UHCL eSports looks to be one of the first recognized teams on campus
CORRECTION: 10/23/17 – “UHCL eSports is the biggest student organization at UHCL” was edited to “UHCL eSports is one of the biggest student organizations at UHCL.”
UHCL has become a four-year university, but it still doesn’t have a recognized intercollegiate sports team. UHCL eSports hopes to be one of the first to represent UHCL as an official sport on campus in the coming future.
UHCL eSports is a student organization dedicated to gaming. It hosts leagues that compete in on-campus tournaments, and it gives players a chance to showcase their skills and play against other competitors in games such as “Overwatch,” “League of Legends” and “Super Smash Bros.”
“Right now we have to wait for the new recreation center to finish before any big moves can be made,” said Cameron Balmer, president of the UHCL eSports student organization. “When it does finish, it shouldn’t be long before we are officially recognized as a sport.”
The new Recreation and Wellness Center, which will be located near the Student Services and Classroom Building, is currently under construction with an expected completion date of July 2018.
UHCL eSports hopes to garner sponsorship and funding in order to attain more members and expand its game library. Right now the organization is limited to certain consoles and games but hope to ascertain enough funding to purchase games that are requested.
Since its start, UHCL eSports has grown exponentially, now totaling over 140 members. UHCL eSports is currently one of the biggest student organizations at UHCL.
“We hope that with funding and finally being recognized as a sport, that more people will join, and we can facilitate and cater to everyone,” Balmer said.
Bringing sports to UHCL is one thing, but for campuses to start recognizing eSports as a legitimate sport is a major step forward for the gaming community.
“The fact that eSports is on national television, and there is a growing professional league, now is the time to get their organization on the map in the state,” said Brian Mills, director of Campus Recreation and Wellness.
Having eSports as an intercollegiate sport, especially one of the first at UHCL, could benefit eSports and the other sports on campus. Balmer explained that it could bring other good gamers in from the region.
“To be lumped in with the other sports on campus is really great,” Balmer said. “It can get people talking, and who knows, maybe in the future students could receive scholarships for gaming.”
UHCL eSports hopes that through funding, national recognition and growing popularity, UHCL can have a competing sport that can represent the school and the number of talented individuals in the gaming community.
UHCL eSports will begin hosting bi-weekly meetings. Their idea is to plan an online discord game night after the meetings to see who wants to play which game. This would allow those who are not able to make the drive to the meetings to still be involved.
“For students to have options in activities or organizations, to have a group of students with similar interests, and to have the ability to recreate or compete through this sport is an amazing opportunity,” Mills said.
