If you were to have someone say what they think of when you ask them to describe what a sports team looks like here at Oliver Ames, you would get the same typical answers. A bunch of kids on a field or a court playing while friends and family watch from the stands.
However, one of the most competitive teams at OA does not fit this mold. The Esports team has made a name for themselves in the sports world, riding the popularity that esports has garnered on the worldwide school scale.
The esports team is open for anybody to join. The only qualification that you need to be a part of the team is a love for video games and some skills. Coach Adam Pomella, a teacher here at Oliver Ames, made it very clear that there is an open invitation to anyone at the school.
“So we’re actually about to end this season that’s currently going on right now. Playoffs are starting next week. We just had our last regular season game. But next year at the beginning of the school year, I will have sign ups again, and we have two seasons every year. We have a fall and a winter. So, like, right around the beginning of school, will be the fall season. I try to put posters up and list all the sports, the games on so people know, but they can come see me at any time and ask me and I’ll gladly give them any information they want to know,” Pomella explained.
The esports team carries themselves in a more unorthodox way that separates them from other teams. Even with a set schedule for when everyone plays, the workload doesn’t require a lot of in person training.
“We don’t do practices, we only have meets. I’ve done practices a couple of times, but we only do meets now, and it’s Wednesday Super Smash plays, Thursdays Mario Kart plays, when we have other teams they’ll play on whatever day is their day. They show up after school and they usually play practice rounds for about an hour. And then at 3 o’clock they hop in and we get online and talk to another school and play another school. Usually 1v1” Pomella said.
Even though the esports team doesn’t follow the same standard routines that other teams do, the responsibilities are the same. This is something that junior captain Darwin Block has a very solid grasp on.
“As captain I usually decide where in the lineup each player will be depending on the day, and I try to give recommendations for character/stage selection and strategy depending on the opponent, and then make sure that is communicated to the other team,” Block said.
“I try to make sure that everyone on the team keeps up with playing often to make sure that we are in the best possible shape going into every match, especially now that we are in the playoffs. The mindset of the team is definitely competitive, but we always try to make sure that everyone can still enjoy themselves. Players of all skill levels are welcome, and we keep the environment friendly where all criticism is constructive. With a very good team this season, we are intensely competing at seed 3 in the playoffs right now.”
