By Terynce Garner, Staff Reporter
Back in 2017, the Esports team at CSUDH was just a three-person club playing Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo Switch. Fast-forward seven years, and now the program is a thriving community of hundreds of committed team members who have scored major wins in the burgeoning world of collegiate Esports.
They now have access to high end equipment through partnerships with hardware companies like HyperX and future plans for increased staff to bolster support for their player base signal further development in the coming years.
Take the Toro Overwatch 2 team, which claimed the top honor at the 2024 Cal State Cup this past May. It was a major improvement from their performance in the Console Overwatch League Fall 2023 tournament, where they finished with a record of six wins and four losses, and placed 341st place. The Cal State Cup win marked a major milestone for the program, and served as a testament to their prospective development.
“I met more people than I ever thought of here,” said Jordan Recinos, the captain of the Toro Rocket League team. “The competition helps me want to be [more] involved.”
A strong sense of community has been key to the success of Toro Esports during competitions. At its core, the program aims to ensure students of all gaming skill levels enjoy the experience – the culture of inclusivity has bolstered team ranks over the years.
Another key to the program’s success has been the CSUDH administration, said Esports director Kevin Buchmiller. He said administrative support has been instrumental in building a grassroots club into a dynamic program that can compete at the highest levels of collegiate Esports.
“If the school isn’t behind an initiative like this, it’s always gonna struggle,” Buchmiller said. “Department-level support is important because campuses may not realize the impact that Esports is putting out into the world.”
With the full administrative support of CSUDH secured, Buchmiller is optimistic about the continued development and growth of Toro Esports. The program currently has two full-time staff members, and a steadily increasing roster of players. In addition to creating nutrition plans for the teams, Buchmiller said he hopes to increase the coaching staff in the future to help give the players more direct support.
“I’d love to get more coaches or targeted support for students, it could include nutrition plans and workout regimens, I think there’s a lot of opportunity to do that in this space right now.”
