Prineville, Ore. – Crook County High School’s Esports program has seen significant growth in recent years, mirroring a nationwide surge in competitive gaming at the high school level. What started as a small club for gaming enthusiasts has now evolved into a structured team environment, with students competing in state and regional tournaments.
The rise of Esports at CCHS reflects a broader trend across the country, where high schools are increasingly recognizing competitive gaming as a legitimate extracurricular activity. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more than 8,600 schools now have Esports programs, offering students opportunities for scholarships, teamwork development, and career pathways in the gaming industry.
At Crook County High School, students participating in Esports are gaining valuable skills in strategy, communication, and digital literacy, all while competing in popular games such as Mario Cart, Super Smash Brothers, and the Madden football games — titles which are nostalgic for many adults who played earlier titles of the same in previous decades.
Many students appreciate the sense of community and inclusivity that Esports offers, providing an alternative to traditional athletics. For others it’s been a way to bond with family, much the same as countless families for generations did over board games — the likes of Monopoly, Life, and many more.
“When I was about six, I went to my grandma’s house and she had just bought this [Nintendo] Wii. We sat down that night and beat the entirety of Mario — just me and her,” said Parker Smolich, a senior at CCHS.
“It’s a really good memory I have, and it’s just something that’s been really special.”
Smolich, one of the original students who ultimately helped get the club and team started, was also recognized last month by the Crook County School District Board for his recent accomplishments. He was been one of the main students behind the
Many of the students involved in Esports also get to compete on an almost weekly basis, according to Smolich. Competitions, however, can involve both online and in-person facilitated events.
“Normally we get to do things online, but yeah we also get to do things in-person which is really cool too,” said Smolich.
Interim Superintendent Joel Hoff explained during the recent school board meeting that Esports, like many other sports and clubs, play an important role in attendance and student success.
“So about four years ago, we looked at some student data, and we saw that students who were involved in an extracurricular activity, whether it was a sport, performance arts, clubs, they had better attendance rates,” Hoff said.
Esports initially started as a simple club at the high school, eventually growing into a formal competitive team supported by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA).
For the program’s coach, Natalie Eberhard, the growth of Esports represents more than just gaming—it’s an opportunity to help students develop critical thinking and teamwork skills that will benefit them beyond high school.
“So we started out with Parker [Smolich] and one other student, so we had the grand number of two,” Eberhard explained. “We had about ten to fifteen last year, and now we have a minimum of twenty and often thirty that come into my room during lunch every day.”
“We’ve seen students build confidence, leadership skills, and friendships through Esports,” said Eberhard. “It’s incredible to see how much this program has grown and the opportunities it’s creating for our students.”
Eberhard also went on to explain how the club and team really provide for social interactions, which could otherwise not be as commonplace for gamers. Smolich also explained that this point had been a great positive for him and allowed him to be more outgoing.
“The biggest positive benefit is just the social interaction. A lot of gamers can be pretty socially isolated, but one of the clear things here is you can see twenty or thirty kids together in a room actually interacting with each other — supporting each other,” said Eberhard.
“So there is just that social interaction part, but then there is also the serious benefits from this, including college scholarships for the kids.”
Esports can also be a great way to complement students involved in computer sciences, supporting education that helps students who may take advantage of careers in the game design industry, which continues to see ongoing growth worldwide.
According to Eberhard, she and another instructor are planning to teach an actual game design class for students at CCHS.
As Crook County High School continues to invest in its Esports program, it joins a growing movement of schools embracing competitive gaming as a valuable and legitimate part of student life. With Esports scholarships on the rise and professional gaming opportunities expanding, today’s high school competitors may soon find themselves at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry.
