The Impacts of Esports

As a high school assistant principal, I am sometimes overly analytical about new initiatives or programs. We are trained to dissect everything and predict outcomes, intended and unintended. Despite years of doing this, I could have never predicted what a positive impact Esports would have for us at Ludington High School. While I figured it would give a group of students a positive outlet for their hobby, it has actually tapped into a deep passion for building our Esports community and creating future pathways for success. 

By Jonathon Meadows, Hudsonville High School Class of 2022

"I'm grateful because of the opportunities Hudsonville offered. Those opportunities have allowed me to build myself up before I take my first steps into adulthood. I even had the honor of playing on one of the Hudsonville varsity sports teams ...  Yeah, I was on the e-sports team ... we've been able to participate in groups ... groups that have interests that not everyone shares, but that have found communities in this school.

I hope that no matter where life takes you, you follow your passions and interests. I hope that you find 'your people' and stake your place in this world by pursuing what you're passionate about."

The Golden Grizzlies

Oakland University has a varsity esports program under Athletics. Esports Head Coach Carl Leone has been leading the program since Fall 2020. Heading into their third competitive year, the team practices and competes out of a brand new gaming arena, The Grizzden. Oakland Esports has 30 players who compete in League of Legends, Overwatch, Smash Ultimate and Rocket League. Up to full tuition scholarships are available to players with average scholarships covering $1,500/year. Oakland Esports finished top 12 in the world in collegiate Rocket League in the 2021 - 2022 season. The Smash Ultimate team has been ranked in the top 10 in North America. League of Legends has qualified for CLOL North playoffs and is ranked top 50 in North America.

Ferris State University not only has a collegiate esports team and is in the midst of building an esports arena but also has a Bachelor's Degree in Esports Production that is available fully online! 

Combining creative prowess with technical expertise, the Professional Esports Production program at FSU will prepare students to launch their career in this booming industry. Focusing on production, content creation, streaming, and user interface design, students will build the skills to produce and distribute content, setup, host, and stream professional esports events, and develop programmable screen overlays and user interfaces.

"... esports helps students forge connections to the institution and each other, become more engaged and improve happiness and wellbeing at school," said Mark Walters, manager of growth initiatives for Steelcase Learning.

Four essential considerations for creating optimally effective gaming spaces.

Recognizing the importance of esports in building skills and improving student outcomes, Steelcase research identified four essential design considerations for creating optimally effective gaming spaces:

1. Enhance gamer performance
2. Support gamer wellbeing
3. Facilitate gamer teamwork
4. Build community between gamers and spectators

The Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL) in partnership with MASSP, MASC/MAHS and Oakland University, is proud to announce the first-ever Explore Esports conference in conjunction with the Fall 2022 Season Semi-Finals and Championships! Whether your school has a competitive esports team, an after-school club, or you just want to learn more about the esports industry and the opportunities and skills provided to students, then this is a must-attend event.

Learn from esports professionals, college coaches, players, and other industry leaders about the benefits of providing esports to student-athletes. Plus, see high school esports in action as MHSEL teams compete live for state titles. 

Stay Tuned!  

Our team has been working hard to provide the elite high school esports experience, we're currently planning a virtual tournament with the Detroit Pistons GT and coordinating Game Strategy Sessions via Twitch with our collegiate partners from Oakland University and Ferris State University. More details coming soon! 

Ryan Cayce
Director of MHSEL

Ryan Cayce joined the MASSP team in September 2017. He started his career at Croswell-Lexington High School as a Business & Technology teacher where he taught and coached basketball for six years. Ryan moved into administration at Cros-Lex High School as the Assistant Principal and then Principal. He also served as Principal of Ubly Jr/Sr High School. Ryan holds a Bachelor's in Business Education from Western Michigan University and a Master's in Public Administration from U of M-Flint.

Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife, Amanda, and four children. As a family, they spend most of their time on the sports fields/courts, swimming, boating and watching the Detroit Lions. In his free time, Ryan also enjoys playing guitar and running.

Maggie Helmer
Assistant Director of MHSEL

Maggie joined MASSP in June 2020. Maggie began her career in education at the Ionia County Intermediate School District in 2010 and prior to coming to MASSP worked at the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators for 4 years as their Executive Assistant. Maggie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in Community Leadership from Aquinas College and is a certified Mediator. 

Maggie grew up in Ionia and served on two nonprofit boards for a cumulative of 6 years. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, playing cards, working out, a good book, watching sports (Go Blue!), movie marathons, time with family/friends (especially at the lake or pool), and pushing herself outside her comfort zone (no matter how scary it may be).

Nina Davis
Director of Middle Level 

Nina Davis joined MASSP as the new Associate Director of Member Services and Middle Level. Nina comes to the organization with over 17+ years of education experience in urban and suburban districts and after a 9 year tenure of being a middle school principal. Nina has taught and been a building administrator for both middle and high school. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Health from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership also from Eastern Michigan University.  

Nina was born and raised in Flint, MI. She and her husband JD have 3 children together. In her spare time, she loves to travel and has proudly visited 46 states and 10 countries to date. Nina loves exploring new brunch spots (her favorite meal) and listening to live music with JD or baking!

Nicholas Banks
MHSEL Intern

Nicholas joined the MHSEL team in September 2022 as a college intern. Nicholas is a Junior at Oakland University who is majoring in Information Technology, and is also a student athlete for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team. When Nick isn't doing school work or activities for esports, you can find him relaxing at home playing a video game like SSBU or watching a TV show/movie with his family and significant other. Nick is also a hard worker, setting his mind on finishing whatever he started, or plans to start. One of the best traits about Nick is that he's a very kind and helpful person, whenever anyone asks him for help, he ensures that he provides all the assistance that he can for them.