At the end of May, players on Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) High School's e-sports teams competed with students from across the state in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic E-Sports Association (PIEA) state finals and semifinals. The varsity Overwatch 2 team finished its season with a match in the semifinals on May 10, and the junior varsity team climbed to the finals and played on May 20. In the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate championship, the school was represented by Jackson Brazzle, who placed in the top eight players in the state.

To prepare for the championships, the students on the e-sports team met three times a week; two of the meetings entailed practice, and the third meeting consisted of competitive matches. The e-sports teams are coached by L-S graduate Brennan Havey, who often helps the players to hone their skills remotely outside of the practices.

Each year, PIEA announces its sanctioned list of video games for the fall and spring seasons. The students on the e-sports teams then vote on which games from the list they will focus on, with the goal of competing in the championship at the end of the season. This year, the students chose to compete in Overwatch 2, Valorant and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The varsity and junior varsity e-sports teams hold tryouts at the beginning of each season, although there is enough space on both teams to ensure that any student who wishes to participate will get an opportunity to do so.

The e-sports program at L-S was created in 2019. The school's administration allocated resources to provide the teams with a computer lab dedicated to e-sports practices and games. The lab is equipped with computers that were built to meet the specifications required to run competitive video games. "We're fortunate enough to have our own e-sports lab. We don't have to tear down our equipment and set up each practice," said Mike Keene, who is the network system adminisrator for the school district. "We have a great deal of support from the administration and board." Keene co-advises the e-sports club with L-S School District Community Relations Coordinator Anne Harnish.

Shortly after the program was created, the e-sports teams switched to holding virtual practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The teams returned to the lab in 2022, although the virtual nature of the program allows them to compete in certain championships remotely.

Once a year, the e-sports club hosts a community gaming day for its members. The event gives students an opportunity to connect with each other through recreational gaming and focus less on competing.

"I think it offers a real opportunity for students who would not typically participate in a sport or club. Being on the team allows them to learn communication and teamwork skills," said Keene.

"There's a community of students that has been underserved and found a home in this program," Harnish added. "We're looking forward to another great season next year."