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Naperville high schools creating labs specifically for esports

Lit only by soft orange and blue backlights and the glow of computer screens, a new esports "arena" in Naperville North High School has become home to a team of competitive student video gamers.

The small, dark lab above the learning commons is equipped with 12 high-end PCs, keyboards, mice and monitors that are most effective for gaming, said Andy Mendez, co-director of the school's new esports organization. The equipment is connected to the district's high-speed network to ensure there's no input lag.

"The students are now enabled to be as successful as they can be in this activity," said Joe Jaruseski, director of IT infrastructure for Naperville Unit District 203. "We don't want to have our students in any way be hindered by the gear they take into competition."

The district recently allotted roughly $25,000 to create specialized esports labs in both of its high schools. Naperville North's was completed this spring and an identical space will be built at Naperville Central this summer, he said.

In addition to high-quality equipment, the gaming stations are organized in a U-shaped layout that allows students to collaborate, watch one another and discuss strategies, Mendez said. A coach's station at the front of the room has a large monitor for replaying and critiquing gaming footage.

While many other high school esports teams participate from home, having space to practice and compete within the school encourages camaraderie and a community atmosphere, Mendez said. To his knowledge, Naperville North's is the first high school lab in the state dedicated specifically to esports.

"We want to make it feel like a community-based room," he said. "They're not playing against each other. They're learning and improving together."

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