By Corin Mackay
Students from the Forest Lake State High School (FLSHS) Just Dance gaming crew won the FUSE Esports cup against teams from around the world in June.
The event took place online, and participants in the Esports Program of Excellence from years eight and nine danced from 7am to 9pm, supported by their fellow students and onlooking families and friends.
Students from FLSHS competed against others from around the world, including competitors from Macao, Germany, Ghana and Kazakhstan.
FLSHS head of Esports Mr MJ Raatz was proud of his students for winning a global competition.
“We are now global champions and have competed internationally. That’s pretty special.”
After including Just Dance as a supported Esport at the school only 12 months ago, the team had to practise hard; twice a week, on Mondays before school and during Friday lunches.
Coached by FLSHS teacher, Mr Ian Clapham, the team rose victorious, supported also by MJ Raatz, and the teachers of the Esports Program, Robert Correia, Nick Silva and their old dance coach Justin Betts.
“Students were so very proud of themselves and their team,” MJ said.
“They thanked The FUSE Cup for running the competition worldwide and they thanked their teachers for the countless hours of coaching and guidance to be better global citizens.
MJ said programs like this could not run without the support of the Principal Denise Kostowski, Deputy Principal Lucas Nichols and Coordinators like Ian Clapham.
“They also can’t run without sponsors. We’d like to thank our sponsors Endgame Esports, Valor Esports Academy, Leverage Digital, Bridgestone Select Forest Lake, Heritage Bank, Your Village Training and Support, Prodigy Learning, The FUSE Cup and EduTech for making this competition free of charge for our low ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) school and supporting our students directly,” MJ said.
After winning such a large event, the Esports faculty at the school is very excited, now looking toward the Olympics, which recently incorporated Esports into its range of competitions.
“Our program is currently the number one Esports program in Australia,” MJ said.
“The Jagera District Esports inaugural competition will be held on the fourth of August.
”This is the first major step to it becoming embedded into traditional sport competitions. We hope Queensland School sport soon picks this up and recognises how wonderful Esports is as a competitive sport,” MJ said.
“We are leading the industry in Esports as a curriculum in Australian Schools,” MJ said.
If you’d like to find out more, please visit the Forest Lake State High School website, and check out the Pitch Deck at: forestlakeshs.eq.edu.au/curriculum/excellence-programs/esports-program-of-excellence
The trial dates for the 2024 intake are 20th June – 3.30pm (LRC6 under the Library) and 1st September – 1.00pm (LRC6 under the Library).
