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Roosevelt, Lincoln and Jefferson students post wins as Sioux Falls esports season grows
Summary
A coach reported growth in high school esports participation, individual state championships in chess, and competitive finishes in League of Legends and Rocket League; board members praised student development and inclusive opportunities.
A coach representing a Sioux Falls high school esports program told the School District 49-5 Board of Education that participation rose this year and students recorded competitive successes across several titles.
The coach said Roosevelt, Lincoln and Jefferson high schools fielded teams; Lincoln and Jefferson qualified in League of Legends, and “Lincoln ended up taking the trophy,” while Roosevelt narrowly missed qualification. In Rocket League, the coach said their team finished third overall after defeating two other Sioux Falls schools to reach the playoffs. “We ended up getting third, overall, which was awesome,” the coach said.
The coach also highlighted individual success in chess: “My little buddy up there, Will, he's a junior this year. He won the state tournament, and he did not drop a single match the entire season,” the coach said, adding that Roosevelt brought five students but finished second overall behind Dakota Valley, which had nearly 30 competitors.
The coach emphasized noncompetitive benefits, citing communication, teamwork and new social connections for students often described as “awkward and quiet.” The coach described one senior, a former football and basketball player sidelined by two ACL tears, who joined Rocket League to continue competing: “He came to me and he's like, hey. I still gotta compete in something,” the coach said, and added that older students’ leadership helped younger teammates reach a placement match in their first year.
Board members responded with praise for the coach and for students’ progress. One board member said the individual stories showed the value of broad extracurricular options and thanked the coach: “So thank you for coaching and thank you for your passion,” the board member said.
The coach closed by noting the season was “super fun” and that the program gave students new opportunities to build skills often not visible in other settings.
