This past year marked the second season for Creek Wood in Esports. Creek Wood was able to put together a few teams that played a few different games, but the Red Hawks’ Unified Mario Kart Team was able to finish out the season undefeated at 8-0 and with a national championship.
With most sporting events, the wins and losses are the bottom line. Coach Yvonne Schlangen doesn’t feel that way about this team. The wins and the championship are great, but they’re just icing on the cake.
“It’s been beautiful watching them grow,” Schlangen said. “They learned how to work to together, they learned how to be a family. Gaming is not just something where these kids lose time, they’re learning how to communicate and learning how to problem solve.”
The roster, made up of Rebekah Dillon, Matthew Swett, Eric Hildebrandt, Jaidyn Jackson, Levi Cranfield and Landon Sawyer, accomplished the feat in the second year of the program. For them, the comradery that came along with being on a team meant more than any trophy.
“It’s given an opportunity to kids who are usually shy a chance to find other people they can chill with, other people who have similar interests,” Swett said. “I know a lot of people who, without this team, wouldn’t have any other place to fit in. I actually get up every day and want to go to school. Middle school was difficult because I didn’t have this but now, this team makes everything so much better.”
“This gave me a chance to meet people who actually knew what I was talking about,” Dillon said. “Before Esports, I was in some dark times. Every day was a battle. Now, with Esports starting up, that’s given me a reason to get going. This team has meant a lot to me.”
As for the future of Esports at Creek Wood, they’ve already started up the current season and look to defend their crown. But even then, it’s really not about the video games.
“Matthew (Swett) said it best when he said it’s about building a family,” Schlangen said. “To know that you’ve found people who you can connect with, people that have the same drive to do something and you make friends that you never thought you would’ve found, that’s what it’s about. It’s not about gaming; it’s about building those connections.”
