By Elijah Bezanson

An emerging group of student athletes are finding new ways to interact in safe ways with a team where players don't even have to be in the same room.

Cony High School has formed an eSports team this school year, which held its first intersquad scrimmage of "Rocket League" on Dec. 9, 2020.

The league helps people, "see video games as an actual sport and not so much a hobby," said Nathan Lefebre, a senior on the eSports team.

In a typical year, Cony student athletes would be participating five days a week in winter athletics, but the Covid-19 pandemic has sidelined some athletes to twice a week practices and postponing some seasons all together.

Cony's eSports team has emerged as a new way for students to compete and interact with their peers. The team is currently playing Rocket League, which is a free game available on multiple platforms.

The game is, “a lot like soccer, but players operate automated cars instead of people. Most play takes place on a two dimensional field, but by accessing walls and jumping, competitors can get in the air making it more three dimensional than soccer," said eSports coach Mr. Scoville.

Students are now able to channel their love for gaming into a competition while representing their school.

The eSports team could not have arrived at Cony at a better time with many regular activities and clubs postponed and canceled.

It has allowed students to express themselves in a different way, meet new people and turn a hobby into a sport. It has also provided a much needed source of socialization during a time when students may be feeling isolated.

Hunter Davis and Dawn Haynes, both seniors, said that “being able to meet new people,” and “to have another way to express themselves in another way without having to be a part of an athletic team” was their favorite part of the eSports team.

Cameron MacLean, another one of the team's seniors, says he plays with a friend “almost everyday” and the team practices twice a week. This has allowed him to have frequent social interaction despite the pandemic.

The eSports team plans to continue to participate in competitions for the remainder of the school year and may add more games to their repertoire as the season progresses.