After fingers flew to different keys with tense focus on the screen, the Esports League of Legends team won Dec. 2nd playoffs against the Panthers LoL Varsity team at Colleyville Heritage High School.

“We don’t really know about the future right now,” Ayden Hart said. “Hopefully if we do well enough we can continue playing next year.” 

Anxious about the upcoming game, the players worked together.

“As a team we try to practice three times a week,” Dennis Hoehn said. “We have pretty good communication. It’s a little of a struggle when they switch out players, but overall, I think everyone gets along with everyone so communication is not really an issue.” 

Hoehn was not a gamer this season so he was keeping up with the other players.

“I learned there was an esports team at the high school, and I reached out two months before I transferred,” Hoehn said. “I used to go to High Tech High North County in San Diego.”

Hoehn, Hart and the other players’ work resulted in the Esports team winning the playoffs against the Panthers.

After the playoffs the Esports team was in the Sweet 16 where the top 16 teams in the state played against each other. The team did not beat the opposing league in the Sweet 16.

Upcoming events for the Esports club include a scrimmage match of League of Legends against Carthage College on Dec. 9. 

The Esports team also plays Rocket League, a vehicular video game that involves racing vehicles.

“In League of Legends you are playing against fiveother people whereas in Rocket League you are playing with only three” Coach Sam Pippert said. “League of Legends can last from 25 minutes to an hour. You have to have that stamina and confidence in your teammates. Rocket League, you play five minutes, you lose, you jump in and play another five minutes. I think it just takes a different mindset.”