Park Center Senior High esports teams compete at state level

The emerging world of high school esports teams has hit Park Center Senior High (PCSH), and this year the school had several team members representing the school at the state tournament March 1 and 2. 

Esports has been an option at PCSH for the past three years, since father-son teaching duo Noel and Gavin Raph created a new opportunity for students to get involved in school-sanctioned activities. The co-ed team plays other schools around the metro area in weekly virtual matches as part of the Minnesota Varsity League. The team plays about eight regular season games, and competitors vie for the top two or three spots at a divisional tournament for the chance to participate in the state meet, which takes place in person at St. Cloud State University. 

The PCSH teams who competed at the state tournament include the Rocket League team of Camden Symoniak, Lazario Sims and Carter Opbroek, along with both the school’s varsity and JV Valorant teams: Kwm-Lewis Yang, Ambres Palmer, Josiah Yang, Sean Xiong, Kyle Xiong, Mike Tran-Nguyen, Nick Nguyen, Gia Le, Aden Vue, Kaleb Khamvongsa and Yenhue Lor. 

Though most of the school’s esport games are played virtually, Gavin Raph said plans are in the works to get a school lab space that can accommodate in-person participation. There is also an effort afoot at the state level to gain sanctioned status as a Minnesota State High School League activity, though Raph said that plan is in early stages. But, no matter its official status, he said the club fills an important gap in programming opportunities at the school. 

“While some esports students do participate in other activities, for many of them, esports provide a way to those who don’t normally participate in school activities to participate in an active way,” Raph said of the club. “I’m always an advocate of finding additional ways that students can be part of school spirit in whatever means they are capable of and passionate about.”