Sports are always pushing new boundaries, finding ways to improve every aspect of their game. At Lambert though, few do it better than the Esports team.
Esports, short for electronic sports, is the sport of playing video games competitively. In multiplayer games, both individuals and teams compete against each other in championship style brackets until one team or individual stands at the top.
Through competitions held by the Georgia High School Association, Lambert Esports competes in a variety of different games across multiple genres and styles of competition. Everything from sports games like “Madden 23” to arcade fighting games like “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” have dedicated teams that continuously practice – developing new strategies and techniques for competition. In the fast-paced world of video games, Lambert Esports keeps up with new games and technologies that come along with the sport.
“This year we’re going to have a ‘Splatoon 3’ team, which is the first time we’ve ever had that so I’m very excited,” Co-head coach Ms. Carty said. “There’s also rule updates every year that we have to make sure we’re abiding by, like for this year we have to be hardwired for all our switch accounts instead of using wifi.”
With constant innovation, the team has been immensely successful in the past – continuing Lambert’s winning streak with three state championships for the game “League of Legends” and two for “Rocket League” since its inception in 2018.
But the Esports team provides more for its members than just championship wins. It provides a community for its members to grow and collaborate around a shared interest.
“The real thing that we’re trying to commit to this year is promoting Esports as a community and really building up player relationships,” Ms. Carty added. “You can actually branch out to this in college and colleges are actively recruiting Esports players. Even if they don’t play the game, they’re recruiting for it just because you’re in an Esports program.”
Like any other sport, the Esports team provides a real community for its members and gives them opportunities that can last a lifetime. But unlike any other sport, Esports is always changing, always growing and demanding innovation from its players. As Lambert’s team prepares for another season, they hope to win more titles for Lambert and continue pushing the definition of what it means to be a sport.
