Sophomores Nathan Loshelder and Richard McKay love playing online video games, which led them to create the new Gaming Club.

McKay said he and Loshelder “saw that clubs were being accepted and Nathan wanted to create a club for casual gaming, because no other club like that existed at the time.”

Loshelder, who is also a member of the Super Smash Bros. esports team, asked English teacher Rachel Murrman to sponsor the club.  

“He saw signs that anyone could start a club and he wanted to create a new social experience grounded around the esports group,” Murrman said.

To spread the word about the Gaming Club, McKay and Loshelder put up posters and talked to other students in their classes. The Gaming Club first met in mid-February and continues to meet weekly. There are 15 to 20 members who participate in the club.  

According to Loshelder, the club members “play any games we can get our hands on or have people bring.”

Murrman said several video games have been popular so far.

“They have played games like Minecraft, Super Smash Bros., and Just Dance,” Murrman said. “Roblox so far is a fan favorite, and the different games within Roblox.”

Loshelder said his favorite game is Team Fortress 2. 

Sophomore Zachary Pryke is a member of the club and joined “since my friend, Nathan, created it and I wanted to game with him.”

Freshman Kai Brown joined the club because Loshelder recommended it and also “because of my general love for gaming.”

Brown said he “enjoys being in a room with many people who share my interests. During gaming club meetings, I like to play Team Fortress 2 or any games that Nathan brings on his consoles.”

Starting the new club has been rewarding, Loshelder said, especially “being able to watch people have fun. Also, I have enjoyed seeing how many people I have brought together to have fun.”

Murrman feels that a benefit of the club has been that “the club has reached a wide range of students, allowing different groups to interact with another in a fun atmosphere.”

The club is hopeful and has lots of plans to improve for the next year. 

“We hope that we will even be able to expand it a bit more based on interest and maybe organize some fundraisers to purchase games that the students would like to play,” Murrman said. “We hope to have meetings during the A.R.T. time if we are able to work out a schedule with the esports room.”

The club meets every Friday from 2:15 until 3 p.m in the esports room.