By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Delavan-Darien School Board discussed adding an Esports team at the high school on April 14. The issue was tabled until next month’s meeting to gather more information.
Athletic Director Kyle Polzin made the appeal for the program, which had been proposed by a student. That student’s father has shown an interest in advising the group at no cost. Polzin said an Esports team could provide an outlet for students who don’t normally participate in traditional sports and still learn team skills. The team would meet once or twice a week and have matches. If there is enough interest, a JV team could also be formed.
Polzin said several area schools already have Esports teams and this opportunity would be good for the student body. He said 16 kids have already said they would join a team if created and Polzin was confident many more would be interested once it got going.
The big concern was the price tag. Polzin said the start up cost for the hardware and software needed would be about $25,000. Administrator Drew Halbesma said there happens to be a budget surplus that could cove that cost and he thought this would be a good place to spend it.
That being said, Board Member Kelly Pohl was still apprehensive about the cost and asked about ways to fundraise to offset it. Polzin pointed out that Esports is considered a sport and if the school was going to start up a more traditional sports like la crosse there would be some up front costs that the district would cover.
“It’s about providing our kids an opportunity,” he said.
Board President Dave Henriott was concerned about the new sport drawing kids away from existing sports. Board Member Kevin Hermann proposed tabling the issue to gather more information.
For more from the school board meeting April 14, see the print edition of the Delavan Enterprise.
