When you think of an Esports player, what is the image that pops into your head? Is it a scrawny white male playing video games in his basement? A former high school cheerleader? An international exchange student? A golf player? A photography major?
In the Illinois Wesleyan Esports Program, all these potential players exist. While commonly stereotyped, Esports are actually uniquely inclusive. “I think it's one of the most diverse sports out there because there's no gender boundaries,” explains Illinois Wesleyan junior Parker Penn.
“There's no physical boundaries, there's no boundaries, period. If you are a person and you can play video games then we will take you.”
For anyone looking to get involved with Esports at IWU, there is a place for them. At Illinois Wesleyan's new state of the art facility, all students are welcome to play games and meet new people. This space is also the hub for the Esports team.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
But admission isn't easy. According to Penn, to be competitive, gamers need to put in the work. “40 hours a week is what I assume people are putting in,” he said. “Some I would even bet would put 60 or 70 hours…From 10am, when the facility opens, [one student] is there until 2am every single day.”
Additionally, on the IWU team an overwhelming majority of Esports players also participate in other sports. “[There are] 40 players currently on our program,” Penn said. “I think 90% came from different sports, [such as] track, football, baseball, golf, and cross country, so we have a lot of people who actually quit their sport to play video games in college.”
Penn argues that the measurement of an athlete should be by the time and energy they devote to that activity and the separator between someone simply playing a video game and competing in Esports is skill. “If you put a certain amount of practice and effort into something then anything becomes a sport,” he said. “There's a competitive scene for every video game, even Mario Kart, it's just the skill gap of the regular people who buy the game and play it and those who put in the time.”
Despite the lack of boundaries for entry to Esports, Penn knows that there is still a long way to go to increase inclusion in the sport. On campus, Penn has personally been working to increase outreach and inclusion. “Our big goal for the year is inclusion,” he said. “We're trying to get more campus inclusion because that's a big aspect of Illinois Wesleyan…We [had a] women and [non binary] gaming night…we have a mental health clinic coming up.”
As more high schools, colleges and universities fund Esports programs, there will be more opportunity to increase participation. “[Illinois] Wesleyan has 1200 students, doesn't get any funding from the state, and they put money across for these 40 students to feel more comfortable,” Penn said. “[Imagine] what can a Big 10 school do? What can Ohio State do for 200 students? I think it's just gonna keep growing and growing.”
Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Want to set up an interview with us? Email us at [email protected]
* Originally published on June 6, 2022, by Chloe Singer
When you think of an Esports player, what is the image that pops into your head? Is it a scrawny white male playing video games in his basement? A former high school cheerleader? An international exchange student? A golf player? A photography major?
In the Illinois Wesleyan Esports Program, all these potential players exist. While commonly stereotyped, Esports are actually uniquely inclusive. “I think it's one of the most diverse sports out there because there's no gender boundaries,” explains Illinois Wesleyan junior Parker Penn.
“There's no physical boundaries, there's no boundaries, period. If you are a person and you can play video games then we will take you.”
For anyone looking to get involved with Esports at IWU, there is a place for them. At Illinois Wesleyan's new state of the art facility, all students are welcome to play games and meet new people. This space is also the hub for the Esports team.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
But admission isn't easy. According to Penn, to be competitive, gamers need to put in the work. “40 hours a week is what I assume people are putting in,” he said. “Some I would even bet would put 60 or 70 hours…From 10am, when the facility opens, [one student] is there until 2am every single day.”
Additionally, on the IWU team an overwhelming majority of Esports players also participate in other sports. “[There are] 40 players currently on our program,” Penn said. “I think 90% came from different sports, [such as] track, football, baseball, golf, and cross country, so we have a lot of people who actually quit their sport to play video games in college.”
Penn argues that the measurement of an athlete should be by the time and energy they devote to that activity and the separator between someone simply playing a video game and competing in Esports is skill. “If you put a certain amount of practice and effort into something then anything becomes a sport,” he said. “There's a competitive scene for every video game, even Mario Kart, it's just the skill gap of the regular people who buy the game and play it and those who put in the time.”
Despite the lack of boundaries for entry to Esports, Penn knows that there is still a long way to go to increase inclusion in the sport. On campus, Penn has personally been working to increase outreach and inclusion. “Our big goal for the year is inclusion,” he said. “We're trying to get more campus inclusion because that's a big aspect of Illinois Wesleyan…We [had a] women and [non binary] gaming night…we have a mental health clinic coming up.”
As more high schools, colleges and universities fund Esports programs, there will be more opportunity to increase participation. “[Illinois] Wesleyan has 1200 students, doesn't get any funding from the state, and they put money across for these 40 students to feel more comfortable,” Penn said. “[Imagine] what can a Big 10 school do? What can Ohio State do for 200 students? I think it's just gonna keep growing and growing.”
Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Want to set up an interview with us? Email us at [email protected]
* Originally published on June 6, 2022, by Chloe Singer