Fairhope High School now has a Nintendo club that meets every Wednesday from 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. in rooms 326 and 313. The group plays video games including Mario Cart, Super Smash Bros and other nostalgic games.
Club members compete with each other and online AI bots using school provided consoles and controllers. Students can bring their own equipment like controllers to give themselves a competitive edge over other club members.
An e-sports team will be formed from the best players in the club. The team will compete in Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart every Wednesday starting second semester. Joshua Kaye sponsors the Nintendo club and coaches the e-sports team.
“From this club I want to choose an e-sports team that will compete at the state level because I want to win and beat other schools. I want to beat Daphne and Foley and other private schools that are involved,” Kaye said.
“Kids who don’t play sports now have a sport to play on the esports team,” Kaye said. Nintendo Club allows a competitive environment for students who don’t want to get involved in traditional sports.
“It might help people express themselves and find community and it would be good for them to find people who enjoy the same things as them,” said Ross Stafford, senior.
Students like Stafford were inclined to join because of previous interests and the prospective goal of being on the e-sports team.
“I kinda had a hiatus for smash bros for a while so I was kinda on and off with it and I wanted to join to kinda see how i would be this year,” Stafford said.
Stafford competes regionally in competitions in other video games and is successful in his winnings while other members are just starting out in their e-sports career.
“The people are my favorite part of being in the club so far,” said Xander Thomison, junior.
The Nintendo Club membership is steadily growing with new members every week. Students are encouraged to hang out with each other and try and play with people they have never met.
“Its a fun way to just hang out with other people and it is a good way to become friends with people who you didn’t think you could be friends with and it also gets very competitive as well,” Thomison said.
E-sports is a sport under the Alabama High School Activity Association (AHSAA) ruling therefore club members are considered athletes and the sponsor is considered a coach.
“I miss coaching and this is a different kind of coaching,” Kaye said.
To join Nintendo club prospective members should come to a meeting and speak to Kaye. The only requirement to join is a $35 club fee.
“Like any other club, anyone can join. They pay their fee and get on parent square to receive information and come play video games,” Kaye said.
The club will continue to seek donations from any source. Those interested in contributing should contact Kaye or a club member. Donations such as furniture, couches and tv stands are the current need.
“Not being involved with an after school activity and just coming to school and going home you are missing the high school experience,” said Jon Cardwell, principal.
Nintendo Club invites interested students to visit a meeting, check out what the club stands for, and learn how the e-sports teams plan to be successful in their upcoming season.
