It has been a fortnight since the previous update, with teams currently still engaged in intense competition within the DIVISIONAL League Play. Each Saturday, week after week, these teams fiercely clash in pursuit of their ultimate objective: claiming one of the coveted top four positions in their respective divisions. Every victory holds the power to deliver astonishing upheavals in the rankings, leaving spectators in awe.
The battles continue until June 17th, as anticipation builds for the thrilling outcomes that lie ahead! The top four teams in each division will then advance to the DIVISIONAL Finals. Moving forward the top four teams from each state will compete in the STATE Finals with the best from each state earning the ultimate bragging rights of competing in the NATIONAL Finals.
Congratulations to teams currently in the top four positions!
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Saint Luke’s Catholic College – BowlOfRamen
St Edmond’s College – Xenophane
Hunter School of the Performing Arts – maiothegreat
Last weekend, week 2 of DIVISIONAL League Play for the ACER High Schools Cup Powered by Predator took place! Week after week, these teams go head-to-head on Saturdays until June 17th, all with one goal in mind: securing a spot among the top four in their division. Teams who make it into the top four will progress onto DIVISIONAL Finals!
Let’s take a look at the current standings.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate:
Saint Luke’s Catholic College – BowlOfRamen
St Edmund’s College – Xenophane
Hunter School Of The Performing Arts – maiothegreat
John Paul College – Anson – JPCEsports2
Overwatch 2:
DIVISION 1
KGSCOW1
SPLC A
SEC WOLFPACK 1
SCCC GOLD
DIVISION 2
ACES ow_three
SLC Gneurshk Gamers
SCA Overscotch
SMGS Bottom 500
Rocket League:
DIVISION 1
TonersRL
Lynwood SHS
Kedron SHS
Ripley Raptors Blue
DIVISION 2
PCS
YVG Watermelon
ACES RL_Three
JPC RL1
DIVISION 3
Ripley Raptors Orange
Trinity Esports
SCCC White
JPC RL2
For more information on Rocket League within the ACER High School Cup be sure to check out:
Exciting news from the Acer High Schools Cup powered by Predator! Last weekend marked another thrilling chapter as teams progressed to the second out of five stages, known as DIVISIONAL League Play. Week after week, these teams go head-to-head on Saturdays until June 17th, all with one goal in mind: securing a spot among the top four in their division. Every single win has the potential to create a jaw-dropping shift in the standings!
The top four teams in each division will then advance to the DIVISIONAL Finals. Moving forward the top four teams from each state will compete in the STATE Finals with the best from each state earning the ultimate bragging rights of competing in the NATIONAL Finals.
Congratulations to teams currently in the top four positions!
Super Smash Bros.Ultimate:
Saint Luke’s Catholic College – BowlOfRamen
St Edmund’s College – Xenophane
Hunter School of the Performing Arts – maiothegreat
St Edmund’s College – LonMon
Overwatch 2:
DIVISION 1
KGSCOW1
SLC Thirst Crushers
SCCC Gold
SPLC A
SEC Wolfpack 1
DIVISION 2
ACES ow_three
Ripley Raptors
SLC Gneurshk Gamers
SEC Wolfpack 2
Rocket League:
DIVISION 1
TonersRL
Lynwood SHS
Kedron SHS
Ripley Raptors Blue
DIVISION 2
YVG Watermelon
PCS
JPC RL1
ACES RL_Three
DIVISION 3
Trinity Esports
Ripley Raptors Orange
JPC RL2
SCCC WHITE
Be sure to stay tuned next week to find out where your favorite team stands! Wishing the best of luck to all the participants!
The ACER High School Cup powered by Predator has finally kicked off, and it was an incredible weekend with 264 students, 43 teams, and 33 schools battling it out in the MAY-HEM tournament.
This tournament is no ordinary competition; it’s divided into five action-packed sections that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In the first stage, teams are seeded into divisions based on their performance in the MAY-HEM tournament, and from there, they’ll move on to the DIVISIONAL League Play. The top four teams from each division will then advance to the DIVISIONAL Finals.
Moving forward the top four teams from each state will compete in the STATE Finals with the best from each state earning the ultimate bragging rights of competing in the NATIONAL Finals.
Please join us in welcoming the following schools to the ACER High School Cup powered by Predator!
