When the fall sports season rolls around, many KO students look forward to donning their red and black jerseys to bring home titles for the Wyverns. While most athletes take to the fields, one team heads down the stairs in Roberts, takes their seats behind the keyboard, and assumes their game-day positions: KO esports, an unconventional yet mighty powerhouse that regularly delivers wins for the athletic program.
Head Coach Graham Hegeman leads the Wyverns in the digital arena, fielding five teams (between varsity and JV) across three titles: “Mario Kart,” “League of Legends,” and “Super Smash Bros.”
Team composition depends on how many players sign up for each game. “There are a number of different events within the world of esports,” Coach Hegeman said. “Currently, ‘League of Legends’ is a 5v5 champion-based game, ‘Super Smash Bros.’ is a 1v1 fighting game played in a best-of-five format, and ‘Mario Kart’ can run up to 6v6 as a racing game.”
The program as a whole is captained by senior Hannah Bateson, who works alongside leaders on individual teams. Coach Hegeman called attention to senior Aarav Mathur and freshman Tim Bateson. “Hannah has taken on the mainstream captain’s role, but everybody serves in smaller leadership roles on their individual teams,” Coach Hegeman said. “Aarav and Tim both do this on their ‘Super Smash Bros.’ and ‘League of Legends’ teams. Because we have so many smaller teams within the collective, someone is bound to take the reins every game day.”
Players are encouraged to explore multiple titles or specialize in one. Mathur competes in both ‘Mario Kart’ and ‘Super Smash Bros.,’ while Tim Bateson divides his time between all three.
Coach Hegeman uses the early weeks of the fall season to determine rosters and establish balance. “During preseason, I looked at where the skills were and assigned teams based on skill level,” he explained. “The Black team is varsity, and the Red team is JV. Over the season, rosters might shift, but they’re usually locked in by mid-October.”
This fall, four players are competing in more than one title, with two athletes competing in all three. While not every player sees game-day action, each plays a role in strengthening the program.
Beyond gameplay, Coach Hegeman emphasizes character and teamwork. Players are reminded of KO values and of the standards they hold for themselves and one another. “Their biggest strengths lie in their communication, something the games require, and in keeping their emotions in check,” Coach Hegeman said. “They’re all really goofy, and that energy helps boost morale if games aren’t going well. They also hold each other accountable to keep the space clean, setting an example for new players.”
Each title has its own weekly match day, connecting remotely with schools up and down the East Coast: “League of Legends” on Tuesdays, “Super Smash Bros.” on Wednesdays, and “Mario Kart” on Thursdays.
