Garrett Shaddix (he/him), Esports Coordinator at Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), is anticipating a busy season ahead for the WSU Tech esports team. 

Shaddix shared that the team had 30 students last semester and plans to add more during open tryouts on September 3rd. The upcoming season looks busy, with teams formed for Call of Duty (CoD) 4v4, Rocket League, Overwatch 2, and Rainbow Six Siege. There is also interest from a few students in starting a Valorant team this year with a plan to compete in solo titles. 

“I believe we'll have a strong showing in Rocket League, CoD, and especially Rainbow Six Siege where we're returning four of five starters from a Spring 2024 National Championship squad,” said Shaddix, “Lots of practice and VoD review of our opponents goes into competitions. I know our Rainbow Six Siege team put in almost triple the number of required practice hours per week before their NJCAAE championship.”

Shaddix has seen players from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique stories. One student, in particular, stands out to him. This student joined the program last semester as part of the CoD team and quickly demonstrated exceptional skill, even when some of his teammates were not on the same level. The student volunteered to be the team captain and took on the responsibility of coaching his teammates throughout the season, which is something that Shaddix is especially proud of.

Shaddix has a background in video games, managing teams, and training adults. As a matter of fact, he was working for WSU Tech in another capacity when his current position became available.

“My personal experience with competitive teams is high school traditional sports. I'm a big proponent of the benefits of organized team sports for the individual and I find that with esports all of those benefits minus the physical aspect are there. On top of that, most of the young adults who come through the program are not typically from traditional sports so exposing them to these ideas is huge,” said Shaddix.

Shaddix said he is excited to support as many young people as possible. Looking ahead, he is eager to continue expanding the team. When he first took over the program, it had a very narrow focus, and he was tasked with broadening its scope. At that time, the program had 14 students on three teams across three game titles. By the spring 2024 semester, Shaddix had grown the program to 30 students on six teams across five game titles. He has also worked to increase the program's visibility by adding and managing social media platforms, making the gaming hub more open and welcoming, and making recruiting trips to local high schools.

“I love the NJCAAE for the fact that we face off against other two-year schools only. One of the biggest hurdles we face as a two-year school versus a four-year school is turnover. Often, we'll see a program that has a championship team and then the next season they don't even have a team for that game. Facing other two-year schools with the same issues is a huge benefit,” said Shaddix.

When asked if he has any advice for young gamers, Shaddix emphasizes that there are plenty of opportunities in esports. While the professional esports scene has faced some challenges, esports at the middle school, high school, and college levels are continuing to grow. He points out that people are increasingly recognizing esports as a valuable avenue for students to help pay for college tuition or to get involved in team sports during their school years. Shaddix encourages students to pursue these opportunities, as they offer real value both for students and schools.