Dispatches from the Rift: A Conversation With Our USC League of Legends Team About The Opportunities in Collegiate Play
-Written by Emily Maahs
Congratulations to the students chosen to represent and compete on the USC League of Legends team this Spring semester! We sat down with the returning Trojan team members and discussed how the team found success throughout the Fall 2020 semester, where they hope to improve, and the challenges they face competing in a remote, digital world. The members also offered us some tips for interested students as to what it takes to compete at the collegiate level. This is part of an ongoing series spotlighting USC Trojan Esports players and staff.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, the USC League of Legends team has provided players with a sense of community and the opportunity to learn, grow, and compete. For freshman Eddie “Meteroryte” Ansart, the team provides him with “an exciting way to meet great friends and build strong relationships with his teammates, without ever stepping foot on the physical campus.” Ansart adds, “Being online has been difficult, especially as a freshman, as it almost felt impossible to meet other students. The League team fixed that issue, and has really calmed my nerves about the entire situation.”
With nearly everything, from university classes to global events, moving online due to COVID-19, the USC League team has worked as a constant support system for its team members, both in competitive play and in creating a stable social network built on camaraderie. Daimyan “Inferno” Angulo appreciates how the team is a “safe space” and has felt like a home where he is “able to talk about the game he loves, learn valuable lessons from his coach, and enjoy time with his teammates- all while improving as a team and as an individual”.
His teammate, Lynne Qian, appreciates the positive environment that the team provides, sharing how she “wants to do her very best for the team in order to improve for herself and the friends she has made”. The support that the team has for each member - on or off Summoners Rift - is a definitive reason behind the team’s significant improvements on both individual levels and as a unit.
For freshman Samuel “Deamon” Moralejo, once a Jungle player who transitioned to the Top Lane, the support from his friends and coach has encouraged him to feel more confident in his swap. He explains that this has allowed him to develop in his role on the team without all the pressure feeling like it is sitting on his shoulders.
With such a positive attitude and community in place within the USC League of Legends team, Spring 2021 shows promise for continuous improvement, competitive gameplay, and the foundation of a positive and supportive community. Coach Joe Jacko looks forward to the semester of matches, particularly being able to, “watch my players execute from practice to the real thing”. Additionally, Coach Jacko emphasizes that the greatest part of being a coach is watching each player grow. He says, “it’s heartwarming… seeing them grow day by day, week by week, and month by month is so inspiring, and my goal is to see that continue and for each player to walk away from the season wanting to do it all over again next year.”
The USC League of Legends team is a wonderful opportunity for those who wish to hone their gameplay skills and strategy, compete against the top university esports teams, and join a supportive and dedicated community of like-minded individuals. For students who are interested in competing at the collegiate level, we encourage you to show up to try-outs, set to take place on April 4, 2021. For more information, feel free to join the USC Trojan Esports Discord, as well as fill out an interest form!