New Esports team welcomes area competitors to fundraising tournament
JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin Esports Booster Club will host an inaugural fundraising tournament, Eagles L’air, starting at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at Joplin High School’s Kaminsky Gym, 2104 Indiana Ave.
The tournament will benefit the new JHS Esports Team.
More than 100 competitors have signed up to play in the tournament, with proceeds from the event to be split between prizes for winners and the JHS Esports team.
Teams from other high schools as well as Crowder College, MSSU, Stephens College, Missouri State University, and Wichita State University have registered to attend. Professional Esports players ApolloKage, Luma, Cannon Red, and Bubblegum are also registered to attend with additional players coming from as far as St. Louis, Texas, South Dakota, and South Carolina.
Competitors in the tournament will play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU), one of the top-grossing Esports games currently in play. An $850 prize pool is up for grabs, sponsored by area partners GameCo (platinum sponsor), Arvest Bank (gold sponsor), and The Technology Center (silver sponsor).
Per MSHSAA activity rules, alternate prizes will be given to Missouri school-age students who meet MSHSAA guidelines.
“We were very excited to see the outpouring support from our community leaders, especially GameCo, which helped make this fundraiser a success,” said Joplin Esports Booster Club president Heather Pugh. “We plan to make this a semi-annual event and expand even more next year so we can continue to help support the JHS Esports Team”
JHS Esports is a new program at Joplin Schools which will provide another avenue for students to participate in a team activity that could lead to college scholarships. Esports is a multibillion dollar industry that accounted for $16 million dollars in college scholarships last year alone.
Joplin Schools is registered with MOSEF (Missouri Organization of Scholastic Esports Federation), a nonprofit organization that manages regional and state play between Missouri high schools.
As with many new programs and activities, funding and community awareness are two big hurdles the Joplin Esports Booster Club members are working to alleviate.
“Eagles L’air is going to provide a huge boost to visibility and funding for the team,” said JHS Esports coach Ryan Burnside. “I’m excited our esports students will be able to watch some of the best players out there compete, as well as compete against them.” Event organizers are encouraging college esports coaches to watch and engage with students who are interested in pursuing esports at a collegiate level.
“Being a part of the JHS Esports Team has opened gateways to new friends and experiences which I thought impossible before,” said Varsity SSBU team captain and JHS student Parker Williamson. “I’m honored to be able to help bring Esports to JHS.” Spectators are welcome to attend free of charge. Concessions will be available for purchase.