Step into the tech room at Salem Community High School, and you’ll find a scene that looks more like a command center than a locker room. Headsets are on. Eyes locked to monitors. Strategy buzzes beneath every keystroke. This is the home of the Salem esports team, where video games aren’t just a pastime—they’re a passion, a competition, and for many students, a community like no other.

What started six years ago as a student-driven idea has grown into one of the school’s most dynamic extracurricular programs, thanks in part to Zack Lamczyk, network specialist and head coach, and Kyle Ledbetter, a former team member turned assistant coach. “It wasn’t even my idea,” Zack admitted. “Students came to me and said, ‘You’re kind of a nerdy guy—can we start an esports club?’ We went from zero to 90 participants that first year.”

And those numbers haven’t slowed. With multiple leagues, dozens of games, and students competing both online and in person, Salem’s esports program now mirrors the structure—and intensity—of traditional athletics. Students must maintain academic eligibility, practice regularly, and develop deep teamwork and strategic planning skills.

“We treat it like any other sport,” Zack said. “These students compete for the school, they earn trophies, and they represent Salem just like anyone wearing a Wildcat jersey.”

For students like Kaden Biagi, the program has been transformative. This year, Kaden finished fifth in the state of Illinois in Super Smash Bros. Solos, the highest placement the school has ever achieved in esports. His sectional finish? Second. “I’m proud of that,” he said. “It felt like all the work paid off.”

His teammate Micah Hendricks also qualified for state, finishing third in sectionals and ninth overall. Their competitions were held live in Belleville and at Evergreen Park near Chicago, where they faced off against students from every corner of Illinois.

But for most of the team, it’s not just about rankings. Ink Paddick, a senior who joined during his sophomore year, shared what the program has meant on a personal level: “It brought me out of my shell. I didn’t compete at first—I just liked the games. But then I saw the friendships forming, the energy of competition… and I wanted in. It’s changed me for the better.”

Johnathan Short, who lives outside of town, echoed that sentiment. “This gave me a reason to come in. It gave me a group. A purpose.”

There’s also the development of executive functioning skills—things like multitasking, risk assessment, and real-time communication—all of which are practiced constantly in games like Valorant, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros, Madden NFL, Mario Kart, Pokémon Unite, and Minecraft. “You have to process what’s on your screen, track your teammates’ roles, adapt on the fly, and have a backup plan if things fall apart,” Ink explained. “It’s mental agility on overdrive.”

Kyle Ledbetter, who graduated in 2019 and was among the first esports competitors at Salem, now helps coach newer players in games he once played himself. “I started as a student,” he said. “Now I get to give back—and these students are achieving things we only dreamed about when we started.”

With support from the school and an inclusive philosophy, the program offers opportunities for students who may not have found their footing in other sports. “A lot of our players aren’t involved in anything else,” Zack noted. “Esports gives them a reason to stay engaged, stay eligible, and feel like they belong.”

And with sectional and state-level accolades now sitting alongside traditional sports trophies, there’s no denying that the Salem Community High School esports program is not just legitimate—it’s elite.

“Don’t knock it till you try it,” Micah said with a grin.

Judging by the impact, the friendships, and the sheer joy pouring from the room, there’s no knocking this at all.