Mid-Prairie hosted the third Open Saturday on Feb. 27 in preparation for the first official Esports season. Attendance from the first three Open Saturday events has averaged in the high teens, which includes virtual and home school association students. The season officially starts the week of March 22 with competitions after school on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday with Mid-Prairie fielding varsity and JV teams in each of the following three games: Mario Kart, Rainbow Siege and Rocket League.
Esports at Mid-Prairie originated through the generous donation of $6,000 of computer parts from Digicon, which is owned by Jeremy Richardson, father to MP alum Marina and current junior, Terra. Through a collaboration between Richardson and senior Eryk Hovde, two units were built and served as models, which led to the purchase and building of ten more units after school board approval.
Initially with only two gaming units in the Spring of 2020, a group of students set up their own units to compete in the home of Jason and Heather Trimpe, parents of participants, Ethan and Owen, but the season was cut short because of COVID.
Esports continues to be student centered with all hardware being assembled under the direction of Hovde and senior Aaron Slaubaugh working to install all the software and handle technology issues.
For more information on Esports in Iowa go to Iowa Esports Association.