Local elementary students are getting their game on tomorrow in Transylvania University’s esports arena.
A dozen teams from several local schools — including George Washington Carver STEM Academy, Rise STEM Academy and Mary Todd Elementary — will compete for prizes and the championship title of their inaugural season.
Dylan Osborne, Transylvania’s esports coach, advised Fayette County Public Schools faculty as the local elementaries set up their esports programs this past fall.
The gamers, who’ll be playing Super Smash Bros., Rocket League and Mario Kart, had been competing online in matches leading up to the tournament. So tomorrow evening will be a chance for them to get to know each other beyond just a screen name — “maybe even make friends who want to practice together,” said Osborne, whose own players are getting ready for the playoffs after a phenomenal first season last year.
He also pointed out how being on a college campus for an esports competition — and seeing that they could one day play for a college team — might help motivate these young gamers to study hard and continue their education after high school.
The tournament ties into a larger project for Osborne: getting the word out about his program. “I would definitely like to get the community involved as much as possible,” he said.
Learn more about Transylvania’s esports program, which is sponsoring tomorrow’s event, along with Extraordinary Esports, Lexmark, Raising Cane’s and SI Legacy.