A member of Riverside’s varsity esports team, the Kraken, has made it to states.
Freshman Ben Zechman placed fourth in a regional esports tournament for his game of choice, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
“It was at UNCW,” Zechman said. “There were a few monitors in the hallway and some in the room with a projector, with a Rocket League setup on the right.”
During the downtime of the tournament, Zechman found time to socialize.
“You would sit in the crowd and cheer for your friends while you’re not playing,” he said. “A lot of it was hanging out in the crowd because you [only] play two matches.”
Zechman is the first member of The Kraken, Riverside’s esports team, to qualify for the state championship, which will be held on February 17 in Greensboro.
“I’m hopeful,” he said. “I’ll probably win round one. Round two should be difficult. I know there are some good people there.”
Established at Riverside in 2023, The Kraken is run through the Varsity Esports League (VESL). UNCG, UNCW, and several other organizations around NC sponsor VESL.
The gaming club at Riverside started in 2017. Open to all students, the club began meeting during SMART Lunch in 2019 and continued during Pirate Block.
“This is not just a video game club. This is a social classroom,” said instructional assistant Quentin Headen, who is both the club adviser and a Kraken coach. “They can socialize with other students, but also if they need help in the classroom, there is a person here that they can talk to and work with.”
When it became a recognized sport, several members of the club joined the team and started practicing together after school as well.
The club has grown to about 40 members and meets almost every day during lunch, but its future is uncertain. Riverside’s administration paused the club indefinitely on January 12 due to academic concerns.
Zechman feels confident in his ability to go far in the upcoming tournament, but he still can’t shake the anxiety that comes with potential disqualification if the ban comes through.
However, Coach Headen says that the likelihood of Ben facing issues during or after the tournament is slim, and they will not give up on their efforts to keep the team and club afloat.
When asked about the club’s status, assistant principal Jasmine McKoy declined to comment.
