Teen gamers from across New York gathered at Syracuse University over the weekend for the state high school esports championships, a tournament that put teamwork and face-to-face connection on display alongside competition.
Nearly 300 students, coaches, and spectators filled Syracuse University’s Gaming and Esports Center where bursts of celebration rang out as teams competed throughout the day.
For Bethlehem High School educator and Esports coach Justine Nigro, that energy reflects something larger than a single tournament. She said Esports creates a unique and much-needed forum for connection among like-minded students.
“Having scholastic Esports becoming more and more ubiquitous is a great opportunity for these students to not feel so isolated and still do something that they really enjoy,” Nigro said. “For a specific demographic of students, it opens up a way to connect with their school community that they might not have otherwise had access to.”
The championship was organized by the Empire State Scholastic Esports Federation, led by Scott Beiter, an eighth-grade science teacher who started his first school Esports program in 2018 before helping launch the statewide nonprofit.
Beiter said the federation is meant to bring students together across the state and build valuable skills that extend beyond the games.
“The Federation provides an inclusive environment for all kids to be with each other and form a community,” Beiter said. “At the same time, a lot of what happens in Esports connects to STEM, things like critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration.”
Those skills often translate into the classroom and, he asserted, and in many cases, into students’ long-term academic interests.
“I often see students get more engaged in academics because they’re practicing those skills in a way that feels natural to them.”
Beiter also pushed back on the idea that gaming is inherently isolating.
“I think it’s a misconception about loneliness,” he said. “Playing online can be meaningful but actually meeting in person and seeing someone face to face brings a component of social connection that humans need.”
That in-person experience stood out for Michele Colon, an esports coach for Pelham High School in the Bronx. She said esports has opened doors for more introverted students.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids that normally would not have the opportunity to compete in traditional sports,” Colon said.
The program began eight years ago with limited resources, but she said student interest has increased exponentially and the impact will carry into everyday school life.
“Kids that normally would not even talk to each other in school are now teammates,” Colon said. “They spend hours together now working towards the same goal.”
On the competition floor, the camaraderie was visible. Pelham High School senior and valedictorian Javier Vasquez said those moments of connection with teammates are what make the experience meaningful.
“Honestly, it’s like the rush of adrenaline when we make team plays,” Vasquez said. “We connect, we collaborate, we actually communicate.”
That fact is expanding interest in Esports throughout New York, where more schools are starting programs each year and more students find their way into structured teams.
