BUNDLE UP AND PULL OUT YOUR KEYBOARDS

As it gets colder and colder, you will see Esports pop up in high schools around the country, but more specifically in CCA these past few years. Mr. Zorn, who is the coach for our school's E (Electronics) Sports team, was the one who started it and the one who gives advice to our players. Right now, the CCA Esports team plays Overwatch and Rocket League. Esports is offered outside of school but it is still a school program. CCA won the state championship 2023 for Rocket League with Cade Mineart, Logan McMorran, and Abe Banwart, who all were seniors that are now graduated. Right now they are pursuing Overwatch rather than Rocket League since they are in their first week and the current score as of 1/15/25 is 3-1. The current team for Overwatch members are Brody Steggall, Ethan Kohnen, Jack Kestel, Kevin Sherlock, Trey Colemen, Jayden Ohrt, Alexander Arensdorf, Samson Strank, Joshua Gaete, Rowan Blomme, Gabriela Henriquez, and Joel Hardy. CCA’s biggest competitor is Williamsburg and against them is the only time we lost. 

DAVID ZORN OVERLOOKING THE ESPORTS TEAM; PHOTO BY GABI HENRIQUEZ

Our Esports team is hoping to go to state for Overwatch this year and they are doing very well in terms of that. Rocket League just played a game against Central Dewitt and won. Our Rocket League team is undefeated and is very good in my opinion. Every competition is streamed on their Youtube channel and is narrated over by Mr. Huch and our biggest supporters are the English department. He makes jokes and gives everyone a good laugh. Esports practice is every Monday and Thursday, and competition is on Tuesday.

The way overwatch is played is a 5 vs 5 hero shooter where each team has a preferred pick of a tank, two damages and two support classes. The rounds are about 5-10 minutes long and you play 2-4 rounds each. One team chooses the map and their team of characters, then the other team does the same. There are home games just like in any other sport, but no one leaves and the team that is at home gets to decide what map they play. Overwatch and Rocket League are not the only games an Esports team can play, but it is what CCA plays.

Some other games you could play are Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, Fortnite, Geoguessr, Street Fighter 6, Brawlhalla, Apex Legends, Minecrafts, Marvel Rivals, Deadlock, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Halo Infinite, and Rainbow Six Siege. A little side note is that Rainbow Six Siege is only for 16+ players, otherwise everything else is for anyone. CCA used to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe but we stopped since we don’t have enough people. 

CCA’s esports are open to all and Mr. Zorn is very willing to let people join. But I would like to finish this off by thanking Mr Zorn for all the wonderful help and information, even though I annoyed him everyday.