Esports Valorant team competes in first LAN competition

The Ohio University varsity Valorant Esports team recently competed in the first round of the Mid-American Conference’s Esports Collegiate (ESC) Championships at Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Ohio. It was the first LAN (Local Area Network) competition in the team’s history. And even though the OHIO team lost in the first round, the players still had an amazing time and learned a great deal from the experience.

“Being able to compete in a LAN competition was awesome,” said Zak Taylor, a senior mechanical engineering major from Granville, Ohio. “In the past, we have competed in competitions virtually, where we are in Athens and our competitor is at their university. But during a LAN, all the teams come together in one spot, and everyone is playing on the same network with the same connection speed. LAN eliminates a team having an advantage because of the speed of the network they are connected to.”

The Valorant team played a 13-match regular season before entering the eight-team double elimination tournament playoff on Friday, Nov. 22. OHIO lost to the University of Akron, which is one of the oldest esports programs in Ohio. The University of Akron ended up winning the 2024 ESC Valorant Championship beating Ball State University in the final round.

“As a freshman, this was my first year competing, and it was a great experience to go to playoffs,” said Sam Snyder, a business accounting major from Chardon, Ohio. “We were the last seed, so it wasn’t too much pressure. It was a win-win situation. We came to win. But even in losing we won, because we learned so much and had a great experience.”

Roughly 40 students compete in the OHIO Esports varsity program playing Valorant, Rocket League, Overwatch and League of Legends, but about 1,100 students play with the intramural club OHIO Esports teams, which is a great option for casual and serious gamers alike.

“I was excited to participate in the playoffs,” said Jeremy Reynolds, a sophomore VR and game development major from Findlay, Ohio. “It makes sense for my major for me to play esports competitively, but the cool thing about the OHIO program is anyone can play esports. It’s cool to see all the different kinds of people in the Esports Arena just having fun or playing on the varsity team.”

“It has been awesome making friends and hanging out with people I’ve met through esports outside of gaming,” said Snyder. “Advisors tell you to get involved in college and this is the kind of thing they are talking about.”

While playing video games can have a negative connotation to it, a recent report from The Entertainment Software Association points out that video games build community and keep minds sharp.

“The perception is that playing video games makes us brain dead,” said OHIO Esports Director Jeff Kuhn. “But in reality, it builds critical thinking, reaction time and communication skills. A team that doesn’t communicate well doesn’t win and being a good person as much as a great player is important.”

Kuhn says esports is much more than just competitive gaming. The Bobcat Esports club has been an active, welcoming presence on campus for years, and is a great option for casual and serious gamers alike. The esports certificate allows you to explore the thriving industry and add an academic credential with a focus on game design, information technology or business. And finally, the Esports Arena offers high-end gaming PCs, plus access to consoles. The arena is a space for everyone — all OHIO students can swipe in to play.

If you would like to follow the Esports team on Twitch, you can do so by clicking here. To get involved with OHIO Esports, visit https://www.ohio.edu/esports.