Inside the high-tech arena at 3004 Merrick Road in Wantagh, 22 high-end gaming rigs sit carefully aligned. “Most kids are already playing video games at home, and at Valhallan, gaming becomes purposeful. Coaching staff members are selected not only for their competitive gaming backgrounds—many are collegiate esports athletes playing on scholarship—but for their ability to mentor young players through high-stress moments in competition. Through the nationwide Valhallan XP organization, local players compete in the Esports Series Championship (ESC), gaining direct exposure to collegiate scouts and scholarship opportunities nationwide. “Esports develop many of the same qualities as traditional sports—communication, strategic thinking, leadership, resilience, and teamwork,” Mangiolino and Vaz noted.