Hushower becomes first Valley-grown collegiate gamer

PALMER — For the first time in Mat-Su Borough School District History, an esports athlete signed his national letter of intent to continue playing games at the next level. Palmer High School graduate Tobin Hushower signed his NLI on Tuesday to play Rocket League at Wichita State University in Wichita Kansas, joining the Shockers varsity Rocket League team.

“I’m proud of every part of Tobin, his academics, he’s not just a smart kid but he’s a kind kid. He’s caring, he’s interested in supporting his community and playing games is a part of who he is and I love that part as well so I couldn’t be more proud,” said Tobin’s mother Carol Hushower. “He is highly motivated and he is highly passionate about this so the moment that he started esports I could see it and he became team captain and he was very interested in learning about his opponents and building his team and I think those are all qualities that he’s going to be able to carry throughout his life and not in the esports field.”

In a socially distanced letter signing ceremony, Hushower sat between his mother and father and signed his future to play Rocket League at WSU while majoring in aerospace engineering. Esports began in MSBSD as a pilot program during the 2018-2018 school year under the Electronic Gaming Federation. After esports was sanctioned by the Alaska School Activities Association in 2019 under Play Vs., local schools began fielding varsity rosters to compete in sanctioned games against competition from around the state without having to leave their school’s classroom. The opportunity drew gamers from all backgrounds and helped many retain eligible academic status to remain gaming with their teammates.

“Whether it’s a club, a sport, anything that gets kids involved is something that’s good for them and enriches their experience in high school,” said PHS Principal Paul Reid.

When esports was initially offered in the fall of 2018 as a partnership with Matanuska Telephone Association who has continued to sponsor events and esports teams, Nichelle Henry agreed to coach the gamers though she had little video game experience prior to taking over as the first PHS esports coach. Following his letter signing, Hushower presented Henry with a framed token of appreciation for mentoring him as a student and a gamer. Hushower noted that Henry has grown with her students, even calling out adjustments in game to assist Hushower’s success in Rocket League.

“Thank you to Ms. Henry for being an amazing coach and teacher,” said Hushower. “Your passionate and tireless efforts have opened new doors for Alaskan high school gamers. As my teacher and coach you’ve helped me grow academically personally and as a leader.”

Hushower competed in multiple games but excelled in Rocket League, where he has secured one of three available varsity spots for the Shockers with just one other gamer. Hushower will take three courses that may be in person depending on professors and two online courses in his freshman semester while competing in Rocket League. Part of Henry’s guidance has been in-game communication, specifically ensuring that PHS esports teams show good sportsmanship to other teams regardless of the outcome of the game.

“Ms. Henry has just done a terrific job of setting a high standard of how they behave how they treat each other and how they treat their opponents and that’s something that really stands out and we can all be proud of,” said Reid.

After beginning the program just two school years ago, the esports team at Palmer High is now directly providing opportunities for their team members after high school. Hushower’s mother noted that this may not be the only esports NLI signing they attend as Tobin’s younger brother Jesse is nearly as talented. The Hushower’s made up two thirds of the PHS Rocket League team that won the MTA eUnlimited high school gaming championship in October of last year with teammate Sam Vanderweele. As a prize for their victory over Colony who had bested Palmer in the previous season finale, the Hushower’s helped win $1,000 for Palmer High’s esports team and jerseys from MTA.

“In my esports career the biggest things that’s happened was when me, my little brother Jesse and one of our good friends Sam played in an MTA tournament. It was only against one team but we won $1,000 for our school and the esports program and I’ve won other things in Rocket League and gotten money but this was the biggest and probably most monumental thing I’ve done so far, even if it is only $1,000 that was still incredible,” said Hushower.

With momentum heading into the spring semester, schools across the world were affected by the coronavirus pandemic. While esports is better suited for socially distanced competition than non-virtual sports, even the gamers’ seasons suffered the fate of COVID-19 in the spring. Seasons for Overwatch and Rocket League were not completed, but Hushower was still able to game with his classmates from home.

“It’s really nice to be able to just hop on and play video games with your friends and know that they’re all right and still be able to communicate and interact with people,” said Hushower.

During Hushower’s speech prior to signing his NLI, he thanked not only his family, coaches and administrators but opponents who had not taken it easy on him. Hushower also competed for the Moose as a swimmer and volunteered for four years with Youth Court. Hushower bucks any mold of the gamer stereotype as an exceptional student who also excels as an athlete and serves his community. Hushower hopes to provide an example for others to look up to and naysayers to understand. “Our goal is really for all of our students that whatever they’re doing after high school, whatever we can do here to help launch them towards that it’s worth it. Whether it’s working in the esports industry or going into a technical career or even if it’s just learning how to communicate with other people on the team because there’s no job that you have where you don’t need to be able to communicate well with the people that you’re working with,” said Henry. “He’s really been a student who has taken advantage of a lot of the opportunities that come with high school in terms of volunteer opportunities sports and athletics esports other clubs in the building, and he’s done all of it well while maintaining a really strong academic portfolio.”