Despite the gradual return to campus, the esports club is thriving with remote connection.
“Without having students on campus right now, all of our activities for all our clubs are virtual only. For esports they’re still playing, still active, but it’s all from home,” said Adam Burke, the assistant director of programs for campus recreation and the administrator and club advisor for the esports club.
On August 29th and 30th the esports club from the University of Wyoming and Colorado State University participated in the esports Border Wars. UW lost 5 to 1, their only point came from the Hearthstone challenge.
“It’s a way to bring traditional school rivalries into esports, which I think is fun just having the rivalries, but for school officials they see us as more legitimate,” Jacob Oleyar, who founded the club in 2016 and is currently the senior advisor, said.
Burke said that most club activities have been able to continue without the need for in person contact.
“They connect, they set up times to play, they join together,” Burke said, “and they practice the competitive games and they play recreationally from their own homes.”
The only event the club has been unable to do during the campus closure has been the Super Smash Bros. recreational competition that was previously every Friday night at 5 pm in the Half Acre Gymnasium.
Oleyer said he estimates there are anywhere from 100 to 200 active members in the club and over 500 members on their Discord page.
The enrollment has been lower Burke said. More students will enroll when they return to campus, and during Involvement Fest he said, next week on Sept. 17th.
“One thing I think is awesome about esports and gaming in general is that anyone can do it. It’s not like basketball or volleyball where you want to be tall like that. If you have an interest there is definitely a spot for you. It’s what you make it,” said Oleyar.
Oleyar explained the different aspects with the club. For recreational gaming there normally are weekly meetings but for now there are online games anyone can join.
For competitive games there are six or seven games the club will have multiple competitive teams for Oleyar said. Some games include Hearthstone, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and more. Anyone can join a competitive team despite experience.
During this time the club meets over their Discord page where anyone can stay up to date on the club and talk within the community they have built at any time.
