Bobcats Esports Compete in Mario Kart and Super Smashbros
At Grandview Heights, they don't just compete in sports like basketball or football. The new craze is the E-sports team which was created in 2022. They have played many different games over the years, but are currently competing in titles like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. The Grandview Heights E-sports program is a part of the Ohio High School E-sports league.
While many play Mario Kart casually, the Grandview Heights Bobcats compete in races like no other. In the competitive high school format, players often compete in 2v2 formats or 4v4. In Mario Kart success is more than just driving fast. Teammates need to communicate with each other about who has what items and when to use them. Players need to use defensive shells to protect the player in 1st place or time lighting bolts correctly to cause the maximum amount of destruction to the other team. Players will spend hours upon hours mastering the drifting mechanics of the game. If you want to be the best, you also have to memorize all of the different maps and tracks. There are lots of shortcuts hidden throughout the different maps which give players with more ball knowledge an advantage. Another way the bobcats get an advantage is through the different character and kart combinations. The team finds the best combinations in order to win the race.
Not only have the Grandview Heights Bobcats been dominating the race tracks on Mario Kart, but have also been competing at the highest level of Smashbros. This game is the icon of Grandviews E-sports program. It is featured in both the fall and spring season. While most people casually play Super Smashbros, in competitive play, students master one character while also knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the other 80 characters they are competing against. You could compare Super Smashbros to chess in the way that you have to be able to read your opponents habits. What makes it even tougher is the fact you have to react within milliseconds.
The team competes against different teams across the state including their rivals, the Worthington Christian Warriors. For Grandview students, it's not just about the competitive nature. It is a great way to meet people who have similar interests. 84% of high school players say they felt a new sense of belonging after joining the team. Video games don't have to be competitive. You can play them with friends outside of the team just for fun. Nonetheless that goes with every sport. That is why E-sports are held to the same academic and behavioral standards that every other sport in the school is held to. The sport is held by high school faculty after school and sometimes during lunch.
If you are thinking about joining, this is your sign to. E-sports mirrors the life lessons traditional sports offer. E-sports develops resilience from failing over and over again. When a student loses a high stakes game of Super SmashBros, they have to keep their cool and manage their emotions. The E-sports team also teaches you teamwork, communication, and grit just like any other sport. Through every race around the track in Mario Kart and every battle in Super Smashbros, the Bobcats E-sports team is developing skills they will use the rest of their lives.