Limestone is back in the eSports spotlight.
The Rockets are competing this week in the championship match of the Esports Unified Nationals in the video game Rocket League, during which competitors control rocket-powered cars in a virtual version of soccer.
After a preseason match and eight regular-season matches, the team from Bartonville advanced through three rounds of the playoffs — and now will face Mesa (Arizona) Ironwood at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the title. You can watch via Limestone’s Twitch channel at LCHS310_ESports.
This event is coordinated through the Special Olympics’ unified sports program, which joins students with and without intellectual disabilities on same team.
Reese Smith, Mikey McCarthy and Aidan Ward make up the team headed to the finals. The overall roster also includes Ryan Lappie, Connor Chambers and Jett Callear.
The team’s substitute is Caspian Adams, who was part of Limestone’s previous foray into esports success. Over the winter, Adams and Limestone won one of four regional championships of the North American Scholastic Esports Federation’s fall scholastic tournament in Rocket League. They went on to compete in the national semifinals.
Esports has proven a welcome addition to the Limestone offerings, says Limestone technical director Jonathan Frederick, who coached both teams,
“It’s a friendly, welcoming, monitored environment where kids can play without getting those toxic randoms,” Frederick said. “It brings players together that don’t necessarily fit the traditional athlete role. It gives them a space to play and compete with like-minded students they may not have played with before.”
Special Olympics of Illinois went to Limestone’s unified coaches Abby Tyra and Stacey Seals, who reached out to Frederick about starting a team. Play began in February with all but one Limestone player never having played Rocket League before their run to the national title match.
“It’s all about the drive of the players,” Frederick said. “They’re here to have fun and get better and compete … and I help guide them through the process.
“Now, we’re in the show … going for that trophy.”
Wes Huett is Journal Star sports editor. Email him at whuett@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @WesHuett.
