In a red-lit room at Calvert Hall College High School, five students sat side by side in late fall, eyes glued to their monitors, fingers flying across keyboards and mice. They were competing in esports – organized video game competitions. Their coach, English teacher Paul McMullen, watched quietly as the team prepared to face Gainesville High School in Overwatch 2, a team-based game set in a futuristic world where players select “heroes” with unique abilities.
Silence broke as callouts marked the first volleys. The objective-based matches required strategy, coordination and precise teamwork. Each player performed a specific role.
It was a fast-paced ballet of hand-eye coordination: keys clicking with the left hand, mouse movements with the right, punctuated by commands: “Let’s go!”, “Good stuff!”, “You got this!”
In only its second year of competition, the esports program at Calvert Hall had rapidly become one of the school’s most popular clubs.
Marc Parisi, director of student activities, recognized the explosive growth of competitive gaming in high schools and colleges nationwide and saw an opportunity for Calvert Hall. Since 2018, more than 8,600 high schools have launched programs with more than 200,000 students participating in the United States. More than 300 colleges and universities also support esports programs, with more than half offering scholarships.
Parisi presented the idea to school leadership in 2023, quickly gaining administrative support. The school converted a computer lab adjacent to its on-campus TV studio into a competitive gaming space, funded in part by the student magazine drive. Steve Martin, a 1983 alum and retired president of Firaxis Games, made a generous donation for a 1,300-square-foot expansion completed in 2024. The facility features 23 PC stations, four consoles, seven 65-inch TVs and an 85-inch interactive screen for instruction.
Nearly 60 students now participate, competing in seven games: Fortnite: Zone Wars, Madden NFL ’26, Overwatch 2, Mario Kart 8, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Valorant. McMullen oversees schedules, logistics and general coaching, with specialized coaches mentoring students in specific games.
Calvert Hall competes in the PlayVS league, a major governing body for high school esports. Most opponents come from neighboring Mid-Atlantic states, as competitive gaming is still emerging across Maryland. PlayVS operates two eight-week seasons per game, followed by three-week playoffs. In 2024-25, Calvert Hall’s seven teams qualified for the playoffs in both seasons. The Rocket League team went undefeated to win the league championship.
During visits by the Catholic Review, the Overwatch 2 team defeated Gainesville High 3-0 and finished the fall season undefeated with a 12-0 record. The five-man Mario Kart 8 team, after two runner-up finishes in prior sessions, completed a perfect 12-0 season, winning the championship over Nazareth Area High School of Pennsylvania. Super Smash Bros also went undefeated, defeating Bloomfield High School of New Jersey.
Freshman Thomas Johnston, competing in Madden NFL ’26, fell short in a 24-10 loss to Jordan Shelton-Smith of University High School of Science and Engineering in Connecticut. McMullen and Madden coach Vasilios Nikolaou, class of 2014, congratulated Johnston for his runner-up finish in the game’s first season at Calvert Hall.
With these achievements, the Overwatch 2, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, and Madden NFL ’26 teams qualified for invitations to the PlayVS Cup, a national tournament at the end of the school year.
For many, gaming is recreational. At Calvert Hall, it’s also a catalyst for academic and professional development.
“Competitive gaming demands sharp mental agility,” McMullen said. “Players must process large amounts of information in real-time, make quick and decisive choices and adapt strategies as situations change – all qualities that mirror the fast-paced problem-solving required in today’s classrooms and workplaces.”
McMullen acknowledged that some aspects of the teen-rated games can include adversarial elements, but emphasized that the team focuses on the importance of life lessons in sportsmanship, respect, ethics and moral awareness.
Some students balance esports with traditional sports. Johnston, who wanted to play basketball, said he loves the esports environment at the school. “In the spring, we’re going to get better and win the championship,” he predicted.
Gavin Green, ’27, captain of the Overwatch 2 team, said he motivated his teammates to play their best and bring out their full potential. “Esports isn’t about a game,” he said. “It’s a community where we learn from each other.”
By the Numbers
Program age: 2 years
Student participation: Nearly 60 students
Meeting schedule: Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school
Facility: 1,300-square-foot space with 23 PC stations, four consoles (three Switches, one PlayStation), seven 65″ TVs, and one 85″ interactive TV for strategy sessions
Funding: Initial space financed by student magazine drive; a gift from Steve Martin, ’83, funded expansion
Accomplishments: In 2024-25, all seven Calvert Hall teams qualified for playoffs; Rocket League went undefeated to win the league championship
Richard Zmuda contributed to this story.
Email Kevin J. Parks at kparks@CatholicReview.org
Editor’s Note: This story is part of the Catholic Review’s Catholic School’s Week (Jan. 25-31) coverage. Check back at catholicreview.org/category/schools for continued coverage of the event.
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