The newest sport at St. Pius X is full of lots of action, excitement, and intense competitions, and players never even need to leave their seats in a classroom. Esports was officially added to the Georgia High School Athletic Association in 2018, but this is the first year St. Pius has fielded a team.

The Gaming Lions played two different video games throughout the fall season, League of Legends and Rocket League. Five players are on a team, and there is one team for each of the two video games. 

Theology teacher Mr. Matthew Krause helped coach the League of Legends team, which included seniors Will Montello and Brian and Oscar Lieu, junior Alexander Meyring, and sophomore Tommy Brooks. Social Studies teacher Mr. Ellis Thomas worked primarily with the Rocket League team, consisting of seniors Shaun Cook and Jake Hanes, and juniors David Castro, Darryl Jackson, and Tyler Martinez.

The students practiced at home, but on game days they played together in a computer lab on campus as they faced off against schools from across the state of Georgia. The League of Legends team qualified for the playoffs in late November, advancing all the way to the third round of the single-elimination style tournament.

While the Gaming Lions are a new group on campus, finding students interested in playing wasn’t very difficult.

“I played video games already, so it was easy to represent Pius,” Hanes said. “The environment is fun, which is something new.”

Cook agreed, adding that the sport was an intense and exciting environment but still a place where you can have fun with your friends after school.

“I joined because it seemed like fun, and I would absolutely recommend it for others,” he said.

Mr. Thomas also  enjoyed working with the group in their inaugural season

“It’s fun to see the kids have a space to be able to be themselves and enjoy doing what they love to do but doing it in connection with Pius,” he said.

The spring season kicks off in February with the same two games, League of Legends and Rocket League. The team is looking for new members, and students interested in joining should see Mr. Thomas, Mr. Krause, or any member of the Gaming Lions.