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate:
Albany Creek State High School
CathWest Innovation College
Good Shepherd Noosa
Hills Grammar
Hunter School of the Performing Arts
John Paul College
Lakeview Senior College
Marist Regional College
Mentone Grammar
Murray Bridge High School
Penrith Christian School
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
St Edmund’s College
St Luke’s Catholic College
Yarra Valley Grammar
Overwatch 2:
Albany Creek State High School
Blaxland High School
Glendale Technology High School
Heathfield High School
Hills Grammar
Kelvin Grove State College
Mentone Grammar
Penrith Christian School
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Riverside Christian College
Scotch College
Snowy Mountains Grammar School
Southern Cross Catholic College
St Edmund’s College
St Laurence’s College
St Peters Lutheran College
Trinity College Beenleigh
Whitebridge High School
Rocket League:
Albany Creek State High School
Bishop Druitt College
Hills Grammar
John Paul College
Kedron State High School
Lynwood Senior High School
Marist Regional College
Mentone Grammar
Murray Bridge High School
Penrith Christian School
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Southern Cross Catholic College
St Peter Claver College
Trinity Anglican College
Trinity College Beenleigh
Whitebridge High School
Yarra Valley Grammar
Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or an esports fan The ACER High Schools Cup powered by Predator is sure to be an unforgettable event! Keep your spirits high and your voices loud as you cheer on your favorite teams and players in this epic tournament. Don’t forget to tune into our social media live streams to catch every thrilling moment of the action! Who will emerge victorious? We can’t wait to find out!
At the AEL, we’re incredibly proud of schools’ and students’ success, and we look forward to sharing and celebrating this with you all. Today we celebrate Cathwest and their student, Daniel, who came second in our Summer Series for Super Smash Bros Ultimate!
We asked the school and Daniel to answer some questions (below) and we were also told of an esports workshop the school ran to discuss all things esports, where Daniel also contributed!
Response from Cathwest:
1. Why did you decide to create an esports team and join the AEL?
We joined the AEL after looking at the opportunities in the Australian High School Scene, and found that the tournaments run by AEL would fit best with the games offered but also allowed our seniors to compete, as other competitions allowed only the juniors not seniors to compete.
It also meant that students that would normally not be in representative sports have an opportunity to represent their school, and showcase their talents and skills in a fast growing form of sport.
2. Had you known much about esports prior to this?
I looked into esports after a couple of the students I taught had interests in this space and wanted to see what it was all about and understand why the students had an interest in this space. I myself owned a few consoles over the years, I am a bit of a gamer myself and saw that this as an area to get involved in to give young people opportunities to further explore and develop their passion and interests, in a learning environment that enables them to.
3. How have the students balanced esports and study?
Students balance esports and study by doing their main gaming during school during breaks, and as they have gamed during the day, they find themselves spending less time gaming at home but more on spending time completing their studies.
It also meant that students were in an environment where their activities were accepted, supported and enabled where they could develop skills that aligned with their studies.
4. What excited you and the students about esports?
I think what excites me and the students about esports is how any game can become a game that players can compete in. Unlike AFL and Rugby where you have to play on a set sort of rules, esports means that players get to compete in different games and game types.
It means at school there’s always conversations on the sort of games people are playing and sharing of cartridges and games to check out.
5. Do you have an esports club? How was this established?
I created an esports club at CathWest, as it was important to create a safe and inclusive space for young people interested in gaming, but also to find and create new friends through participating in the activities offered in the club.
The origins of the club started during when the school was in lock down and the kids
Once back to face to face, it grew into a bit of a social club that ran during lunchtimes for the students to come in during breaks and participate in pick up and play games using nintendo switches or to spectate and cheer on their friends that competed. This was non competitive and it was great to see young people form friendships through the exploration of different games but also developing their digital skills through a modelling and mentoring process through peer teaching where students that were experts in certain games shared their tips and tricks with each other and coaching so they could become better players.
For those that were wanting a competitive opportunity students were encouraged to join the school’s representative esports team that competed in the AEL High School Cup. It also meant that students became more confident users in technology staying connected with their peers as being in the esports club students were communicating and seeing that transpose into other areas.
6. What would you say to other schools about encouraging the students with esports?
We as teachers are there for the students; where we want to see our students happy and enable success for them. For me encouraging and nurturing student interest in esports provides another opportunity to encourage students to come to school particularly of the challenges presented post covid; but importantly a space for the students to safely be themselves.
Esports unlocks so many opportunities for the students across a wide range of interest areas in the technology space, and an innovative approach to encouraging students seeking technology careers through their exposure in esports.
Definitely encourage teachers to look into esports as well as esports education and reach out to other educators in this space to get started in forming their own esport clubs in schools but venture into the world of esports.
