Shenandoah University to Host Inaugural VHSL Esports Championship
More than 40 high school qualifiers in Virginia will compete
Please Note: The Esports Championship Format has Changed.
Based on the weather forecast for Saturday, January 18, the teams will compete online from their home schools. The championship matches will be broadcast live on the PlayVS Twitch channel Twitch.tv/PlayVS.
The first esports championship for the Virginia High School League is being held Saturday, Jan. 18, at Shenandoah University.
The VHSL PlayVS Esports Championship hosted by Shenandoah University runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center on the Winchester campus.
More than 40 students are set to compete in Rocket League and League of Legends.
Hosting the first high school esports championship in Virginia at Shenandoah University is a tremendous opportunity for both the school and the city of Winchester as we continue to grow esports in the area. Students are getting a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a live audience while experiencing an esports competition in person. We are excited to be hosting this great event and seeing some of the best high school esports students in the state compete.”
Joey Gawrysiak | Director of Esports
This fall, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) offered a one-year esports pilot program to its more than 300 high school members across the commonwealth. Thirty-seven of these schools opted to participate in the program.
We have received a great deal of positive feedback from schools regarding the esports pilot. Having Shenandoah University step up to support the VHSL and the esports community by hosting a culminating event like this will further help us get a glimpse into what this program could potentially become and whether the league decides to continue offering esports as a sanctioned academic activity for member schools.”
Darrell Wilson | Assistant director for activities at VHSL
Thirty-two high school teams are competing in online esports playoffs in early January. Four teams will advance to the championship to face off in League of Legends, and eight teams will advance in Rocket League.
Championship Schedule
- League of Legends Semifinal play start at 10 a.m.
- League of Legends Finals begin at 2 p.m.
- Rocket League Quarterfinals start at noon
- Rocket League Semifinals start at 1 p.m.
- Rocket League Finals start at 4 p.m.
Watch the Championships
Attendees can watch the matches live on four 70-inch monitors and a large video screen.
Shenandoah’s Twitch channel will broadcast the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Play VHSL’s Twitch Channel will broadcast finals.
The event is free and open to the public. Concessions and side-games will be available.
This fall, Shenandoah University launched degrees in esports management and esports media and communications. Sixteen students are enrolled in the new majors, with several students minoring in esports management and esports performance studies. The university also opened its new 1,571-square-foot esports arena in the unused armory on Shenandoah’s main campus.
