When the conversation of esports came about to the Kansas High School Activities Association last year, member schools were on board to make this into a program. At the April board of directors meeting, KSHSAA member schools voted to sanction an esports state championship if 24 schools signed up for the activity.
Assistant Executive Director of KSHSAA Jeremy Holladay said that the organization followed the lead of other activity associations nationwide. Holladay said that the response from Kansas schools was overwhelmingly positive.
“Up until last year, we probably had over 50 to 70 schools that were doing it as a club sport. From there, our athletic directors in the state put a proposal to the case, and said, ‘Hey, we have enough interest in this, ’” Holladay said.
Holladay said that he was initially concerned about participation, but as soon as schools started to implement the program, he was proven correct. Holladay said participation has shown similar growth to athletic programs such as girls’ wrestling.
“Nearly 90% of the students [who] participated in esports were not doing anything else within the school before,” Holladay said. ”That’s the main mission of the activity association, and that is to get students involved because we firmly believe that the students that are involved … are going to be more successful.”
For now, KSHSAA sanctioned esports competitions will only play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros and Rocket League. Plans to add more games are still being discussed, but the only restriction is that the game should be rated Teen or below.
As of this season, competitions are handled by PlayVs, who are the main sponsors of all high school esports programs nationally. In aid of helping schools with fewer resources, they are offering 10 Nintendo Switch 2s for the first 100 schools to apply in Kansas. Additionally, Holladay said that regarding helping schools, they will be depending on grants to help schools get an esports program started.
Esports head coach Josh Hart said that the team has the tools to create an established program and that their goals for this season are clear.
“We might be small in numbers at first, but we want to grow from here, and we want to compete. We want to win championships but also just give them a place where they feel like they are seen, they’re valued, and that they have some kind of exposure for their unique gifts,” Hart said.
Hart said that he acknowledges the skepticism that still exists around the legitimacy of esports; however, he said it’s important for students to take pride in what they’re building.
Senior Chloe Hannings, who hopes to be a part of the team the coming season, sees an opportunity to help change the demographic of the team. She said that the current makeup of esports is male-dominant and hopes for it to be different in the future.
“Being a part of the team would mean a lot, as someone whose special interest is video games. I noticed that everyone else at the info meeting seemed to be male. It would feel nice if I, as a woman, could show up and be a valuable contributor to the team … and possibly encourage other women to join who might have been nervous they wouldn’t be accepted,” Hannings said.
As the program continues to grow, Hart said he hopes esports will one day be recognized like other athletic programs at school.
“I want the spirit squad and cheerleaders to be at our competitions and parents to be able to watch,” Hart said. “I want it to be as big as you see on the big streams … I want it to be seen as a sport that’s important, and to value the time of those [esports] athletes.”
