Written by: Zachery Simpkins (zas004@marietta.edu)
Conventional sports are timeless and are easily seen on every campus throughout the United States. One sports program in particular that is overlooked by some is Esports. At Marietta College, Esports is one of the newest and one of the fastest growing programs on campus.
The varsity program had started as a club team back in 2016 but rapidly expanded in popularity on campus. As a result, it was transitioned into a varsity program in 2018. At the infancy of the Esports program Derek Games held the position of the Overwatch coach but was then later promoted into being the head coach when the program turned varsity.
When asked about the transition from the Overwatch coach to the head coach position, Coach Games replied by saying that the responsibilities and expectations were way higher. There became mandatory practice times, a well-kept record of win loss, and other expectations. He then commented that the transition was rocky at times, but the program has come a long way from its founding.
It’s easy to see where the Esports program has been already, but it becomes more difficult to peer into the future. Coach Games had good insight when quizzed about the future of the Marietta College Esports Program. He had mentioned that the esports program “always has something cooking”, referencing his next statement which was the introduction of a Marvel Rivals team to the program. He then talked about continuing to garner support from players, fans, and administration as the program works towards continuing their varsity title and competing for championships.
The interview with Coach Games brings light onto one of the newest programs Marietta College has to offer. Not many programs spring up from clubs. The future of the program will continue for Derek Games and the different Esports players on campus. Only time will tell if Esports will be the next big thing at Marietta College to win a championship.
Edited by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
