Sometimes scoffed at and often misunderstood, esports – organized, multiplayer, computer-based competitions – are hugely popular and, in recent years, have exploded on college campuses. This fall, Assumption established a team in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries.
Esports is one of Assumption’s new Blue & White Club Sports, an initiative created in 2018 to encompass three new club sports programs (men’s swimming and women’s ice are not part of the College’s official NCAA teams but function at a higher, more competitive level than the school’s traditional club sports model.
Assumption esports is in its first season, under the direction of head coach Robert Skinnion. Comprised of 15 students, five of whom were recruited to the College’s team, the program includes players involved in a main League of Legends (a multiplayer online battle arena video game) team, as well as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (the fifth installment of Super Smash Bros., a series of crossover fighting video games that feature characters from various Nintendo franchises). Future expansion may include games like FIFA Soccer, Madden NFL, and Rocket League.
Assumption President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., noted that while it seems nontraditional now, esports are expected to become commonplace within collegiate athletics programs. “At first glance, it would seem that esports is inconsistent with any academic institution, because students already spend an enormous amount of time engaging via technology as opposed to engaging person to person,” President Cesareo said. “But what you have to do in esports competition is come together and work as a team.”
The opportunity to be included on an esports team attracts students like James Bachini ’23, who has been a gamer most of his life and is drawn to communities and team-based play. “I became involved in this program at Assumption when I shadowed a student on campus,” Bachini said. “I was instantly pulled in. The thought of being on a team was amazing, and the idea that someone was interested in me playing on a team made me so happy and eager to try out. Esports brings a whole new level of team involvement to someone who wants to play a collegiate sport but not a physical one.”
There is a new community gaming space – an esports arena – in the Hagan Campus Center where players in the program practice and compete, and other community events such as movie and casual gaming nights will take place. “The space Assumption has provided is truly one of a kind here in New England,” Skinnion said. “The experience we can provide for collegiate events, watch parties, and tournaments is unequaled.”
That space drew the attention of Hayley Orkins ’20, who volunteered to assist the program with marketing, as she has extensive gaming knowledge and skills earned through years of gaming with her brothers. “After hearing about the program and what it would offer Assumption students, I became even more enthralled,” Orkins said. “I wanted to be able to share my passion and have a positive impact on others, since gaming in general seems to garner some negative opinions from those who don’t fully understand its growing presence and importance in our society.”
Students who participate in esports, according to Skinnion, are also able to tie their gaming interests to potential future careers. “With an industry this large, there are many job opportunities, not just playing games but making events happen, building service companies, and working in the areas of media, production, and audiovisual,” Skinnion said. “Students who love gaming can find careers around their interest, applying what they learned in school.”
Not only are there ample career opportunities, but, according to President Cesareo, esports is congruent with Assumption’s mission. “As any sport does, it teaches respect, teamwork, perseverance, and commitment to doing what needs to be done in order to excel,” he said. “All of these different aspects of any athletic competition flow out of the mission of the institution in the development of all aspects of the person.”
Skinnion said there has been an overwhelming response campus-wide from interested students. “Building an interactive experience on campus that invites students to engage with their community, meet other community members with shared interests, and connect over games, technology, and media is critical to building the campus of the future,” he said. “We’re seeing a major shift in how Gen Z and others consume media, and these kinds of programs and the content we’ll be able to produce around a program like this will help Assumption succeed in its educational mission for decades to come.”
