Senior strives for stake in booming eSports industry
Adin Zweigbaum markets club to more students
February 18, 2021
Seniors Adin Zweigbaum and James Peterson have been working to expand esports to high schoolers by finding new communication strategies. Esports is a way to play video games competitively on a team or individually.
According to Zweigbaum esports can help more introverted teens find a sense of belonging during the pandemic and for years to come after.
“Before COVID it was an outlet for a lot of people who felt like they didn’t fit in a certain group, or who prefer to stay home more often,” Zweigbaum said. “It’s a great way to make friends, and build relationships that any other sports team would provide.”
Senior James Peterson expressed a similar feeling of wanting to continue to foster friendships between peers.
“Esports is a great way to keep students connected especially since the pandemic can make everyone feel so disconnected,” Peterson said.
The esports industry has rapidly gained popularity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zweigbaum has played a role in marketing esports to a larger audience.
“I enjoy working to promote esports on social media, live streaming games and getting the word out to more students,” Zweigbaum said.
Peterson said he works daily to brainstorm new and innovative ways to improve the esports league.
“I meet with my team on a Zoom call and we strategize how to make the esports league as good for students as possible,” Peterson said. “It’s all up to student experience.”
Esports is more of a mental game rather than physical, though they go hand-in-hand. The competitive spirit of esports carries through similarly to any other sport.
“Most professional esports teams require their players to workout because it’s been proven that physical strength and mental strength have correlation,” Zweigbaum said.
According to Peterson esports fosters the same mentality of a sport.
“We can’t do in person sports but esports is another outlet for those with competitive energy,” Peterson said. “It’s similar to a traditional sport in the sense of team comradery and friendships.”
Going forward Zwiegbaum said he wants to continue his journey in esports, given he sees a lot of potential in the future.
“This is something I want to continue working on past high school because I think it’s going to be the next huge industry,” Zweigbaum said. “I want to be on the front lines helping it grow.”
