain to go into a happy place or environment of its own. Both students are former football players and love the fact that esports is an all year-round sport. Dewey is minoring in coaching, so he sees a future in coaching esports.