UPIKE eSports gains ground for season
0Written By Shane Hall
Early morning workouts, practice sessions and study hours are all standards of UPIKE athletes, and for UPIKE eSports it’s no different, thanks to the efforts of interim coach and area coordinator for residence life Kelly Porter.
“There are no bones about it; we take this very seriously. If there is someone who wants a legitimate competitive format in the eSports realm, UPIKE is the place for them,” Porter said.
Porter has improved upon the framework that was put in place by previous coach Matt King to elevate UPIKE above the competition.
“There are a lot of eSports programs at universities that are treated more like clubs; this is one of the few universities where it is a varsity sport,” Porter said.
Daily study hours, group workouts and team meals are just a few of the improvements that give UPIKE eSport athletes the ability to succeed the rest of the day, according to UPIKE eSport athlete Jessie Barger.
“It feels more structured. Feels more like an athletic team, like people are taking it more seriously. I know the will to play at a high level, and that is shared now,” Barger said.
The teams are set to compete this spring after the fall off-season. Teams include League of Legends, Overwatch, and HearthStone.
Try-outs were held earlier in the semester, but if students are interested in competing, they can contact Porter.