After three years, the Oxford High School’s esports team prepares to dive back into their competitions as a team. Coach Jivaro Jones, who has led the team through various matches, is excited about the new opportunity for students to compete and connect.
“Our goal is to win and have fun, but more importantly, we want to provide a safe place for students who wouldn’t normally compete,” Jones said. “We want to give every student a chance to participate. That’s going to be our goal moving forward.”
Freshman Cullen Robertson is enthusiastic about being part of the new esports squad. For him, joining the esports team is more than just playing a video game, it is also about creating friendships and having a good time.
“I wanted to be a part of the esports team because I wanted to play games and possibly make some new friends in the process,” Robertson said. “I am most looking forward to playing against other people in different video games.”
Despite Fortnite being a new addition to the esports competitions, the team’s preparation remains consistent. The team has weekly Monday practices to help the players improve their skills and bond as a team. These sessions allow the team to get used to Fortnite’s competitive environment.
“We practice every Monday, no matter the game or competition,” Jones said. “The goal is to improve as a team, and the wins will come.”
Senior Wesley Estes, who has experience from previous years of esports competitions, stresses the importance of learning from losses. He believes understanding what went wrong and improving is key to success.
“A successful esports player must always have determination and self-reflection,” Estes said. “After a loss, you can’t get down on yourself. Instead of just thinking about winning or losing, you need to look closely at your gameplay to see what you can improve on.”
Estes also highlights that success in esports involves more than just winning. It is about analyzing gameplay to understand what worked and what did not, which will help the team improve.
“Instead of looking at results as a win versus lose situation, you have to look more in-depth at what happened in your gameplay,” Estes said. “That’s how you improve for the next match.”
Jones views esports as a way to bring together students from different backgrounds. He believes that the diversity of the players will help create a stronger and more well-rounded team.
“Esports brings a broad range of students together,” Jones said. “They’ll meet people who are different from them and learn that diversity can make the team stronger.”
As the season begins, the team is ready to face the challenges that come their way. The combination of practice and teamwork prepares them for success as they dive into the competitions.
“Even though they’re different, the players can work toward the same goal and achieve it together,” Jones said. “That’s the biggest takeaway from being on the team.”
As the esports season kicks off, the team is focused on both winning and growing together. For Jones, success is defined by the experience of teamwork and learning gained from competition.
“The wins will come, but what matters most is how we function as a team,” said Jones. “That’s how we measure true success.”
