YOU’RE WATCHING KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. IT’S DAY THREE OF THIS YEAR’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, FROM MARIO KART TO SUPER SMASH BROTHERS. STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION ARE COMPETING TO SEE WHO MOVES FORWARD. ESPORTS OR COMPETITIVE VIDEO GAMES HAS BEEN GOING ON IN NEW MEXICO SINCE 2018, AND ORGANIZERS SAY SINCE THE ADVENT OF IT, THEY ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE STUDENTS PICK UP A CONTROLLER. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST UPDATE FROM THE NEW MEXICO ACTIVITIES
New Mexico Esports Championship reflects growing popularity
Originally offered to students as an alternative to traditional school sports, Esports is on the brink of equality.
Originally offered to students as an alternative to traditional school sports, Esports is on the brink of equality, according to organizers of the New Mexico Esports Championship in its third day at the Albuquerque Public Schools Berna Facio Professional Development Center on Sunday. “New Mexico is probably one of the biggest states for Esports in the country,” said JD Mead, head coach for the Portales High School Esports program. “Right now in the state of New Mexico, our student count of players is rivaling traditional sports, so usually we have more players doing Esports than typically do football and basketball.” Gary Allison, assistant director of sport for the New Mexico Activities Association, said participation in Esports has skyrocketed since NMAA first got involved in 2018. “We are one of the largest participating states with the least amount of population,” Allison said. “Last year we had 58 high schools that participated, with over 4,500 students. This year we don’t have those final numbers yet because we used this tournament as a final, but we increased participation becauase we brought in new titles, so we offer 10 titles across a spectrum of video game genres.”
Originally offered to students as an alternative to traditional school sports, Esports is on the brink of equality, according to organizers of the New Mexico Esports Championship in its third day at the Albuquerque Public Schools Berna Facio Professional Development Center on Sunday.
“New Mexico is probably one of the biggest states for Esports in the country,” said JD Mead, head coach for the Portales High School Esports program. “Right now in the state of New Mexico, our student count of players is rivaling traditional sports, so usually we have more players doing Esports than typically do football and basketball.”
Gary Allison, assistant director of sport for the New Mexico Activities Association, said participation in Esports has skyrocketed since NMAA first got involved in 2018.
“We are one of the largest participating states with the least amount of population,” Allison said. “Last year we had 58 high schools that participated, with over 4,500 students. This year we don’t have those final numbers yet because we used this tournament as a final, but we increased participation becauase we brought in new titles, so we offer 10 titles across a spectrum of video game genres.”
