Leveling Up! Grand Valley Esports Expands Program
Written by Samantha Drougel
The popularity of esports has helped Grand Valley's program expand to offer scholarships to students who earn a spot on one of the premiere team rosters.
Premier teams are GVSU Rocket League, Valorant Game Changers and Valorant. The premiere teams compete with other colleges and grow together as a team. Riley Long, esports director, said students who try out for these premier teams and can receive, at minimum, a $500 scholarship in addition to other benefits like travel funding, jerseys, broadcast and social media coverage, and coaching.
This is Grand Valley’s second premier season.
The teams compete in the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). All esports scholarships are funded by Campus View Housing, through a partnership with the GVSU Esports program, which is housed within Recreation and Wellness.
“The team has a phenomenal work ethic and mentality heading into our practice and scrims. We definitely have the goal of making the most out of our run as we develop our systems for the team. The ultimate goal is to create a legacy for the university.”
“We had a few bumps in the trailing process but now we are all together and getting used to the schedule and improving process we will be using for the rest of the season.”
Two new coaches have joined the premier teams. Blake Griesbauer “Gamertag Ulti” is coaching the Rocket League team and Luke Moore “Gamertag SkyAxe” is coaching the Valorant premier and Valorant Game Changers teams. The Game Changers team is for women and marginalized genders to play against other teams. The concept was invented by Riot Games to bring more diversity to Valorant.
Fan experience
Long said the fan experience has improved also. Games are live-streamed from the esports broadcast center and in-person fans can watch on new 85-inch TVs outside the Laker Esports Center, in the Kirkhof Center.
Broadcasts are generally Monday and Wednesday nights with occasional bonus streams on other days of the week.
“For all of our streams this year, we are hosting watch parties outside the LEC to focus on creating a buzz in the lower level of the Kirkhof Center.”
Get involved!
Students who aren’t ready to try out for one of the premier teams can get involved by joining the rapidly growing esports club team. The LEC offers 19 games to over 500 gamers and lists drop-in hours on its website.
“On top of being the largest club on campus, we also have one of the most inclusive spaces anywhere at Grand Valley! No matter who you are, the esports club has something for you.”
To increase student engagement Dean has started a podcast with Ben Robar, another club member, "Laker LAN," which will cover all topics centered around esports. They hope to get the community involved through guests, comments and community polls.
Watch the 24 hour Day of Giving live stream from 10 a.m. on March 19 to 10 a.m. March 20 at YouTube.com/@gvsuesports.
