Inside the JCSD Esports Program: What You Need to Know

Since JCSD’s first trip to STATE, Coach Darnold has been getting a ton of questions about Esports and how it all works. So, he figured he’d “treat” everyone to a nice, info-packed update about the JCSD Esports program!

Esports runs alongside traditional sports at the state level. The easiest way to think about it is this: traditional sports and esports are two separate worlds happening at the same time. Because of that, they run three seasons per year—fall, winter, and spring.

The team just wrapped up the fall season competing in the first-person strategy game Rainbow Six Siege, where they finished 5th in the state in their very first year! It was an incredible achievement for the team and a great way to kick off the program.

This winter, the team will be competing in Rocket League, a fast-paced, high-energy vehicular soccer game that’s as fun to play as it is to watch. If you haven’t seen Rocket League before, imagine soccer—but with rocket-powered cars!

Christian Darnold serves as the Designated Esports Coordinator (DEC) and Head Coach for Janesville. Currently, Esports is only offered at the high school level, though a middle school team could happen someday if another staff member joins the coaching crew.

To help students balance their busy schedules, Coach Darnold offers two practice times—one before school and one after school—so players can choose what works best for them. They’ve had (and probably will continue to have) students who play both Esports and traditional sports or participate in multiple extracurriculars.

Esports is growing fast in Iowa, with over 100 schools involved each year. It’s exciting to see so many students finding new ways to compete, connect, and develop skills that go beyond the game.

There are probably still a lot of questions about how Esports works, what it takes to join, and what the future looks like for our program. So, instead of just writing about it, Hayden Frazier sat down with our Esports coach for a Q&A video where we’ll answer your most common questions and give you an inside look at the team.