College students flip gaming into scholarship alternatives

OLATHE, Kan. (KCTV) – The Kansas High School Activities Association is launching an e-sports league statewide, giving college students new alternatives to show gaming abilities into school scholarships.

Olathe West High School college students are amongst these benefiting from the growth. What began as an after-school membership for buddies has grown into an official travel team providing scholarship alternatives that extra Kansas colleges can now be a part of.

From passion to official sport

Seniors Cayden Kies and Kaylee Bradford follow and compete by means of video video games. They by no means thought their favourite passion might change into a part of their training.

“I think it’s just great to help my brain grow and strategize with new people,” stated Kies, who’s a captain on the Mario Kart workforce.

“Whenever you’re on a team, it’s communication building, teamwork building,” Bradford stated. “For example, if one sees a blue shell, you call blue shell. All those important life skills in general.” Bradford can also be a captain on the Mario Kart and Smash Bros workforce.

State growth brings extra competitors

Up till this 12 months, the college needed to discover occasions by itself. Now, Kansas is increasing e-sports to all colleges, providing extra competitors and occasions. Last April, the board of directors for KSHSAA membership voted to approve an e-sports state championship if a minimum of 24 colleges enroll. A survey despatched out in June confirmed that over 80 colleges have an curiosity in collaborating within the new league.

For the 2025-26 season, KSHSAA and PlayVS will provide Rocket League, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Smash Bros as video games college students can play in competitions. Madden and Valorant might be thought of if collaborating colleges present excessive sufficient curiosity so as to add them to the playlist.

“Now, they can come to their own school and continue to pursue friendships and teamwork skills with things they actually enjoy, like video games,” Kies stated.

“It’s just amazing to see going from after-school hangouts where it’s chips and your friends to now being an official sport,” Bradford stated. “And people getting opportunities that were never even possible.”

College scholarship alternatives

Because of e-sports, some on the Olathe West workforce now have the likelihood to go to varsity without spending a dime. Universities are additionally increasing e-sports into their curriculum and extra-curricular actions.

“There’s been three so far going into college with scholarships,” Bradford stated. “One was a full-ride, Elijah Kennedy got in for Smashbros and Elijah Custer got into KU for Rocket League.”

Kyra Krenzer was the third player on the Olathe West High E-Sports team to receive a scholarship and will play at Ottawa University next year to be a shoutcaster. According to the team ‘X’ page, she’s got the “first-ever women’s E-Sports Scholarship.”

Kansas schools must register teams with the KSHSAA by Nov. 30. Preseason is already underway, but the season runs from December through January 31st.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.