Eight of our Upper School students spent the first semester of the academic year representing NSA through esports, which has offered them exciting opportunities in competitive gaming while building friendships with their teammates.
Since September, Innovation Specialist Joey Seal has been coaching students in chess, Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Brothers. Using the PlayVS platform, NSA’s team has competed against schools from the east coast all the way to Michigan, including parts of Canada. Some of the team’s opponents were closer to home, including Courtland High School, Bethel High School and more.
“My favorite moment this season was probably our Super Smash Brothers match against a team in Canada,” said Trey McMurran '28, who competed in Super Smash Brothers and was a reserve player for Mario Kart 8. “We had a chance to hang out and play a team in a different country. That was awesome.”
While some players entered the team’s inaugural season with previous esports experience, others were brand new and had to make the transition from playing video games recreationally to competitive gaming. Together, the team learned how they’re paired with their opponents, how to navigate the PlayVS platform and how to handle the pressures of exhibition matches.
"The most surprising thing I learned this season is that when in competitive team play, communication is key,” said Laura Burns '26, who was on the Mario Kart 8 team. “This can be very difficult, considering Mario Kart 8 is RNG-based, and it is difficult to focus on your teammates when you are trying to drive.”
At the end of the regular season, the Super Smash Brothers team placed 68th out of 170 teams, the chess team finished 32nd in the region out of almost 100 teams and the Mario Kart 8 team placed 35th out of 50 teams.
“I could not be more proud of them,” said Coach Seal. “This has been a completely new experience for all of us, and they have done such a wonderful job showing up each week, competing and learning! They have been incredible ambassadors for the school.”
In addition to getting an opportunity to do something they’re passionate about, esports players leave this season with experience that could help set them up for success after NSA. Currently, more than 200 colleges and universities in the U.S. offer esports as a varsity sport, with many providing scholarships to their players. Several Saints alumni, including Austin Dugas '19, DJ Minor '18 and Trace Taylor '21, have gone on to compete in esports at the collegiate level.
Experts estimate the growing esports industry is valued at a staggering $2 billion. With that growth comes versatile professional opportunities that extend beyond competitive gaming alone. Behind the scenes, coders and game developers are helping to create the products that fuel the $200 billion video game industry. There are also opportunities for those who want to work in areas related to video games and competitive gaming, like streaming, influencer marketing and more.
As the first season of NSA Esports comes to a close, Coach Seal is already planning for the future of the program, which starts with adding to his roster.
“We want to make sure that all students at NSA are educated in the opportunities that exist,” said Coach Seal. “By continuing to promote the benefits of competing in esports, we hope to grow our team, so that we can continue to be competitive on the regional and national level. Aside from raising more awareness, we would like to begin acquiring sponsors and raising money for a practice and competition arena that would be located in the Innovation Lab. We have quotes for construction of a space reserved for esports that would feature glass walls, contemporary gaming furniture and upgraded consoles and computers for our students to use. It is important that we not only stay competitive with our equipment, but that we also provide a space to our students that they can be proud of!”
The enhancements to the Innovation Lab for the Esports Program have been included in our current capital campaign, “The Saints Go Marching On.” If you are interested in learning more about the capital campaign or sponsoring or helping to fund the NSA Esports Program, please contact Director of Advancement Kenda Council '91 at kcouncil@nsacademy.org.
Congratulations to all our esports players for their accomplishments this season! Team members are listed below. Go Saints!
Super Smash Brothers Team
Braden Hensley '25, captain
Nicholas Evans '26
Trey McMurran '28
Jamal Thomas '26 (reserve)
Chess Team
Nicholas Evans '26, captain
Braden Hensley '25
Hannah Chase '28
Matthew Taylor '26 (reserve)
Mario Kart 8 Team
Braden Hensley '25, captain
Laura Burns '26
Bradley Ebey '28
Jamal Thomas '26 (reserve)
Trey McMurran '28 (reserve)