Madison Reporter

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is witnessing a rise in esports activities on campus, driven by the efforts of student-led organizations. Although the university does not yet host a varsity-level team, groups such as the Madison Esports Club are providing avenues for students to engage in competitive gaming across multiple platforms.

"Esports has a big mental aspect," noted Arsalan Ahmad, a sophomore studying computer science and data science, who plays for the club's top Valorant team. "With esports, there is a lot of adaptation," added Ahmad, highlighting the skills required beyond just mechanical prowess.

Initially a gathering for students interested in games like DOTA and Hearthstone, the Madison Esports Club received recognition as a Sports Club by the University Recreation and Wellbeing in early 2020. This status has facilitated increased funding and expanded opportunities to engage with other colleges. The club hosts teams for games including League of Legends, Valorant, and Call of Duty, offering both competitive participation and informal gameplay.

Esports has become an integral part of the intramural sports program at UW–Madison, featuring semester-long competitions and shorter tournaments. The Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center now hosts a dedicated esports lounge equipped with gaming-optimized computers, further emphasizing the importance of the digital arena.

Eddie Kustner, the club president, emphasized the social benefits, stating, "It’s good to have more opportunities for people who enjoy video games to go out and meet other people who enjoy video games." Ahmad echoed this sentiment, calling esports an excellent medium for student interaction on campus.

The club participates in various collegiate competitions, including the Big Ten league, offering contests in games like Super Smash Bros and Overwatch. Despite the campus developments, attracting young talent remains challenging as most esports professionals debut before completing high school.

"The long-term goals are to support the team and to provide more opportunities for the community to grow," stated Kustner, who is keen on expanding the social and communal aspects of esports at the university.