The Keene State esports team is entering its second year at the college, this time bringing with it new recruits across all four games offered.
The team’s Instagram page posted profiles of recruits from across the New England region, as well as one student hailing from California and another from Uruguay.
In an August 20 Instagram post, the team shared the story of first-year Ysaiah Arezzo, of Uruguay, highlighting why she chose Keene and the team. “Ever since I saw KSC esports on a tour, I decided to look into it further, and thanks to my love for video games and the help of [Head] Coach Noah Drouin, I was able to make this dream come true,” the post quoted Arezzo as saying.
One aspect of the team that sets it apart from others in athletics is the ability to offer scholarships to prospective students, as the team is not affiliated with the NCAA which regulates the assistance. According to the NCAA’s website, Division III sports at schools like Keene State are unable to offer athletic scholarships.
The team is going into the year offering the same games as last year: Valorant, Rocket League, Overwatch 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, according to the Keene State Owls athletics website.
Tryouts were held for Valorant on September 3, the last game for which they were held, while others were held as early as August 16. The team appeared three times in the playoffs during their first year and will look to with new players and returners alike.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
