Collegiate Esports Finds a Foothold in Kansas
Kansas colleges are launching varsity esports programs, complete with scholarships and dedicated arenas.
Collegiate esports is finding a foothold in Kansas, as colleges launch varsity programs, offer scholarships, and build dedicated gaming arenas to compete in the fast-growing world of competitive video gaming.
The programs recruit skilled players much as traditional sports do, fielding teams in popular titles and competing against other schools regionally and nationally. Administrators see esports as a way to engage students and, in some cases, to boost enrollment.
"These are highly skilled, highly competitive students, and they deserve real support," a program director said. The teams practice, strategize, and compete with the discipline of any varsity squad.
Skeptics question whether gaming belongs alongside traditional athletics, but advocates point to soaring student interest and the sport's growing legitimacy on campuses nationwide.
