David Vest had plenty of college options as he looked forward to his high school graduation in Lexington, Ky., last year. To the surprise of some of his friends, he chose Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa.
The draw was esports. Hawkeye had a new program, and Vest was friends with the coach. Now, as captain of his college’s varsity League of Legends team, Vest has joined the growing ranks of student athletes for whom competitive video-gaming has become a vital part of their college experience.
His days and evenings are built around classes, team practices and competitions.
“It’s not much different from any other sport,” Vest said.
A new ‘tool’ for colleges
Community colleges around the country are turning to varsity esports as a way to recruit and engage students and create excitement on campuses.