Electronic Sports (ESports) is rising across the United States, and Moanalua High School has entered the chat. Moanalua High will be competing in 3 different games this year: League of Legends, Rocket League and SMITE.  

ESports is a way for students to join a sport that will be like any other sports team. There will be varsity and junior varsity teams, and athletes will be required to keep up with their grades and community service hours in order to stay on the team. ESports also offers opportunities such as scholarships and academic advancement. 

“It’s a good way to get more involved and live out your high school years,” says sophomore and team member Dayven Akamine-Rabaino. He adds, “I wasn’t planning on joining a club, but my mom was forcing me to join one and it so happened that we’re getting an Esports team. I’ve met many friends over esports already and I’m ready to share amazing memories with them, whether it’s winning or losing,” 

The ESports team are given the ability to play on brand new custom built PCs that were provided by PCGamerz. 

“I wanted to be the coach because I’m a gamer,” says Sergeant Raymonte Britt (Sarge). “This team was only made because Coach Kawachi, our athletic’s director, was so enthusiastic about it,” Sarge adds.

All systems were installed at F101 on Saturday, August 31, 2019. Sarge mentions that practices will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and possibly Fridays,with Tuesdays and Thursdays being tournament days. The season will officially start October 14th, one month after tryouts. This year will be the first official season for Moanalua High School, and according to Sarge, “…that depends on this year’s turn out, there might be 2 more games added sometime in the future.” 

Tryouts will be held at PCGamerz, Saturday, September 14, 2019. Tryouts are open for spectators to come and watch the players, and PCGamerz will also stream the games on their twitch, https://www.twitch.tv/pcgamerzhawaii.