Ridgewater to Launch New eSports Activity in Hutchinson

HUTCHINSON and WILLMAR, MN – Ridgewater College is excited to introduce a new eSports activity on the Hutchinson campus. Launching this fall, the eSports club will give students the opportunity to join competitive gaming teams, participate in tournaments, and develop skills in game strategy, teamwork, and digital media in a newly created gaming lounge. 

eSports will run as a “club sport”, similar to Ridgewater’s Clay Target teams. The only eligibility requirement is to be enrolled as a part- or full-time student at Ridgewater. Whether students are seasoned gamers or just beginning,
eSports will offer something for everyone.

Last year, Heidi Olson, Ridgewater Dean of Students, proposed the program to expand student life opportunities for students on the Hutchinson campus. The Hutchinson campus does not have a gymnasium like the Willmar campus, and thus doesn’t host sports like volleyball, basketball and wrestling.

“This is an activity that has grown in recent years,” Olson said. This school year, more than 100 Minnesota high schools and 2,000 Minnesota high school students participated in eSports clubs and teams. “We hope that allowing high school students to continue to compete at the college level will offer them a next step for making connections and taking on challenges in a fun way while training for careers at Ridgewater College.” 

Ridgewater Nondestructive Testing Technology instructor Sheldon Mackinnon has been hired to coach and launch the new program. “Games are great at stimulating our critical thinking by having us make split-second decisions that can win or lose you the game,” Mackinnon said. He is excited to take on the role and share his love of and enthusiasm for gaming with students. “When we fail, we rethink, we strategize and we try and try again until we win. The video games I played while growing up have shaped who I am today.” 

Follow the development of the Ridgewater eSports club on the Ridgewater Warrior Athletics website at www.ridgewaterathletics.com.