Wilsonville High School holds a sport that is unique to others and is just beginning to rise in popularity and recognition but for the students part of this sport, it’s been something they have known and put significant effort into for ages. Rocket League is a sport that has been climbing up a mountain toward recognition and acknowledgment for quite some time. It’s time to shine a light on these students and the work that’s put into this sport to get the adulation all sports deserve to receive. 

Rocket League at Wilsonville isn’t just any sport; it’s a serious and competitive sport that takes skill and hard work from students aiming to achieve high goals. This year the team is reaching towards Nationals in Kansas City after accomplishing a great dream last year by winning State, they are determined to take on a new milestone. “We constantly have to analyze our opponents to create strategies to counter their strengths just as any other team would,” explains Kyle Hann, a student on the Rocket League team.  These students have practice, games, and review their games to ensure better performance and are always eager to improve more than yesterday. 

While being a part of this sport can be challenging and competitive it also creates great memories and skills for students that they can get while also doing something they are passionate about. One common challenge students in this sport face is separating the video game from the club that takes it seriously as a sport. Sophomore Aiden Wieland, the varsity team captain, shares, “My parents, like many other parents, don’t see that the club isn’t only about playing video games, but also about building leadership skills, social skills, and making connections to others.” This shows the positive and beneficial traits of this sport for students and why it should be taken with the same seriousness as the rest.