Esports arena coming to Arizona Western College
News 11's Adonis Albright speaks with the coach & members of the esports team to learn more
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Western College (AWC) will soon be home to a new esports arena, which will host competitive matches through online video games. The arena is part of the college's 2021 Innovation Fund which goes toward several new projects around campus.
Although the arena won't be up and running for a couple of years to come, the college is currently recruiting for players to join their ranks in competitive esports teams.
The Esports League was established under the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in 2019. AWC students compete in several games, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Call of Duty, League of Legends and Madden, among others.
Esports teams have become major selling points for colleges and universities across the globe, and allow many students to have the opportunity of acquiring scholarships and other perks, similar to regular athletes.
“You have the traditional sports students, baseball, soccer, volleyball and all those; and you can reach out and bring students in with those programs, but this gives the opportunity to a population of students who would have never had that opportunity before. For the college, it’s a big thing because we’re bringing in students to play these games, and for the students it’s a good thing because they’re getting opportunities for scholarships and moving on to four years, transferring like regular athletes do", said A.J. Buchtel, the esports head coach at AWC.
The team is currently playing remotely because of the pandemic, but they do have a temporary station in the engineering building on campus.
"I was really surprised when it was going to be announced as a sport because I was mainly playing for fun, and obviously some games have their own rank system, so I always participate in those things so I can see what percentage of the world I’m in. So, it’s really convenient that it popped up”, said Kairo Valenzuela, a member of the esports team.
Even if students don't want to play competitively, the gaming club is always welcoming anyone to come by, play and have some fun.
You can find or watch the esports team on Twitch, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @AWC_matadoresports. You can also send an email to esports@azwestern.edu.
