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On Friday, high school students competed in video games like Overwatch, Marvel Rivals and Rocket League as part of the West Virginia Student Esports League (WVSEL).
The league launched in spring 2024 to expand high school access to collegiate esports and aims to connect students with scholarship opportunities across the state and the surrounding region.
Fifteen in-state teams competed, and match-ups were livestreamed on Twitch and YouTube. Students were also invited to coaching seminars led by West Virginia University (WVU) Esports varsity players.
Friday’s matches in the ballrooms of the Mountainlair, WVU Morgantown’s student union, are part of the WVSEL’s Fall Finals, which were rescheduled from December.
WVU’s varsity program, which started in 2021, has won a national title and multiple conference and regional titles. They have rosters for popular games, including Call of Duty, Valorant, Rocket League and Madden.
To learn more about WVU’s esports teams and WVSEL, visit their website.
Hannah Heiskell is a student at West Virginia University’s Reed School of Media and Communications.