COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – For all the things you could go to school on scholarship for, you can now add video games to the list.
The first-ever Scholastic Esports State Championships, coming to Midlands Technical College, brought in student gamers statewide, including some going to college on esports scholarships.
The love of the game was on full display at Midlands Tech on Saturday, especially for gamers like 17-year-old Joshua Hoehn.
“As a kid, I was really interested in playing games like Minecraft. I picked up Fortnite, then I picked up Rocket League and kind of fell in love with the game,” Hoehn said.
The West Florence High School Student was one of over 100 students competing in Rocket League or Super Smash Bros Ultimate at the first-ever scholastic esports state championships in South Carolina.
He’s even more excited that his love for Rocket League will be paying for part of his college experience, thanks to an esports scholarship from Winthrop University
“I’ve grown through it as I’ve gone through high school, and it’s gotten so much bigger,” Hoehn said, “It’s giving me almost free college, so it’s great.”
Loie McLaine of Fort Dorchester High helped her teammates win their Super Smash Bros matchups.
She’s on scholarship to play Overwatch 2 for Winthrop University’s esports team.
Cheering on her teammates made her reflect on the moment she found out she would be playing for the Winthrop Eagles.
“I got the message on Stay Plugged In and it was from Winthrop,” McLaine said, “It was a dream come true; it was unreal.”
McLaine says while esports has given her unlimited opportunities, the best thing it’s given her is a second family.
“The reason I was so attracted to e-sports, especially in the competitive environment and the team-based environment, was because they didn’t just feel like teammates, they felt like family,” McLaine said, “I talked and made friends with people I never who I never could’ve foreseen myself talking with. Players are making friends with someone we don’t even know, and that’s what brings us together.”
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