This past weekend, the Niles West Esports team placed second in state for Valorant and League of Legends. Recently, esports has become more and more popular, and many schools have their own teams, making a second-place ranking at state a significant accomplishment for the Niles West team. Valorant is a team-based first-person shooter game that takes place in the future. League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle game, taking place in mystical arenas.

Although Valorant isn’t your typical sport, hard work and immense skill are still necessary to succeed. Players on Niles West’s team have still put in years of hard work on their gaming skills to be able to compete at this high of a level. Like any sport, Esports requires practice and precision. 

“Going to state was exciting, the last time we went was 2 years ago. The build-up to last weekend required a lot of hours and we’ve been practicing for the past 2 years. Seeing people I talked to online in person was an amazing experience,” senior Liam Cierpiala said. 

Physical sports give you connections, and many kids’ friendships are found through sports. One thing unique about Esports is that you can meet new people, and create new friendships even if you don’t see the person physically. Although many people don’t advocate video gaming, it’s undeniable that it’s a great way to be social, and even make new friends.

Genuinely enjoying playing with your teammates makes the gaming experience so much better. Video games were created to have fun, and many times, they can feel like doing chores instead of relaxing and having fun with your friends. The Niles West team is very tight-knit, and they certainly enjoy playing together. Feeling safe and comfortable with the people you spend hours gaming with pushes you to be better as a team and an individual. 

“The team environment was supportive and we learned a lot from each other. It was super fun when we started improving and winning,“ senior Nathan Magsino said.

Strong bonds among the team only make the victory even more satisfying.“It was really amazing to see our team succeed. I mean I’ve known and played with most of these guys for years and is finally getting to state was a really big achievement,” senior Daniel Nissan said.

Several players on the team have known each other for years, even going to middle school together. Nissan and his friends have even introduced each other to new video games. Being able to speak to each other and communicate as long as they had access to a computer has allowed them to stay so close, even after multiple years of knowing each other. 

The team’s close relationships and positive attitudes have pushed them toward success. Congratulations to the varsity Valorant and League of Legends teams for working hard, being dedicated, and placing second at state.