Spike, shield, smash attack.
The Bradley Esports committee is hosting a Super Smash Bros. League for each dorm as an initiative to grow the gaming community on campus. Students will be playing “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”
Griffin Kemp, a sophomore game design major and chairperson of the Esports committee mentioned the idea for a dorm hall league to Evan Miles, a graduate student for physical therapy and president of the Smash Bros. Club, and he thought it was a great idea.
“I figured this would be an interesting way to get some of the newer students on campus that live in the dorms interested,” Miles said.
After realizing the challenges of officiating Esports on campus, Kemp and members of both the League of Legends Club and Smash Bros. Club decided to change their focus.
“We directed our efforts into furthering the community and trying to unite as one rather than exist as separate entities,” Kemp said. “In here, it’s more focused on community and being inclusive and making sure everyone gets the chance to play.”
Victor Pannke, sophomore journalism major, has been interested in competitive Smash Bros. since his senior year of high school.
“Just competing and playing with friends and getting better makes me feel kind of better about myself,” Pannke said. “[Esports] is important to have on campus because some people don’t like generic sports. Sometimes they connect better with stuff like this and it helps them get involved and really let out their competitive side in other ways than going outside and throwing a ball around.”
Miles explained that there are different ways to play “Super Smash Bros.” Some people are competitive while others like to casually enjoy the game.
“Sometimes people come into the club and they get a little intimidated by the competitive atmosphere,” Miles said. “I’m hoping that by doing this, it’ll help people warm up to the idea of maybe coming to the club and just having a good time because that’s what we’re about.”
Miles is also having students in each hall help him run the session to learn valuable management skills.
“I always advocate for people [trying] to pick up leadership positions, so I’m hoping that by doing this, some of these students will become interested in taking on leadership opportunities,” Miles said.
The Esports Committee represents other video game clubs on campus that provide the community for students who want to play games like “Super Smash Bros.,” “League of Legends” and “Overwatch” in a club setting.
Stephen Sheltra, freshman engineering major, thinks the league is nice to have for students who like playing the game.
“I think it’s important just to give people who are good at the game a good opportunity to move forward in the thing they enjoy,” Sheltra said. “I am personally participating just because I enjoy the game.”
The winning team from each hall will be able to compete in a bigger tournament on March 31. This will be an event with people from different communities outside Bradley that will focus on the two main Smash games, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Super Smash Bros. Melee.”
There will be five sessions for different buildings to participate in and students of any skill level are welcomed to compete.
The league started at Harper/ Wyckoff this past Wednesday. Sessions will continue at Geisert Feb. 13, Williams Feb. 20, University Hall Feb. 26 and Heitz with the single complexes March 6. All sessions will take place at 6:30 p.m.
For more information or to sign up as an individual or as a team contact bubravesesports@ gmail.com.
