Brightly-lit faces, hunched backs, and frantic typing characterize the various members of PHS’s eSports club. First founded during the 2018–19 school year, the eSports club was created in order to establish a common ground where all gamers at PHS could congregate and work toward tearing down the stereotypes surrounding the gaming community. 
After building up a following of students, the eSports club faced a few hurdles with the banning of first-person shooter games by the Learning Commons at the start of the 2019–20 school year, and a parent voicing their concerns regarding their child’s participation in a club that sanctioned the playing of violent games. However, as the rest of PHS’s athletes have suffered due to the cancellation or rescheduling of all practices and games through May 15, the eSports club has been thriving. Taking advantage of this period of isolation, the club has further bonded and strengthened their team and looks forward to redefining what it means to be part of a gaming community.
 “We have a joke in our club [about] how … eSports wasn’t [considered] a sport [before quarantine], but now eSports [is] the only sport,” said Bill Zheng ’20, vice-president and manager of the eSports club. 
Although the playing fields remain manicured despite holding no games, this is not the case for popular streaming sites such as Twitch. With some of its members streaming their own games and a tight-knit Discord chat to follow, the eSports club has been able to increase the level of rapport among members.
“[I] think the attitude and our mindset change was definitely one of the biggest factors. 
Before the quarantine, everyone was thinking selfishly like, ‘I’ll carry this team.’ Everyone was on their solo missions,” said Anthony Momo ’21. “Once we started actually playing with each other, we decided to contribute [as a team] and everyone bonded because of that. In the end, everyone gained more respect for each other.”
	With the closure of school and the onset of remote learning, members have enjoyed the luxury of increased free time. Nyima Shawa ’21 and JP Kinney ’23 have performed especially well in their respective games — Minecraft and Super Smash Bros Ultimate — with Shawa placing as high as rank one on his server. 
	“Minecraft is a pretty mechanical game, and during the quarantine, I was given time to [get back into shape],” said Shawa. “During the school year I couldn’t really dedicate myself to consistently play and ‘sharpen’ my mechanics, but this past month I could do that.” 
	Aside from the improved performance of individual members, this increased free time has also granted teams within the club to really regroup and comb through some logistics to make sure that all operations are running smoothly.
“Before, each player didn’t have a specific role during [the game, but] now we’re able to give each player specific ‘jobs’ on a team, which would not be possible without massive team cooperation,” Zheng said.
With their original purpose being to break down some of the stereotypes associated with gaming, this time of quarantine has provided just that. Rather than being a breeding ground for the toxicity often found in competitive gaming groups, the eSports Club recognizes the usage of streaming as a way for people to come together in this time of separation.
“The good thing about streaming is you are able to find people from all over the world. People are in different situations and knowing that them watching you helps them make their lives better is important,” said Adam Lipschutz ’21. “We are definitely interacting with each other a lot more, and being together brings us funny moments and awesome plays. … Having a community that supports you makes everyone feel good, and [you] can have a good time even if [you] are down.”


As bleachers are left empty, PHS’s eSports club rises in the ranks

    From winning five National Basketball Association championships to making kids everywhere scream “Kobe!” whenever they shoot, the late Kobe Bryant built himself an excellent reputation throughout his Hall of Fame career whose impact still continues to affect PHS.   
    Bryant first played basketball in Reiti, Italy when he was three years old. Because Bryant’s father played basketball professionally in Italy, his life always involved basketball. After 14 years in Italy, Bryant moved back to the United States and enrolled in the Lower Merion High School where he became a national star, averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists as a senior while leading his team to win a state championship. His astounding play during the championship garnered the attention of the Los Angeles Lakers. 
    Throughout the 20 years Bryant played in the NBA, Bryant won a multitude of awards including 18 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA selections, 12 All-Defensive team selections, an MVP award, and two NBA Finals MVPs. He is considered by many to be one of the best basketball players of his era.
    “He has zero flaws offensively. Zero. You backed off of him, he could shoot the three. You body him up a little bit, he can go around you. He could shoot the mid-range. He could post. He could make free throws,” said four-time MVP LeBron James. “That’s something I admired, just being at a point where the defense would always be at bay where they couldn’t guard you at all...”
    Bryant’s former teammate and NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal believes that Bryant’s work ethic led to his continuous success, citing that even when not given playing time he would pretend to shoot around without a ball. 
    “We’re all just looking like, ‘What is this kid doing?’” O’Neal said. “Full speed, sweating, just pump-faking and moving around without a ball. Talking to himself like, ‘You can’t guard me!’ Just talking to himself.”
    Players all over the league were in shock after Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26. That day, individuals around the world lost a role model. He motivated and inspired kids to play basketball through his ruthless mentality and greatness. 
    “I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals,” NBA All-Star Joel Embiid tweeted. “I had never watched ball before that and that final was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE.”
   After his death, many top athletes from different sports paid tribute to Bryant. This included the entire NBA with all the teams playing that day committing both a 24-second shot clock violation and an eight-second backcourt violation representing Bryant’s jersey numbers of 24 and eight. The National Football League followed suit with a moment of silence in honor of his death during their Pro Bowl match. In the game, defensive plays and touchdowns were celebrated with basketball moves in honor of the late shooting guard.  
     Being a huge soccer and tennis fan, Bryant supported and mentored athletes from different sports around the world, ensuring his influence could be felt outside of American sports as well. 
    “He has been one of the greatest sportsmen in history, so he deserves a round of big applause,” Rafael Nadal, the current second best tennis player in the world, said. “He always wanted more, he always wanted to increase his level, and he has been a true inspiration for the world of sport.” 
    PHS students were also affected by Bryant’s passing, with many in shock at the tragedy that occured to a role model they had looked up to their whole lives. 
    “I was really sad, actually. When I first heard it I was like, no way, but then after confirming I was heated about it and then I got sad thinking about the impact he had on the game,” said Timothy Evidente ’21, starting point guard for the men’s varsity team. “He’s one of the greatest of all time and he pushes me to do better every day. I feel motivated to do better and take aspects of his games and attempt to bring them to me. I was distraught about it [but] we can’t really [quantify] the impact he had.”
    Brian Frost ’20, fellow member of the varsity team, shares similar sentiments of not only being shocked but also inspired after Bryant’s death. 
    “I remember I was really shell shocked when I first heard the news ... on a personal level, [I] just [realized] how precious time is and how much the people around you matter, and [how] it translates to the team because we have a lot of seniors on this team and it’s our last go around. It kinda [reminded us to] make sure this season was as best as possible and there’s only a few games left and we need to do our best in every [game].”
    Shooting guard for the men’s varsity team Jackson Petrone’s ’22 style of play was directly influenced by Bryant’s passing. 
    “His leadership impacted everyone in the world... Especially [my game], he gave me motivation to play ... I copied a couple of his moves, spin moves, between the legs but I [feel like I] can’t use [those moves] anymore because it’s like he’s not alive anymore.”

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