Esports Milestone for WSU

[WstateU]

KWCH - WSU Tech Esports team recognized as national champions

Room for more...

P.S. Ross still hasn't been properly recognized...

[SubGod22]

KWCH - WSU Tech Esports team recognized as national champions

A WSU Tech Esports team, crowned a national champion in April, received their trophy in a ceremony on Tuesday. The national title, won in the online game, “Rainbow Six Siege,” is the second championship in program history for the WSU Tech team.

But Tuesday’s trophy presentation wasn’t just about celebrating, it was a time for the program to recognize the continuous growth it’s seen in the past year.

“Honestly, I would say it doesn’t feel real yet,” said WSU Tech Esports Coach Mario Catellanos, reflecting on the national-championship-winning year.

WSU Tech Esports Coordinator Garrett Shaddix reflected on what it took for the team to come out on top.

[SubGod22]

WSU - Wichita State Esports sees continued growth as it enters a new era under new leader

What started out as an extracurricular activity at the Shocker Gaming Club has ballooned into a career leading students to success for Wichita State’s Joe Mazzara.

Mazzara, who was recently appointed to director of Wichita State University’s Esports program, began his tenure with the program as a volunteer assistant coach while he was an undergrad at WSU, before becoming the assistant director of Esports in 2019.

“During the infancy of the program, I felt I was learning quickly and excelling in areas like recruitment and team operations and always took a player-first approach to program leadership, which allowed me to connect with our players on a personal level,” Mazzara said. “My motivation to continue with the program has been fueled by my previous mentors/directors and the impact we have had on students' lives as a result of the creation of the varsity esports program.”

Wichita State Esports, housed in the College of Applied Studies, primarily competes in the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). Among the supported titles in the association, WSU Esports currently has teams in Call of Duty, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) and Valorant, but Avery Pierce — program manager for WSU Esports and another student turned full-time employee of the program — doesn’t see why the number of teams can’t continue to grow in the future if the demand is there for it from the players.

“NACE is very big on the big-named titles like League of Legends,” Pierce said. “We currently don’t have the student population to fill those rosters, but if we have that ability in the future, we’ll do it.”

NACE only allows one team per game per school, so in all but Overwatch 2, WSU Esports includes a varsity team and a JV team, giving more Shockers the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of competition.

Mazzara has high hopes for the program under his tenure.

“My goal for WSU Esports during my term as director is to make Wichita State the best place to be an esports athlete,” Mazzara said. “I want to continue to develop our player engagement and player experience initiatives and expand the applied learning opportunities available for non-competitors .”

WSU Esports isn’t just its players, others work behind the scenes to elevate the program. David Hunter, student videographer for WSU Esports, is one such student who was recently selected as a finalist for the Student Leadership Award from NACE.

“When it comes to leadership, a lot of people think about it as being ‘the boss,’ but it’s a lot more than that,” Hunter said in his nomination video. “It’s a lot more of leading by example, and in esports, that’s a really important thing.”

Esports continues to see growth


WSU Esports has seen tremendous success since its inception. Nearly 60 students are signed to its roster, doubling what the program had in 2022.

Such growth isn’t just happenstance. WSU Esports has been putting in results.

The Valorant team saw a tournament victory in fall 2023 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship. Other teams have seen many top four finishes, including the Rocket League team in fall 2023 and spring 2024 and the SSBU team in fall 2023.

And in NACE, the Shockers have top four finishes in Valorant and SSBU, and just this spring, the Call of Duty team reached the grand finals in Modern Warfare 3.

“Our Varsity Esports program is having a significant impact at Wichita State through our five competitive teams, applied learning student positions and scholarship opportunities,” said Dr. Jennifer Friend, dean of the College of Applied Studies. “Our esports program is gaining national prominence through the 2022 and 2023 ECAC Valorant national championships, and due to the professional connections and outstanding leadership of our esports director, Joe Mazzara.”

Learn more about joining the Wichita State Esports roster or support staff

WSU Esports isn’t just a competitor; it’s pushing Wichita as a premier destination for esports.

Bringing high-level competition from around the Midwest, D-Air Capital (a portmanteau of Air Capital and the move from the Super Smash Bros. series) will host players in WSU’s Rhatigan Student Center Aug. 31 for competitions in both Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

The D-Air Capital regional Super Smash Bros. tournament was revived with help from WSU Esports alongside Wichita Melee and SoKanSmash to bolster the Midwest fighting game scene. WSU Esports has also been collaborating with Visit Wichita to ensure the event succeeds.

“Esports is a rapidly expanding industry, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Wichita State Esports to help them host these exciting events,” said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita. “As Visit Wichita continues to attract remarkable events to the city to drive economic growth, we are happy to support this dynamic field and its positive impact on the community.”

