With the fall semester starting, the U of M Esports Club has put their pedal to the metal. From previously mostly hosting Super Smash Bros. once a week, the club has decided to add five new games, which are League of Legends, VALORANT, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch and Marvel Rivals.
Anthony Campbell, club president, and Jared Vergara, club director of community affairs, shared that the club is currently accepting signups for tryouts, which will take place in late September. The VALORANT tryouts will take place from Sept. 12 to 13, while the dates for the other games are yet to be announced.
The information for the tryouts will be shared over the club’s discord server. The club will message everyone who signs up via the form regarding the tryouts, which will be held online. Only full-time U of M students can take part in the tryouts.
Campbell referred to the summer as the development period for the club, which allowed them to get a lot of game managers on board. Without downplaying Super Smash Bros. or any games that the club played last school year, he shared that his goal is to get new teams for different games after the tryouts.
Campbell shared his vision for the club, saying, “We hope one day to be able to expand to the point where we have our lounge space, we’re able to have our own tryouts in there, hopefully with our equipment.” He also added that he would like the game managers and players to become friends outside of club activities.
Campbell went on to say that he wishes to collaborate with other student clubs with hopes of improving the student experience, as it is the “pinnacle of being a student club.” He also shared that they are actively reaching out to groups on campus to host collaborative events. Campbell said he is happy with the steady pace the club is expanding at, as it feels sustainable and they do not want to stretch the program.
For this semester, Vergara wishes to host an exposition of all the different games they will be playing, and where people can communicate with the game managers during reading week.
The club will still be hosting Super Smash Bros. on Fridays but are looking into new venues.
Vergara shared that the club will have a table in University Centre on Sept. 22.
Campbell said his message to new students is, “Try it, you don’t know if you’re going to like something or dislike something until you give it a try.”
To learn more and keep up with U of M Esports Club events, follow them on Instagram @esportsum.