Response from Daniel Kapustic:
1.How did you get into esports?
I got into eSports from watching a lot of content creators and pro players play my favourite game, Super Smash Bros. My brother also inspired me to get into eSports by competing and winning a tournament in Rocket League. When I found out that my school allowed us to play Super Smash Bros competitive against other schools, I was so happy and wanted to do it immediately. It was my first taste of what a smash competition would be like.
2. Is esports a career you’d want to pursue beyond school?
Definitely. If I get to play my favourite game as a career, that would be one of the best things ever.
3. Could you please tell us about your experience with the league.
Playing in AEL was very fun. Everyone I versed in the tourney was very nice and had good sportsmanship. I got some compliments about my skills from them also.
4. What advice would you give to future players?
Never doubt yourself. In games like smash, you gotta have trust in yourself and your character. If you are constantly thinking that you are bad or your character is bad, you will
play worse. Encourage yourself, say things like I’m the best and my character is busted.
5. How did it feel to compete?
It feels great. It gets very exciting and happy, especially when you win.
The esports workshop:
The topics discussed at the workshop were based around organising a tournament bracket using challenges and time was spent developing skills (communication, teamwork skills, strategy) in Mario Kart, where students had split joycons (one student had the left joycon another had the right joycon) and had to work together in both VS Battle and VS Race, to beat the other pair they were competing against.
In Super Smash Brothers, Daniel ran through workshops on how to play and the skills required in aiming towards being competitive, with all students then participating in a tournament that allowed them to practically apply their skills learnt through the day.
The AEL is so proud of Daniel and Cathwest’s achievements and their determination to encourage esports among their students. We see a bright future ahead for these students and can’t wait to see them competing again!
The Acer High School Summer Series powered by Predator is about to begin and it’s going to be an electrifying event! This Saturday, 11th March, get ready to witness an incredible display of talent as 212 students across 39 teams and 22 schools kick off their first matches!
Please join us in welcoming the following schools to The 2023 Acer High School Summer series!
Overwatch 2:
Albany Creek State High School
Emmanuel Catholic College
Heathfield High School
Mentone Grammar
St Edmund’s College
Whitebridge High School
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Southern Cross Catholic College
St Francis de Sales College
Trinity Beenleigh College
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate:
Albany Creek State High School
CathWest Innovation College
Emmanuel Catholic College
Good Shepherd Lutheran College
John Paul College
Mentone Grammar
Murray Bridge High School
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
St Edmund’s College
St Francis de Sales College
ST Joseph’s College Geelong
Yarra Valley Grammar
Rocket League:
Albany Creek State High School
Bishop Druitt College
Emmanuel Catholic College
John Paul College
Mentone Grammar
Murray Bridge High School
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Southern Cross Catholic College
St Francis de Sales College
St Peter Claver College
Trinity Anglican College
Trinity Beenleigh College
Tyndale Christian School Strathalbyn
Yarra Valley Grammar
Students of all ages and skill levels will showcase their gaming skills in this online tournament over a period of 4 weeks. Competing in Overwatch 2 (5 v 5), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (1 v 1) or Rocket league (3 v 3) students will battle to be crowned the Champions while representing their schools.
Whether you’re a student yourself or simply a fan of esports, mark your calendars and get ready for an incredible event. The Acer High School Summer Series powered by Predator is the ultimate gaming tournament for high school students, and we can’t wait to see who will emerge victorious! So, get ready to witness an exciting display of talent and cheer on your favorite teams as they battle it out for the championship title!
The Acer High School Cup powered by Predator has taken the nation by storm since its inception in 2019, featuring over 50 high schools, 1500 student players and an average of 200 players per season. With popular games such as SSBU, Overwatch, Rocket League, and Minecraft featuring over the years, students can indulge in their love for video games and esports while honing their cognitive skills, team building, communication, and sportsmanship.
With tournaments conducted during each term of the school year on Saturdays and selected matches broadcast online, The Acer High School Cup offers students the perfect platform to pursue their passion and familiarize themselves with the latest technology and software.
This national program is designed to provide high schools across Australia with a well-structured and competitive environment for students to showcase their gaming skills and passion. The program promotes participation and student development with trophies, medals, and merit certificates up for grabs.
2023 kicks off with the Summer Series with registrations due 27th February! Taking place over 4 weeks, students can expect an exciting competition, showcase their talent and play with like minded peers.
