Esports Expands Across Sangamon County Schools

Competitive video gaming—better known as esports—has rapidly grown from a niche hobby into one of the fastest-rising activities in education, drawing millions of players and spectators around the world. What was once thought of as simply “playing video games” is now a multibillion-dollar industry, complete with organized teams, tournaments, scholarships, and professional careers.

Globally, esports tournaments now fill arenas and attract audiences comparable to major sporting events. Today, the global esports audience numbers around 640 million people, and schools across the United States have begun fielding their own teams, offering students new ways to compete, collaborate, and represent their communities.

Here in Sangamon County, that trend is taking hold. Four local programs—the University of Illinois Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield School District 186, and Chatham Glenwood High School—now operate organized esports teams, each competing in different leagues and game titles.

Springfield Public Schools District 186 established the Springfield Capitols Esports program, bringing together students from Lanphier, Springfield High, and Southeast under one banner. The team practices and competes from an arena at Lanphier High School and represents the district in official state competitions. Over in Chatham, Glenwood High School has joined the esports movement, competing in statewide tournaments through the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Meanwhile, both Lincoln Land Community College and the University of Illinois Springfield field collegiate-level teams that face opponents from across the country.

Each program focuses on a mix of popular competitive titles. One of the most common is Rocket League, a fast-paced game that combines the rules of soccer with rocket-powered cars. Teams of three work together to hit a massive ball into the opponent’s goal, relying on strategy and coordination rather than physical strength. Other high-school favorites include Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a colorful fighting game where well-known video-game characters battle on dynamic stages, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a high-energy racing game where players speed through imaginative courses using items and shortcuts to gain an advantage.

Students in the Springfield Capitols program also compete in EA Sports FC, formerly known as FIFA, a realistic soccer simulation that mirrors the professional sport. At the college level, the University of Illinois Springfield’s team competes primarily in Rocket League and Valorant, a five-on-five tactical game that rewards communication and precision as much as reflexes. Lincoln Land Community College has also made a name for itself in collegiate competition, earning recognition in Rocket League and expanding to include other titles such as Overwatch, Fortnite, and Super Smash Bros.

High-school esports in Illinois are governed by the IHSA, which now lists competitive gaming alongside its other sanctioned sports and activities. Schools compete in regional sectionals before advancing to state finals, mirroring the structure of basketball or baseball tournaments. The IHSA’s state series includes titles like Rocket League, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, EA Sports FC, and Madden NFL. College teams, meanwhile, participate in national leagues such as the National Esports Collegiate Conference and the NJCAAE, with matches often streamed live online for fans to follow from home.

Supporters of these programs say esports brings a new type of inclusivity to student life. It allows students who might not have joined traditional sports to experience the same sense of teamwork, competition, and school pride. Many colleges now offer scholarships for talented players, and local programs have become pipelines for students interested in pursuing technology-related degrees or careers.

As Sangamon County schools continue to embrace competitive gaming, educators see even greater potential ahead. Some programs are exploring partnerships with technology and broadcasting classes, integrating esports into lessons on digital media and event production. With schools investing in arenas, equipment, and coaching, it’s clear that competitive gaming is more than a passing trend—it’s becoming a permanent fixture of student life.

Whether it’s a three-minute Rocket League match or a five-round Valorant showdown, esports in Sangamon County is giving a new generation of students the chance to play, compete, and win in an entirely new arena.