Chaska High School’s newest student activity is gaming. After taking the world by storm, competitive video games have finally reached our very halls. We interviewed William Browne, the captain of the Rocket League team, to find out more. 

William has been playing video games since his childhood, but after finding out about college teams scholarships and recruiting, he decided to take his gaming to the next level. William said that finding teammates was a struggle when attempting to form the group last year, but his perseverance and determination brought his dream to reality. He went on to create the team this year, recruit members, and create a community. He tells us that the team are all friends and get along well. 

When asked how Esports compared to physical sports he said they are “effort wise, really similar.” Both Esports and physical sports require extensive training, time and a sharp mentality in order to succeed. 

William added that after playing competitively, he currently has “almost 7,000 hours in Rocket League,” showing his, and his team’s, immense commitment. One major difference between Esports and physical sports may be the snacks involved. When asked of his preference, William said that Target’s All Seasoned Lays are “genuinely so good.”  

Clearly the team’s efforts have paid off as in their first year together they have already made it to semifinals, ending in third place. Unfortunately, the team ended up losing to their opponents who would go on to win the entire competition. It’s fair to say that the Chaska Esports team has a bright future ahead of them. 

If you’re interested, you can learn more on their Instagram: @chaskaesports