Esports promotes number of benefits for students including cognitive development, participation, team building and more! We are thrilled and excited to welcome a new cohort of students to the 2023 High School esports program, we can’t wait to see everyone in competition showing off their skills and joining our community of like-minded gamers.
Darren Kwan, Director Australian Esports League
The Summer Series will feature competitions for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (1 v 1), Rocket League (3 v 3) and Overwatch 2 (5 v 5) available to students of all skill levels and ages.
Schools compete nationally online each Saturday with select matches streamed by the AEL commentary team to showcase student talent in the competition.
Key things to know:
Registrations are due 27th February;
Competition is open to all with the AEL promoting inclusivity;
Takes place online over 4 weeks with matches each Saturday;
AEL are partnered with the eSafety Commissioner promoting a safe environment for all;
There are more games coming for next series!
And the best part? There’s no limit to how many teams and students can participate from each school! So, gather your classmates and register your high school today! Let’s get ready to compete and make some memories that will last a lifetime.
Teachers and parents are welcome to reach out to the AEL team with any questions. We look forward to welcoming all schools to the program.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of The Acer High School Cup. Sign up now and be a part of the ultimate high school esports experience!
The push to include Esports in the Olympics and the Victorian government’s promotion of Melbourne as the home of Australian Esports highlight just how popular and recognized the industry is becoming. With this growing recognition, schools and colleges are now exploring the potential of Esports for education and starting to include Esports teams in their sports offerings.
One of the biggest benefits of Esports compared to physical sports is its inclusiveness and accessibility, allowing a wider demographic of students to participate in school sports. This opens up opportunities for students who may not have been able to participate in traditional sports and helps to create a more diverse and inclusive school community.
Not only is Esports inclusive, but it is also viewed as having the potential to develop important 21st century skills such as strategic thinking, collaboration, communication, and peer mentorship. This can help students to develop important life skills that will benefit them well beyond their school years.
The integration of Esports into education may also increase participation in STEM subjects and help to integrate STEM education with workforce sectors. This can help to create a more well-rounded education for students and give them a head start in the workforce.
The growing popularity and recognition of Esports as an industry is exciting for the future of education. Schools and colleges have an opportunity to explore the potential of Esports and start to include it as a sports offering. The inclusiveness and accessibility compared to traditional physical sports is a positive, allowing a wider demographic to participate in school sports. Not only that, but it’s seen as a tool to develop important 21st-century skills such as strategic thinking, collaboration, communication, and peer mentorship.
The following schools in Melbourne are already competing in the AEL High School Cup since 2022 and we welcome more to join in 2023!
St Brigid’s College
St. Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre
Indie School Mildura
Preshil The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School
Gleneagles Secondary College
De La Salle College
John Paul College
Geelong Lutheran College
Padua College
St Josephs College Geelong
St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar School
Marist-Sion College
Parkdale Secondary College
Portland Secondary College
Gladstone Park Secondary College
Lalor North Secondary College
Ouyen P-12 College
Melbourne High School
While there are challenges to be aware of, such as the potential impact of digital divides on students’ ability to participate and the inclusive culture of online gaming, the potential benefits cannot be ignored. It’s important to consider equity and well-being issues, but with the right approach, the integration of Esports into education can be done in a way that leverages its full potential for students. The role of academic researchers in developing a balanced perspective on the use of Esports in education is crucial to ensure its success. Let’s embrace this exciting new world of Esports in education and watch as our students develop their skills and thrive in this dynamic and rapidly evolving industry!
Are you a gaming enthusiast looking for your next fix? Look no further! The AEL is excited to announce our upcoming Esports events for the year. We have a lineup of exciting and engaging events that will cater to gamers of all skill levels and interests. From esports tournaments to conventions, we have something for everyone. So mark your calendars and get ready for a year of non-stop gaming action. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just looking for some fun, our events are sure to be a hit. So, come and join us!
To kick off the year the AEL University Cup will be opening up registrations February 1st with tournaments beginning March 16th. The tournament will feature Rocket League and CS:GO in the division 1 league with Rainbow Six Siege, Dota 2 and others TBD in the open series which is played monthly. The AEL Uni Cup will run for several weeks with matches taking place on designated days and times TBD. Season 2 of the AEL Uni Cup will begin taking registrations in July with tournaments beginning in August featuring the same games as Season 1 with more TBD.
