West Fargo High School’s esports team took first place in League of Legends at the state tournament on March 31 and April 1 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, ND. The LoL players included Kenny Tran, Ethan Parsons, Zach Onsum, Quinton Tran, and Cole Dwyer. West Fargo defeated defending champs, Park Rapids High School. West Fargo’s Quinton Tran also took first place in Chess. Sheyenne High School’s esports team took third place for League of Legends, and West Fargo took third for Valorant in their debut season.
Approximately 130 students from schools in North Dakota and Minnesota attended the second annual Fenworks Esports State Tournament. The high school esports season begins in the fall and concludes with a state tournament in the spring. Leading up to the state tournament, Fenworks runs an eight-week esports season for students in sixth grade and above to compete for a spot at the tournament. During the two-day tournament, students competed in Valorant, Fortnite, League of Legends, Rocket League and Chess. Winners of each game title were announced and received a trophy during the closing ceremony.
WFHS’s Packers esports team was founded in 2020, starting as a place where students could play games after school with some exposure to a competitive environment. Esports teams meet two or three times a week, depending upon the time of competition, to develop communication skills and work on game strategies. During the 2022-2023 school year, WFHS added Sheyenne High School to the esports group. Approximately 30 students participate in their esports program across three titles (Rocket League, League of Legends, and Valorant). Two previous graduates also returned as coaches this year, providing them an opportunity to step into a coaching and leadership role as they attend college and bring those skills into their current studies.
We want our esports players to grow as individuals, form bonds with their teammates, and overall, find a place in their high school career where they feel like they belong.
Jamie Odum, West Fargo/Sheyenne High School Esports General Manager
“We want our esports players to grow as individuals, form bonds with their teammates, and overall, find a place in their high school career where they feel like they belong,” says Jamie Odum, West Fargo/Sheyenne High School Esports General Manager. “We run a tight ship, eligibility matters, but we’ll help support you to get you where you need to be and try and find opportunities to a brighter future to those willing to put in the work.”
