Game On: Immaculate Unveils Cutting-Edge eSports Lab

The room is bathed in a soft electric glow–LEDs pulsing along the walls, individual gaming stations lit up with high-definition screens and ergonomic chairs perfectly aligned for battle. 

Welcome to Immaculate High School’s new eSports Lab, the home of its reigning state champion team in MarioKart–and a space that mirrors those found on college campuses.

Co-Captain Ryan Beverly ‘26 of Bethel said he was “beyond surprised” when he heard the team would get its own space. “The room was designed with professional eSports set-ups in mind, and it worked out perfectly to look just as good as the pros,” he said. “Overall, I'd have to say my favorite part of the room is the LED lights strung from floor to ceiling around the room–they just look so cool.” 

“As co-captain, I think having our own space will positively affect team morale,” added Eli Ribeiro ‘27 of Danbury. “Having actual chairs and not using the classroom chairs makes the space more comfortable and inviting, and having a fully decorated room shows the team's successes and can also incentivise others to join us!”

What’s happening here is no small thing. High school eSports is one of the fastest-growing extracurriculars in America, with more than 8,600 schools now hosting teams and tens of thousands of students competing nationwide. Institutions are investing in dedicated facilities—some estimates suggest that 38 percent of schools already have competition-ready eSports rooms, with another 24 percent planning to build them. Approximately 3,5000 high school eSports teams operate across all 50 states. At the collegiate level, more than 170 colleges now offer varsity programs and millions in scholarships are awarded to competitive gamers. 

Here at Immaculate, student-athletes stepping into the lab don’t just play–they train, strategize and compete with infrastructure built for peak performance.

"We pride ourselves in staying on the cutting edge of trends in sports and giving our Mustangs exciting new opportunities and that's exactly what eSports is," said Nelson Mingachos, Immaculate's Athletic Director, who oversees 27 varsity sports teams. "We apply the same high standards for these student-athletes that we do in any other sports and they work just as hard."

“The students say they love having their own room and the chairs make it feel like a real eSports set up that they see their favorite YouTubers using,” said Immaculate eSports Coach David Quesnell. “Now they have their own space, just like the Volleyball Team has their own court and the Football Team has its own field.”

The school's parent-run athletics organization, the Mustang All Sports Club, bought the chairs for the lab–a clear sign that eSports deserves the same respect as other teams, even if it is a little different than traditional sports.

Immaculate’s team took home the State Championship in Mario Kart for the second year at Quinnipiac University on May 6. The school’s “Mustang Yoshis” squad defeated the Sheehan Titans from Wallingford, CT. Gamers from high schools all over the state participated in the event, which included Rocket League, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Now, Quesnell said, Immaculate’s eSports Lab resembles the impressive one at Quinnipiac. 

“Our eSports team was on a mission and trained hard for that victory,” said Quesnell. “I told them that if we made the finals, I would get a Mario Kart tattoo–so I did! We have a tremendous team spirit which shows in our performance.” 

“Our students earned these championships through grit and collaboration, and I am incredibly proud of them,” said Immaculate Head of School Wendy Neil. “The new eSports Lab is both a celebration of what they’ve achieved and an investment in what comes next.”

Coach Quesnell said the new room is enhancing their team communication and bonding skills because, like other sports, eSports is a team effort and takes discipline. He is looking forward to competing in the state championship again this year.

Are there any more tattoos in his future? He laughed and said he’s not sure–we have to stay tuned. 

Read a recent article in Westfair Business Journal HERE.