Next up we have 2 new and exciting additions, The Acer High School Summer Series powered by Predator and The Acer High School Spring Series powered by Predator! These tournaments will feature some of the most popular gaming titles such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch 2 and Rocket League with an extra game to be announced soon. The Acer High School Cup powered by Predator will take place in between the Summer and Spring series, starting in Term 2 with registrations closing May 2nd. Qualifying teams will continue the competition in Term 3 with tournaments beginning in August. Registrations for the Summer Series close February 20th with tournaments beginning February 27th while registrations for the Spring Series close September 15th with tournaments beginning October 16th.
In addition, the AEL will be heading to Goulburn Comic Con 18 – 19th March, where we will be hosting a free play gaming zone and the Goulburn Cup with tournaments TBD. This will be followed by the Logan Cup 25 – 26th March which will also feature a free play gaming zone with tournaments TBD.
Finally, the AEL will be heading to Oz Comic Con:
Perth 1st – 2nd April
Adelaide 3rd – 4th June
Melbourne 10th – 11th June
Canberra 5th – 6th August
Brisbane 16th – 17th September
Sydney 23rd – 24th September
The AEL area will feature a free play area and tournament zone with tournaments TBD. As part of the convention, we will also have booths where attendees can check out the latest gaming gear and merchandise, as well as meet our team members and learn more about our company.
We can’t wait for our upcoming events and can’t wait for you to join us. Whether you’re a competitive gamer looking to test your skills or just looking for some fun, we have something for everyone. We want to thank you in advance for your support and look forward to seeing you. Remember to follow us on social media for updates and information. Let’s make this year a memorable one for the community!
Acer High Schools Cup, Term 1 2022, kicks off this weekend
High School participation in the Acer High Schools Cup doubles in 2022
Registrations still open for Term 1, closing 4th March
SYDNEY, Australia, 2 March 2022 – Australian Esports League (AEL) is pleased to announce a new partnership between the Acer High Schools Cup and moneymanaged.gov.au, a new online resource that helps young people build their financial capability, launched this week by the Australian Government.
The Acer High Schools Cup is a national program that provides students across Australia a robust and well structured competitive environment for High Schools to compete in Video Games. As a constructive pursuit that hones cognitive skills, team building, communication and sportspersonship, esports has been recognised as an area of growing interest for the Australian Government. As such, AEL and the Acer High Schools Cup, which is seeing double year-on-year participation growth, has been identified as an opportune avenue to raise awareness amongst young Australians with the aim of helping them to become more aware and confident with managing their money.
On adding the Australian Government to the suite of partners in support of the Australian Esports League, Darren Kwan, AEL, said: “By formally welcoming the Australian Government as a partner of the Acer High Schools Cup brings an unmatched level of trust to this esports competition”.
“We look forward to collaboratively activating this partnership in a meaningful way for our High School communities, the teachers and, most importantly, the parents”.
Offering a platform where High School students can pursue their passion for video games and explore the world of Esports, the Acer High Schools Cup provides students a way to pursue their passion for video games and esports.
“Money Managed is a terrific tool for young Australians to gain confidence in their financial capability. We’re partnering with the Australian Esports League to send a message to young Australians: you should be just as confident picking a bank account as you are picking a main in Overwatch,” said Senator the Hon Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy.
“If you’re just starting out and wondering how to manage a budget, open a super fund, avoid or manage debt, crypto or anything else to do with your finances, www.moneymanaged.gov.au is the perfect place to go.”
The Acer High Schools Cup is a national program that provides students across Australia with a robust and well-structured competitive programme. It also provides a framework for High Schools to safely participate in the competitive sphere of Esports while sitting comfortably alongside the more traditional sport programmes offered by Australian High Schools.
Rod Bassi, Acer Oceanic Sales Director says Acer is committed to building and supporting a young community of players in Australia.
“Esports is a really positive learning tool for students to understand the value of teamwork and develop their communication and problem-solving skills. Our partnership with AEL supports our vision of providing the latest technology to the education sector and setting up students for success – whether that’s learning from the classroom or at home or taking their competitive gaming to the next level.
“It’s been tremendous to see the engagement from the students and schools thus far in the Acer High Schools Cup and we look forward to continuing to empower the next generation of young Esports players through technology during 2022 and beyond.”
AEL established the High Schools League in 2019 and has seen the programme go from strength to strength. In 2021 over 30 Australian High Schools participated in the league, and anticipate over 60 High Schools taking part in 2022.
Tournaments will be conducted during each term of the school year. High Schools may register their students at the start of each term, or in advance. The competition takes place over the internet familiarising students with the benefits of the latest technology and software.
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