A sport, in its most basic form, is defined by two teams competing against one another with a shared goal. 

When we think of “sports,” naturally baseball, soccer, football, basketball, lacrosse, hockey, and track, among others, come to mind. Yet there’s been a nationwide craze around esports, and it’s now reached our diocese. 

Msgr. McClancy H.S., East Elmhurst, fields the only esports team among Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn. The officially sanctioned CHSAA team was formed last school year, and the Crusaders squad consists of nine student-athletes across all four grade levels. 

Not all God-given athletic talent has to be centered on physical sports. Esports requires an intense mental focus as well as extreme hand dexterity and reaction time. Just like any other sport, the McClancy team practices several times a week and competes in regularly scheduled events. 

The Crusaders program began as an idea from Matthew Miden, an English and film teacher and a 2015 graduate. Miden, a product of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish and school in Ozone Park, grew up playing video games and noticed colleges — and even some high schools — around the country were forming competitive esports teams right out of their own media centers. 

Miden approached athletic director Gerry O’Riordan and assistant athletic director Adam Brunengo in the fall of 2024 with his vision. After Miden educated the ADs about esports in general, the administrators were entirely on board and ready to support the new team in any way. 

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The Crusaders joined the CHSAA esports bracket run by the Electronic Gaming Federation (EGF), which serves as the governing body overseeing scheduling and ensuring fair play. Currently, McClancy competes in a 10-team division with Archdiocese of New York schools across Manhattan, Staten Island, the Bronx, and Westchester. 

As the team began carving out its new path, the McClancy faculty provided the means to update the media center’s tech equipment, since these video games require a lot of power and speed. Together, with fellow 2015 McClancy graduate Michael Brown, Miden hand-built six custom computers the team uses for practice and matches. 

“Similar to how basketball players need their pair of shoes or baseball players need a specific glove or bat, the peripherals that we use — whether it’s a keyboard, mouse, or computer itself — all has to be 100% in tune in order to actually get the competitions underway,” Miden said. 

Gameplay itself features video games such as “Marvel Rivals,” “Overwatch,” “Rocket League,” and even online chess. Many are multiplayer games, so at any given point, all nine team members have a specific role. Nine players, all in different positions? Sounds like baseball or softball. 

“It’s not any different than playing a traditional sport,” said senior Daniel Allen from Broad Channel, who began playing video games when he was 4 years old and who joined the team this fall season. “It’s two teams representing their schools competing for a title. We practice, we’re all right next to each other, and so we’re still making personal connections, which helps us play better.” 

The EGF’s CHSAA bracket has a fall and spring season. There are playoffs and a championship, as well as a chance for the division winner to compete in a national tournament. In this area alone, there are a number of talented teams, so practice preparation is key to success during the games. These strategy-type games can have positive benefits to the developing teenage mind. 

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“It really comes down to the mental aspect of the game,” Miden said. “You have to know your character, and at the same time, you also have to know ways that you could link up with your teammates, and then also what your opponents could be dishing out as well. Everything is being done in real time.” 

Sounds just like soccer, hockey, or lacrosse in that a team must react to anything their opponent throws at them. It takes coordinated skill, communication, and teamwork while ensuring every team member is executing their specific responsibility for the good of the team. 

The CHSAA is all about inclusivity, so this esports team aligns with the organization’s mission of providing athletic opportunities for as many student-athletes as possible — even those who may lack the physical traits — to represent their school through sports. 

McClancy once again “pushed the right buttons” — video game pun intended — to give this group the chance to experience what it’s like to be part of a competitive team. 

“Even if these students can’t hit a home run, shoot a 3-pointer, or score a soccer goal, one of the main things about esports is that you have to be very athletically focused,” Miden said. “To have that skill — to have that ability to compete in these matchups against the best that New York City has to offer — it takes a lot of skill and coordination.” So, next time you question whether playing video games is an actual sport, just look to this Crusaders team for your answer!