Applications to compete or volunteer for D-Air Capital are still open.

WSU Esports also hosts other events, such as the weekly Shocker Smash Fridays at the Esports Hub in the Heskett Center, and recently supported the annual Kansas K.O. tournament held on campus.

“I hope to continue bringing successful esports events to campus and strengthening our relationship with community partners to make Wichita a consistent destination for SSBU and other fighting game competitions,” Mazzara said.

Summer camps encourage youth to pursue esports


Recently Pierce saw an opportunity amidst the growing popularity of esports and started an annual high school summer camp to help spread the word about esports and give WSU Esports players a chance to guide the next generation of players.

The camp isn’t simply just an excuse for high schoolers to play games; students gain valuable experience and learn from those already competing. It’s also an opportunity for them to see how esports can be a career, how it can complement other career paths and serve as an outlet for them to make connections.

“This camp isn't just about showing kids potential routes they can take in their futures; it’s about connecting with people who have already tried different things and seeing if it feels like themselves,” said Japheth Briney, junior business administration major and member of the SSBU team. “I feel, at least for me, it was very hard to find where I belonged growing up, and I feel it’s only getting harder and harder for kids to get out and try new things as time goes on. This camp is an excuse to try something new and find out who you are.”

Students can try out games from WSU Esports’ roster or choose additional games that are rising in popularity, including titles like MultiVersus and Mario Kart.

Members of WSU Esports also get the opportunity to use their expertise to help the campers learn games and give them an inside look at what it’s like competing at the highest levels of collegiate esports.

“Foundational understanding of esports in its entirety isn't clear until you’re in the industry,” said Codi Reinert, sophomore game design major and member of the Call of Duty JV team. “Giving kids an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of esports is special to me because my generation never had these opportunities.”

Pierce started the camps in 2023, and even in their second year, the camps have already seen students return to gain even more insights from the program. This summer, two separate camps were held, for a week each, June 17-21 and June 24-28.

“It is always great to see the next generation taking an interest in something I was always so passionate about,” said Aiden Heckard, sophomore industrial engineering major and member of the SSBU team. “The campers reminded me of myself at that age and the opportunities I wish I had.”

[WstateU]

[Kung Wu]

Are you saying that human isolation is good and human interaction and Sociability has no mental health value? This study found equal value in it. The Swatters (according to news stories) spent many hours on their machines. Although, those Swatters made a lot more money through their isolation.

I haven't said anything remotely close. Did you not read post #7?

But it helps to be fit in esports, on top of being mentally top class. And it helps to be smart in football, on top of being a physical specimen.

I said both be fit and exercise your mind. You disregarded that and kept ranting that esports are terrible. But now that you have done your research, you are catching on.

[Shockm]

You could have just agreed with post #7 and saved yourself the research time. :)

Are you saying that human isolation is good and human interaction and Sociability has no mental health value? This study found equal value in it. The Swatters (according to news stories) spent many hours on their machines. Although, those Swatters made a lot more money through their isolation.

[Kung Wu]

It seems pretty obvious that a person should indulge in both video games and outdoor activities in equal measure. Just like any form of recreation, too much of one thing can be bad. A healthy mix of outdoor activities and video games is going to be healthy and positive for both adults and children.

You could have just agreed with post #7 and saved yourself the research time. :)

[Shockm]

I do play a little to unwind and clear my mind sometimes. I will also gamble a couple of bucks here and there just for fun. I'm still up about $400 and never bet more than $10 on any activity. But this has more to do with the mental health aspect that I'm very passionate about. I absolutely hate when people blindly throw out things and attach mental health to it with no backing and just a personal prejudice. It's used as a way to diminish and belittle people and I don't stand for that. Maybe that wasn't your intention and you were just being lazy, but you brought up the unscrupulous stereotypes and tried to paint a picture that does not truly exist outside of the fringes, but we can point to the fringes of any group and paint unflattering pictures of a larger group as a whole. That's still lazy and dishonest.

We all have different values. I think that Vitamin D is a good thing for kids, which can only happen from outside daylight. Here is research that says that outside play is best for kids socially too (which I agree with). This also says that kids should do both video games, and outside play. However, I'm sure that there is evidence for the opposite.

https://www.scholaradvisor.com/essay...g-video-games/
Outdoor activities are far more social than video games, which means they help people to become more sociable. They make it easier for people to come together in groups and take part in social activities.

Conclusion
It seems pretty obvious that a person should indulge in both video games and outdoor activities in equal measure. Just like any form of recreation, too much of one thing can be bad. A healthy mix of outdoor activities and video games is going to be healthy and positive for both adults and children.

