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Members of the new Pipestone Area Schools esports team practice their skills. Pictured (l-to-r) are Grayson Balster, Grayson Lindquist and Nakei Mendoza. Above them is a banner with the team logo that was created by team member Wesley Haak. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
On a recent Friday afternoon, a group of Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) students were honing their skills for the school district’s newest activity — esports.
“Esports is competitive video gaming,” said Head Coach Neil Ramsbey. “It’s also a good way to get students who aren’t in conventional sports involved with the school.”
The PAS team includes 18 students, all boys, in ninth through 12th grade. The students gathered in a classroom in the middle and high school library on the recent Friday afternoon were playing Minecraft Bedwars Java Edition on PCs, and Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros Ultimate on Nintendo Switch 2s. Other team members play chess, Fortnite Build and Valorant.
In addition to the games above, esports sports teams can compete in League of Legends, Marvel Rivals and Rocket League. Some of the games are played as teams and others are played individually.
Teams from over 100 Minnesota schools compete online through the Minnesota Varsity League. Ramsbey said PAS team members recently competed against a team from Warroad, which is near the Canadian border.
“It’s cool that the pool of schools you play against are all over Minnesota and it’s not hampered by bus travel,” he said.
Other Minnesota teams in this area are in Slayton, Worthington and Tracy. There are also nearby teams in Flandreau and Elkton, but Ramsbey said the league play only includes Minnesota teams.
Qwentyn Vallejo (left) and Mackenzi Carlson are among the members of Pipestone Area Schools’ new esports team. The team has 18 members in grades nine through 12 and plays online against teams from all over Minnesota. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
PAS Superintendent Klint Willert said he learned about the esports program at a conference and decided to look into launching a team at PAS after learning that there was potential grant funding available to help. He approached PAS Activities Director Rick Zollner about it and Ramsbey agreed to coach.
“I’ve always liked video games,” Ramsbey said. “Now I tell my mom I wasn’t wasting my whole life playing video games. I was training to be a coach.”
Karl Schmitke volunteered to be the assistant coach. Ramsbey said he’s more of a PC gamer and Schmitke is more knowledgeable about the Switch.
Ramsbey said the school district bought five PCs and two Switch 2s for the team for around $9,500. There’s also a $1,000 fee per school to join the Minnesota Varsity League and a $100 fee per student to participate. Ramsbey said Woodstock Communications donated $5,000 to help get the team started and that other sponsors are welcome.
The goal of the esports team, according to Ramsbey, is to encourage students to form new friendships and learn teamwork. He said it also helps develop computer skills. Students said they joined the esports team to play video games with their friends. Ninth grader Nakei Mendoza, who plays Minecraft and Valorant, said the best part is the teamwork and the strategizing.
Karl Schmitke (left) is the assistant coach of Pipestone Area School’s new esports team. Here he’s playing Super Smash Bros with a student checking out the team. On the PCs to the right are team members Qwentyn Vallejo and Mackenzi Carlson. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Like with other school activities, Ramsbey said, participants need to keep up their grades and follow the code of conduct to be eligible.
The preseason for the esports team began Nov. 10 and ends Nov. 21. The regular season begins Dec. 1 and lasts until Feb. 13. There’s then a state tournament from March 13 to 15 at St. Cloud State University. Ramsbey said there are even college scholarships available for esports.
He said the activity is not yet sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League, but he’s hopeful that it will be soon.