Evergreen Park to host IHSA Esports state tournament in April

The Learning Resource Center at Evergreen Park Community High School will be the site of the 2023 IHSA State eSports tournament in April. (EPCHS)
There was a time when kids played video games and some parents would scold that they were wasting too much playing them.
There’s a different dynamic in 2023.
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Some of those kids chided by their parents now are parents themselves, and they are passing their love for video games down to the next generation.
Evergreen Park Community High School junior Michael Noel learned about video games from his father, Frederick, but they’ve changed a lot since his dad started playing.
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Video gaming has morphed into esports and not only are they accepted by adults, colleges are offering scholarships for the best esports players.
Last year, the Illinois High School Association sanctioned esports and held its first state tournament downstate at Bloomington High School.
This year’s state tournament is planned for April 29 at Evergreen Park Community High School, and Mustang nation is abuzz.
“Knowing that we’re hosting state is actually a huge thing for me,” Noel said. “This was something I didn’t expect. I knew we were going to end up hosting a couple of tournaments of our own. This is big for us, and it could be big for esports as well.”
His coach is proud as well.
“It’s a chance to show off our great school and give our kids a chance to do something they are passionate about,” Mustangs coach Dan Truffa said.
While the deal is for one year, Truffa hopes to impress the IHSA enough to convince officials to bring the games back for a number of years.
To get the 2023 tournament, EPCHS officials touted recent upgrades at the school’s Learning Resource Center allowing for a tournament of this size.
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“We have a relatively brand new LRC, which is state-of-the-art,” Truffa said. “We have plenty of screens and technology and space for all of the kids that will be coming. We have a brand-new top-of-the-line gaming lab with pretty high-tech computers in there.”
Competitors from Evergreen Park High School gather around a screen for an eSports game. Now in its second year, the IHSA Esports State Finals event will be held at Evergreen Park Community High School this spring. (EPCHS)
IHSA officials are happy with the arrangement as well.
“We are excited to bring the IHSA Esports State Finals to Evergreen Park Community High School,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson in a news release. “The school is passionate about holding this event and has the space and technology conducive to putting on a first-class state tournament event in the IHSA’s newest activity.”
Last year, the area had 14 players from seven schools compete at state, and Andrew’s Zaid Alqammaz and Thang Truong won the inaugural state title in the Super Smash Bros. Duo event.
More than 125 students participated at state last year and, with the addition of more events, that number will increase at Evergreen Park.
The games to be contested in 2023 are Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. (Ultimate Singles & Ultimate Crew Battle), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, NBA 2K, and FIFA.
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“Evergreen Park Community High School is thrilled to be selected as the host of the 2023 IHSA esports state finals,” Evergreen Park Community High School District 231 Superintendent Thomas O’Malley said in a news release. “As an educational institution, we are dedicated to providing students with every opportunity to represent their schools and communities, and view esports as an avenue to accomplish that goal not just for our students but for students across the state of Illinois.”
Evergreen Park did not have state qualifiers in the tourney’s first year but Truffa was in Bloomington helping to set things up at the state meet and is ready to put his knowledge to good use for this event.
Noel said he was a third-place finisher in at sectional competition and did not advance to state but hopes to make it this year.
He said has been playing as long as he can remember.
“I think I’ve been playing since I learned how to walk,” Noel said. “My dad got me started on Marvel vs. Capcom. I loved hitting the fight stick because I loved the sound it would make.
“As it progressed, he taught me how to actually play the game. I moved onto the regular controller. He taught me how to play since I was four and since then, I’ve been competing over at different colleges. It’s something I’ve always loved doing.”
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Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.