Game On in Marshalltown, IA
A new generation of sports and sports careers arrive in Marshalltown.
When it comes to the up-and-coming workforce, Marshalltown Community School District and Marshalltown Community College (MCC) offer unique, immersive experiences that prepare the next generation for competitive, innovative technologies.
In just their first year, these educational institutions are positioning the community to attract an emerging industry by leaning into eSports (short for electronic sports). eSports are at the heart of competitive gaming, an industry that has exploded into one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Players engage in video game competitions that are viewed by millions of fans around the world, bringing fame and hefty rewards to the winners.
Taking the Lead
MCC is one of fewer than 200 schools across the nation that offers a designated program in the field, and it is the first college in Iowa to add the eSports Management program to its roster.
“The purpose of the academic program is to prepare students for careers in the rapidly growing eSports industry in roles such as event planning and management, coaching, broadcasting, marketing and operations,” says Nathan Rodemeyer, eSports program management faculty and eSports coach at MCC. The program offers internship opportunities such as hosting guest speakers, helping with event operations and broadcasting, and coordinating tournaments.
Students may also do what they love the most – compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association eSports (NJCAAE) against teams from other community colleges around the nation.
“All of our fall teams ended with winning seasons, and we even had a national champion athlete during our first semester of competition,” Rodemeyer says. “She competed in Mario Kart 8 DX and won the NJCAAE fall championship as the only racer in the entire league to go through all of the regular season and postseason undefeated. More importantly, she has stated that being involved in the athletic eSports program is the first time she has ever felt like she truly belongs in a community. Students like her are why we do this, and the community is taking notice.”
Nurturing Student Interest
Serving as the perfect feeder into this program, Marshalltown High School (MHS) created an eSport team that, in its first year, has already engaged in competitions with other teams across the state. Teachers who had never heard of eSports now see the value of the industry and are creating vertical curriculums that align with the MCC program.
“We had been talking about starting up a program for a few years, and students had been asking for the opportunity,” says Dr. Theron Schutte, Marshalltown Community School District superintendent. “Approximately 60 to 80 students are participating on our competitive teams and/or in our eSports club. These are students who weren’t previously engaged in school activities outside of the classroom, which is great because research shows that student involvement in extracurricular activities typically results in improved school attendance and academic achievement.”
Schutte says that the program is connected to the school’s computer science career pathway and teaches what knowledge, skills, talents and attributes are necessary to access those careers. As a new avenue for students who enjoy gaming, it’s an opportunity not just to parlay their passion into a career, but to find a similar social group and become part of a team.
As popularity increases, the school plans to offer a junior varsity and varsity team for all three seasons, as well as a club level, with the bonus that no traveling is required – students will compete from their dedicated school lab.
Their futures may find them using their computer science savvy at local businesses that can tap into their talents in any number of ways, from communications and broadcasting to marketing and design. One thing’s for certain: The schools here truly have their finger on the pulse of business trends in the 21st century.
Businesses Attract Gamers
Speaking of local businesses, Game Haven, owned by Scott Turner, is a place for gamers of all ages to gather and build their fun fantasy communities.
Located inside Marshalltown Mall, the small business has become a haven for gamers throughout Marshall County, whether you enjoy video games, card-playing games, RPGs (role-playing games) or board games.
Turner schedules several tournaments throughout the year, and there are themed nights on different days of the week. For example, Mondays often feature competitions in the X-Roads Smash League, and Tuesdays are usually reserved for Pokemon card games and Love Thy Neighbor RPGs.
Most game nights begin at 6 p.m., and memberships are available for $40. Game Haven also sells a full lineup of games, costumes, controllers, headsets, action figures and other gaming accessories.
Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.
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