Redwood Esports and Its Changes in 2021

Interviews conducted by: Jalen Bullock, Isaac Reynoso, and Elyjah Morales

After 1 and a half years in quarantine, Esports is back at Redwood, but starting in the 2021-2022 school year, it will be offering both a more casual club and multiple competitive teams.

Tyler Tomooka, ‘23 is the President of the Esports club. He has been playing video games all of his life as a hobby and got into competitive gaming about two years ago. He began playing Super Smash Bros. Wii U/Nintendo 3ds (widely known as smash 4) before eventually getting a copy of the most recent game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

After playing Smash Ultimate for some time, he joined the Redwood Esports club and his competitive journey in competitive smash began. Starting this year, Tomooka is the President of the Esports club at Redwood and he takes his position seriously saying that he is determined to manage tournaments as well as help with the management of club funds.

When asked about his thoughts on the split between club and competitive Esports he says that both sides are “one and the same…” and that even players on the more casual side are included and seen as true members.

Tomooka goes further on his “one and the same…” thoughts and says, “We’re (casual and competitive sides) all part of the same group, we play the same game, we’re just here to have fun, and we do it in different ways.”

Tomooka is hopeful that the competitive players will be able to play against other schools but speculates that, due to Covid, the competitions will take place completely online.

He says that creating a competitive community can be hard, so if the club ends up having to be more casual this year he is completely fine with that, as long as everyone is having a good time, he will be happy.

Spencer Byrd, ‘23 is the Vice-President of the Esports club. He has been playing video games ever since he got a Nintendo Wii when he was three years old. His interest in competitive gaming peaked around two years ago when he saw the Redwood Esports team. Now he plays Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at a competitive level as well as casually.

When asked about his thoughts on the split between the casual and competitive sides of Redwood Esports, He says, “I think club and competitive Esports are very fun experiences that are a really good time…” He encourages anyone to join Redwood Esports and says that even if you aren’t amazing at the game, it will still be a great time and a fun experience for you.

The position of Vice-President means a lot to Byrd and he says that he enjoys helping the competitive scene get out there and do more things, as well as inviting more people into the club as a whole. 

Sawyer Bohl ‘22 Is the treasure for Esports and he has been in Esports for half a year before quarantine. He went from being a normal player to becoming the captain of the Overwatch team. Bohl says “I love video games” when asked why he was in Esports. 

Bohl says “I’m hoping to get a lot of kids who are super interested in competitive play”. He wants the teams to grow more so that we have more chances in competitive tournaments to win. 

   Matthew Murrell ‘23 who is a returning competitive  member of the Esports club, says that ¨I am glad that we (Esports) are finally able to be shown in the same light as the rest of the sports.¨

Murrell adds that ¨I am glad that there is a place for both people who enjoy the competitive side, as well as a casual gamer.¨

Benjamin Kim ‘23 a second year member, says that ¨I feel Esports can be a little underappreciated; I think it is something that more students should look into¨

Kim adds that ¨ It doesn’t matter if you are competitive or casual, the main goal of Esports is to have fun.¨

Tags: arts & entertainment, arts and entertainment, esports, Redwood