Wildcat E-Sports allows students to come together, play games, win prizes and socialize.

Will Solomon, junior management major from Abilene and current president of the organization said the reason the organization’s name changed from League of Wildcats to Wildcat E-Sports was because “Wildcat E-Sports last year was kind of falling off the radar, so we tried to revitalize it. We wanted to give students on campus that play competitive video games a chance to come together,” said Solomon.

Solomon said many people thought the organization’s previous name was based off of a game called League of Legends and assumed that members played only the League of Legends game. “We didn’t really want that, so we wanted to expand our horizons and make sure it was open to everyone no matter what the genre of game it is.”

The organization was established at ACU in 2013 by alum Daniel Archer, who was then a graduate student in English.

The organization is part of TESPA, which is “a network of college clubs founded to promote gaming culture and host the best college esports events and competitions,” according to the TESPA website.

All members pay a yearly due of $15, and the funds go to food for events, prizes and an official membership with the TESPA association.

“The more members active that have paid, the bigger boxes we get, and that just makes the events better for everybody,” said Solomon. For all monthly events, the national organization sends the college chapters boxes with prizes.

Jayce Walker, senior speech pathology major from New Braunfels, is the treasurer and said gamers or non-gamers are always invited to the events.

“You don’t have to bring anything to the events; we have everything provided for you,” Walker said. “So really if you just want to hop in and get to know what we’re doing or if you are looking for a competitive environment, then we have that as well.”

Walker said the three significant games they play are League of Legends, Super Smash Bros., and Overwatch.

The first event this semester will be on September 24 in the third floor of the Mabee Building at 2pm. There will be free food, drinks, gaming, a LAN party, and some prizes.

The event is sponsored by TESPA and STEELSERIES. “They are a really big gaming [manufacturer] company,” Solomon said. “So we are expecting to get some pretty cool merch from them.”

A few goals that the organization hopes to accomplish this semester are to bring back Abilene Super Smash Bros. and become its host by creating bi-weekly tournaments, raise money to give to the annual charity event called Christmas for Kids and offer chapel credits to students at their events.

The two sponsors of the organization are Victor McCracken, associate professor of Theology and Ethics, and Ray Pettit, assistant professor of Computer Science.

Connor Smith, junior computer science major from New Braunfels, is the vice president and said his favorite part is the socialization aspect of the organization. “One thing a lot people don’t get about stuff like this is that it’s really about connecting people who generally don’t connect with other people outside of this.”

Solomon said he hopes to have about 100 members this semester. As for the spring semester, he hopes the organization grows.

“We hope it’s a place for people to come grow spiritually and also competitively and just social as well,” Walker said.

For those interested in Wildcat E-Sports, contact acuesports@gmail.com.