The St. Charles High School Esports team had their sights set on Marvel Rivals as their game of choice for the upcoming spring season. However, after significant pushback from the school’s tech department, the team was forced to reconsider. Citing concerns over privacy and data security, particularly due to Marvel Rivals’ obligations to share user data with China if requested, the tech department strongly advised against its use. Ultimately, Coach Alex Messina made the call to switch to a different game: Valorant.
Coach Messina, who has led the SCHS Esports team for several seasons, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the reasoning behind the decision.
“We were really looking forward to Marvel Rivals, but after reviewing the concerns raised, we decided to go in a different direction. Valorant is a good alternative, and we’re excited to see what our team can do with it,” Messina said.
The decision wasn’t an easy one for the players, many of them were eager to compete in the game. However, the team remains optimistic about their chances with Valorant.
Sophomore Daniel Kohr, who is a new player in Esports, joining out of a desire to play Marvel Rivals, shared his thoughts on the change.
“At first, we were a little frustrated because Marvel Rivals is why we joined Esports, and it’s a really fun game. But we get why it was removed from the. Now that we’ve settled on Valorant, we’re just focused on getting better and preparing for the season,” said Kohr.
Sophomore Carter Doyle shared this sentiment, noting that while it wasn’t their first choice, and that it was a bit of a let down when the switch occurred, they were ready to adapt.
“We were pretty upset about it, but we understood why the change occurred. Honestly we’re just trying to move on and get better at the game,” Doyle said.
With the new game officially locked in, the team has begun intensive training sessions to fine-tune their strategies and coordination. Valorant requires strong teamwork and communication, skills that Coach Messina believes his players are more than capable of mastering.
“Every game has its challenges, but I believe in our team’s ability to rise to the occasion. This season is going to be a great one I think,” Messina said.
