WSU Esports | Photo by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
With over 400 students interacting with the organization’s resources, the e-Sports club is now one of the largest on campus, offering games for casual and competitive players in their new and improved space.
Facilities and competition
The collegiate e-Sports club has come a long way since starting in the fall of 2020. Over the summer of 2024, the e-Sports club officially moved into their new space in the basement of the Student Union, previously known as the Student Organization Suite.
Originally meeting in a small classroom in Millett Hall as a ‘League of Legends’ club, the new facilities allow for greater visibility and expansion opportunities for the club, which offers games for casual and professional players alike.
“It was massive [growth], actually,” Vice President Seth Davis said. “Being seen from people just walking through the Student Union has really skyrocketed membership. We were averaging 20 new members every week since we opened our doors at the start of the semester.”
Freshman computer science major Joshua Wise is the secretary of e-Sports. Wise discussed the nature of the club and when they attract the most players.
“We found that from 12 to 6 [p.m.], we cater to the casuals and the general people, but once the doors are closed, it’s a little bit more experience for competitive teams that actually want to get to the tournament and play a little bit more serious,” Wise said.
Competitive teams include the games Valorant, Rainbow Six, Overwatch, Counter-Strike, Rocket League, Call of Duty and the potential for a League of Legends team. Overwatch includes multiple string teams, including a black string team that is all-female. Any member can propose their own team in addition to the aforementioned teams if there is enough demonstrated interest.
A common goal for the club is to continue advancing their competitive prowess.
Future goals and opportunities
The Horizon League does not currently include e-Sports, so leadership seeks competitions outside the area. The COD team traveled to Virginia to compete at the collegiate level, and the Valorant team will be participating in a tournament with a $20,000 grand prize.
In addition to this, the club is also trying to get a LAN, or local area network, started with other schools in the area to compete against and play with other teams.
However, there are plenty of opportunities for non-competitive or casual players. Students can stop in during the club’s hours to play or download any of the competitive games on their high-end gaming computers.
If a high school student is applying to WSU and playing competitively, they may qualify for the potential future scholarship program hosted by the e-Sports club as well.
On Monday through Friday from 12 to 6 p.m., anyone can stop by the e-Sports club and play games before closing. However, if a student wants to use a computer, they must sign up for the e-Sports club through Engage. This is how the club tracks computer usage, boosting their numbers to over 460 students. Casual attendees to the space do not need to sign up.
The organization is currently trying to train more clubroom managers to expand to include weekend hours.
All the facilities come at no cost to students. The facilities include 15 computers, seven flat-screen TVs, a Nintendo Switch and various CD games, including Super Smash Bros. and Just Dance. Players may bring their own console, but e-Sports currently does not not possess a PlayStation or Xbox.
Players usually bring their own controllers, but the club is currently collaborating with the Abilities organization to get adapted controllers for students with disabilities.
The Wright State Foundation provided the seed money for the club. Sponsors make up current funding. The current only large sponsor is Radiance, but the club continues to look for more sponsors to improve the club equipment, environment and atmosphere.
Atmosphere and how to join
As reported on Engage, the club hosts game nights every week.
Sophomore computer science major Joshua Quaintance is the public relations and outreach officer; Quaintance explained how the game nights work.
“People can come in and just play with us. They don’t have to be competitive per se. They can just have fun because then that’s the point of game night every Friday,” Quaintance said.
For these events, the club is open to and wants to collaborate more with other organizations and clubs on campus. The e-Sports organization itself boasts a chill but rambunctious and fun atmosphere.
“I think the club has to be one of the funnest things I think [I have] done in a while of my life, and [I am] very glad for the social and competitive aspect because it lets me play games competitively that I love as well as hanging out with the people I love in the club,” freshman computer science major Mckyle Selogic, clubroom manager, said.
Reflecting and looking ahead
Selogic hopes to play at Wright State in a collegiate e-Sports team and leave a memory for the future club to reflect on as a tournament winner.
Davis hopes the club will enable some students to be competitive when they have never had the chance or tried before.
Davis, Quaintance, Selogic and Wise all agreed that the collegiate e-Sports club is one of the most inclusive and diverse on campus.
For even more gaming fun, students can join the e-Sports Discord server, which has over 700 members and counting. The easiest way to sign up to the club itself is through its Engage page.
