It's no secret that video gaming has seen a surge in popularity, and the Esports Club at Texas A&M University-Commerce is no exception. In its first semester, the club has experienced rapid growth and success, with even more expansion on the horizon.
Esports, the competitive world of video gaming, has found a home in higher education over the last decade, with colleges and universities fielding competitive teams and offering scholarships to top-tier players. A&M-Commerce is no exception, as its Esports Club has quickly become a focal point for gaming enthusiasts on campus.
The club's inception in fall 2022 was spearheaded by founding members Adam Morris, current club president, and Timothy Cooper, vice president. The duo quickly brought in treasurer Ethan Waldschmidt to complete the leadership team. The efficiency and speed of the club's formation were noted by Morris, who highlighted the complementary skills of the officers in navigating the competitive gaming scene.
The club, open to all A&M-Commerce students, has grown to nearly 100 members in just one semester. Despite being open to all, the club holds selective tryouts for its competitive teams. For the Fall 2023 semester, the club chose "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" as its game of choice for competitive play.
Led by team captains Bradley Pallan and Matthew Luebbert, the club's competitive teams have already achieved notable success, securing a second-place finish at a Midwestern State University Tournament and clinching victory at the High Noon Smash Ultimate tournament hosted by Oklahoma State University.
The club has also joined the National Esports Collegiate Conference, further solidifying its presence in the competitive gaming arena.
Looking ahead, the Esports Club at A&M-Commerce is set to expand significantly. Partnering with the Division of Student Affairs, Campus Recreation, and the Center for Information Technology Excellence, the club is transforming space in the Journalism Building into a dedicated hub. This ambitious move aims to develop the club into a full-fledged, scholarshipped program, complete with a lab equipped with supercomputers and next-generation consoles for competition and practice.
Club president Adam Morris emphasized the university's surprising and reassuring support, adding that tryouts for teams to compete in new games are in the pipeline.
According to Timothy Cooper, the vice president, the future looks promising for Esports at A&M-Commerce, with significant university support and a growing pool of enthusiastic members. Ethan Waldschmidt, the treasurer, echoed the sentiment, praising the energetic players who are eager to contribute to the program's growth.
As the Esports Club at A&M-Commerce continues to gain momentum, students are encouraged to seize the opportunity to join and contribute to the thriving gaming community on campus.
Interested in learning more about Esports at A&M-Commerce? Contact Adam Morris or search for the club on ManeSync.
