The game’s afoot at Wilmington University with the launch of esports, a form of college sports competition using video games.
Esport athletes compete as teams or as individuals. WilmU is a trailblazer in college competition, joining schools such as the University of Delaware and Drexel University in the sport.
So far, more than 40 students are on the roster, with more expected to join. Leading the team are Head Coach Christian Broderick, an instructional technologist, and Alice Miller, director of Student Life.
“We’ve been familiar with esports in the gaming program from the very beginning,” says Scott Shaw, who chairs the Game Design and Development program in the College of Technology. “A lot of my students are deeply interested in this.”
Competitors participate via personal computers or consoles, going head to head in such contests as League of Legends and Overwatch.
But it’s more than just a game. Esports also offers career potential, Shaw says.
“The exciting part for me as an academic is that there is significant opportunity around it, such as esports management,” he says. “Wilmington University shows tremendous foresight in developing an esports program.”
Learn more about the esports team at www.wilmu.edu/studentlife/esports.aspx.