[SubGod22]

I do play a little to unwind and clear my mind sometimes. I will also gamble a couple of bucks here and there just for fun. I'm still up about $400 and never bet more than $10 on any activity. But this has more to do with the mental health aspect that I'm very passionate about. I absolutely hate when people blindly throw out things and attach mental health to it with no backing and just a personal prejudice. It's used as a way to diminish and belittle people and I don't stand for that. Maybe that wasn't your intention and you were just being lazy, but you brought up the unscrupulous stereotypes and tried to paint a picture that does not truly exist outside of the fringes, but we can point to the fringes of any group and paint unflattering pictures of a larger group as a whole. That's still lazy and dishonest.

[Shockm]

It's okay if you wish to live your life with your head buried in the sand.

Your unspoken reference that I’m like an ostrich doesn’t bother me. I’m surprised. Politics are usually more a barrier than gaming. I don’t spend or waste time gambling either, because those kinds of things don’t appeal to me. It appears that you like those activities.

I Ike golf, fishing, Shocker basketball (not as much the past couple of years) and baseball and professional football.

[Kung Wu]

Do you REALLY want to compare criminal offense and drug usage statistics between esports pros and NFL players?

[SubGod22]

It's okay if you wish to live your life with your head buried in the sand.

[Shockm]

You have a very strange mental image of everyone that plays. There are some high level gamers that are also fitness fanatics. Tons of people you'd consider athletes play quite a bit as well. It seems like you envision all gamers to be 300lb slobs that never leave mom's basement. I'm sure they exist, but they're not the norm.

And to be honest, the best of the best make more money than most of us could only dream of.

Also, most of these kids are probably some of the best students when it comes to academic scores as well. I'm not sure why you seem to think it's simply a bunch of losers with no ambitions or hopes for anything beyond sitting in front of a screen and playing games. And by the way, there have been a lot of studies done that actually say that gaming and the community can be very beneficial to mental health and it actually has shown some benefit to the academic side as it helps foster the ability to problem solve and calculate things quickly. I believe it was Kung Wu that laid much of that out previously.

Video gaming can benefit mental health, find Oxford academics

Why gaming is better for your mental health than you might think

Video Games Could Hold Untapped Potential in Treatment of Mental Illness

The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Video Games

Why playing games is good for you

How Video Games Can Help Older Adults

Benefits of Video Games For Kids & Adults

Now, for those who have a video game addiction, there are negative impacts to their mental health, though that's pretty much the case for all addictions. Which makes it less about the actual gaming and more about the underlying issues that are going untreated or undiagnosed.

The swatters that I saw, a couple from Wichita, were flat out Losers. I know quite a bit about Research, and a lot of the Research sucks. Just look at the New England Medical Journal on Masks, and Racism. It’s trash.

[SubGod22]

JMHO from an old man. We have lots of mental health problems in our world today. Esports not a sport and I have no respect for those who spend a great deal of free time in front of a television with a joystick. Kids. Do your homework, get outside, and play with others to live a healthy life, both mentally and physically.

You have a very strange mental image of everyone that plays. There are some high level gamers that are also fitness fanatics. Tons of people you'd consider athletes play quite a bit as well. It seems like you envision all gamers to be 300lb slobs that never leave mom's basement. I'm sure they exist, but they're not the norm.

And to be honest, the best of the best make more money than most of us could only dream of.

Also, most of these kids are probably some of the best students when it comes to academic scores as well. I'm not sure why you seem to think it's simply a bunch of losers with no ambitions or hopes for anything beyond sitting in front of a screen and playing games. And by the way, there have been a lot of studies done that actually say that gaming and the community can be very beneficial to mental health and it actually has shown some benefit to the academic side as it helps foster the ability to problem solve and calculate things quickly. I believe it was Kung Wu that laid much of that out previously.

Video gaming can benefit mental health, find Oxford academics

Why gaming is better for your mental health than you might think

Video Games Could Hold Untapped Potential in Treatment of Mental Illness

The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Video Games

Why playing games is good for you

How Video Games Can Help Older Adults

Benefits of Video Games For Kids & Adults

Now, for those who have a video game addiction, there are negative impacts to their mental health, though that's pretty much the case for all addictions. Which makes it less about the actual gaming and more about the underlying issues that are going untreated or undiagnosed.

[Shockm]

JMHO from an old man. We have lots of mental health problems in our world today. Esports not a sport and I have no respect for those who spend a great deal of free time in front of a television with a joystick. Kids. Do your homework, get outside, and play with others to live a healthy life, both mentally and physically.