With the end of our first semester, there are still many unrecognized clubs at Bakersfield High School; one of those is the campus’s very own Esports club.
Although we were the first to start Esports for the Kern High District in 2016, Drillers know little about the Esports team.
To learn more about the Driller Esports team, advisor Paul Mathis and varsity coach Angel Velasquez were invited to speak with “The Blue and White” about their club. Here’s what they had to say:
“What is Esports all about?”
“For me, it’s the ability to compete in something that everyone likes and enjoys. I saw it as an opportunity to help students actually take something they’d enjoy and time they put into. And have the ability to get scholarships. Cause there’s many scholarships out there for college.” Mathis said.
Mathis later explained that students can play games like “League of Legends,” “Overwatch,” “Rocket League,” and “Fortnite.” Students can pick and choose what game they want to play.
“Did you start Esports?”
“Here, yes. In the district and at this high school. I was the first one to have it going. Started 8 years ago. Threw the idea at the district and thanks to the Principle Reese back then. He was like ‘Let me come talk to some people.’ So he called in some people and the next you know, I had a meeting in his office with him and the head of I.T, and the head of new technology, and the assistant superintendent,” Mathis said.
Mathis then explains how overwhelmed he was with this experience due to it barely just being his first year at BHS after teaching in
Indiana.
“They had me pitch my whole idea ’cause I was like ‘Hey, there’s scholarships out there. This is just gonna keep growing, it’s gonna get bigger and bigger.
So it’d be nice to start something now. For those kids that don’t play sports, out of sports, or don’t have that opportunity,’” Mathis said.
Mathis explains that after being approved to run Esports, he has been delighted with the fact that all schools in the Kern High School District now have an Esports team and/or club to his knowledge.
“Do you need experience to join?”
“Nope, we take anybody. Anybody can just show up. They can practice. They can play. They can be on the team. They can just come after school,” Mathis said.
Mathis also explains that they have coaches to help new players, and some other players take it upon themselves to teach new players.
“Do you find it challenging to teach new players?”
“I think ‘League of Legends’ is kinda hard. Just ‘cause you have to know a lot. ‘Overwatch,’ I think is pretty easy.” Velasquez said.
“Do you encourage others to join?”
“Yeah I do. There’s a lot of people that are bad at Esports, or that are inexperienced. There’s a lot of people who haven’t played the games very much, but they still play what they want. I think it’s fun because you can make friends easily too,” Velasquez said.
To Get Involved
Contact Paul Mathis, the Esports advisor, in IA 220.
