Paloma Valley hosts Overwatch 2 Esports tournament

By Finn (Leann) Do, Paloma Valley student journalist

Paloma Valley's Esports team was thrilled to host their first-ever, district-wide Overwatch 2 tournament. This was their first-ever live tournament, taking place in person on Friday, March 8, at Paloma Valley High School. This highly anticipated event brought together many talented students from all across Perris Union High School District for an exciting and intense showdown that was not to be missed!

Noah Connoway, the advisor of Paloma Valley’s Esports, extended an invitation to Perris High School, California Military Institute, and Moreno Valley High School to participate in this competition. This event was open to the public, taking place in Paloma Valley’s very own theater, where it was screened live for those interested to witness the battle.

For students who love the Overwatch 2 video game and those entertained by esports, this was a special opportunity where these young gamers were able to show off their skills.

Alexis Valenzuela, a highly skilled varsity player of the Paloma Valley Esports Overwatch team, has been ranked among the top 100 console players worldwide. After winning this tournament, he described his experience with the game.

“It was absolutely fun and wonderful,” Valenzuela said. “What I liked the most about it was that everyone was a good sport and it was all around a fun and good time.”

Despite the competition, it gave students a chance to connect to others with shared passions, grow, and just have a fun time.

To the PVHS esports club, this was more than just an event. Because it was their first-ever in-person tournament, not many people were expected to show. But to the participants, just seeing some parents and friends who came to support their kids or loved ones warmed the hearts of each gamer there.

Bella Pchang, the publicist of Paloma Valley Esports Club, wishes for many to recognize the passion of the students for Esports.

“I hope that people will recognize and think, ‘Hey, these kids have a passion outside of school and their academics,’” Pchang said.

Bella, an academic scholar, hopes that this tournament can prove that school is not based on academics alone, but also creates opportunities for making connections and to have a great time along the way. To her and her community, esports is “A safe space for these kids who just want to relax from all this high school…”

PVHS Esports has a vision for this event. Their priority is to give an opportunity for spirited gamers to have fun and to deliver an unforgettable experience for all participants and viewers.

“Once you get to know these people, you get to know who they are beyond the characters they play. You make friends with them and they help you with your geometry homework… true story,” Pchang said.

To Pchang, the beauty of these games is that they discard your background and just focus on your ability to play, improve, and just have a good time.

Valenzuela shares that this event was, “an unforgettable experience which I am grateful I got to experience with my team and the people we went against. Although I didn't get to know them personally, I hope I will meet some of them again.” In the end, he felt that the experience had helped him become more comfortable with his social skills.

Esports is more than just playing video games; it brings people together and gives these students a sense of community. The tournament was not only a fierce competition, but it also created a lasting impact on the community. PVHS Esports gives special thanks to those who came to support these players as they battled to the top in an intense competition. This event was an absolute thrill and brought together students from all over the district to bond over this unforgettable time.