AACC’s esports team is having a hard time recruiting and is looking to add more players to its roster.

Esports head coach Conway Johnson said too few potential players know the campus has an esports team that is part of AACC Athletics.

“We are kind of still a little hidden on campus,” Johnson said. “If you come down this particular hallway [in the CALT building], you can’t miss us, but anywhere else on campus there’s next to no information.”

The college made esports a part of AACC Athletics in February 2022. The spring 2024 roster includes three players who will compete in Rocket League.

Esports competes in the National Junior College Athletics Association Esports against other colleges across the country. The League of Legends team made playoffs in fall 2021.

“I’ve gotten fliers up on the boards around campus, but like they only last for so long, and keeping up with getting new ones up, you know, constantly … has been tricky.”

Kyle Lynch, a first-year media production student and esports player, agreed that many students don’t know about the team.

“Esports right now is still a relatively niche idea,” Lynch said. “It’s not nearly as big as our traditional sports.”

In fact, Johnson said students are surprised when they find out the Riverhawks have an esports team.

“We start getting people … because, like, they see us [at events and] they’re, like … ‘Oh … we have esports, let’s go do that,’” Johnson said.

Johnson said players have the option of practicing their games in the  lab in CALT 115 or at home.

The lab is open from Monday through Thursday from noon to 5 p.m.

Players said to be a part of esports in college is “a really cool opportunity.”

“It’s something that hasn’t really existed for a very long time,” Lynch  noted, adding, “It’s still new as of the past couple of years, and I’m super excited.”

Hollis Luethy, a second-year mathematics student and esports player, said participating on the team is a good way to spend time.

“It’s fun and I enjoy it,” Luethy said. “I honestly wish it was open … more days so, you know, more time to come in and play.”