The Albuquerque Academy League of Legends esports team beat Los Alamos to win the 4A state title. League of Legends is a complex, strategic video game that is played worldwide. It was the Academy’s first year to take part in competitive gaming — or esports, so this was quite an accomplishment, says adviser Jennifer Alford.
The club was established last year during the COVID shutdown. “I knew students were spending lots of time playing these games anyway!” Alford says. Esports was one of the the only NMAA activities played in its intended format during the extended closures.
Teams of students in grades 9-12 met Tuesdays to play League of Legends and Thursdays for Rocket League (soccer played with rocket cars).
The state champion League of Legends esports team includes:
Luke Blair-Nolen ’23
Stephen Clem ’23
Joanne Li ’23
Mathew White ’24
Beck Wilson-Scott ’23
Jacob Winegardner ’24
William Yun ’23
Additional team members include:
Hunter Brickhouse ’24
Sutton Cheves ’24
Levi Citrin ’24
Robert Drennan ’23
Will Drescher ’23
Logan Esterly ’23
Rowan Gallagher ’24
Lex Kelly ’24
Will Miller ’23
Blue Palacio ’24
Franklin Rambo ’23
George Rule ’23
Vladimir Serov ’23
Koen Vogenthaler ’23
Thomas Wray ’24
