MOORHEAD — You didn't need to look any further than Nemzek Hall on the Minnesota State University Moorhead campus this weekend to see there's a new branch of sports on the rise, and it's based solely online.

The popular games played were League of Legends, Overwatch, and Fortnite.

The University of North Dakota is one of the many schools starting to embrace esports.

Fighting Hawks players made their competitive debuts.

listen live watch live

Many competitors said there are many similarities between esports and traditional sports.

"You have to communicate with your team and work together," said UND student-athlete Caleb D'Shaak. "It's a passion, and like anything else, you spend a lot of time on it, sometimes too much time, and you get good at it."

Teddy Delaney's job illustrates just that.

He travels across the country, recruiting esports athletes.

"I talk to students at high schools, I pull them aside, ask them how they are in school and how they are in the game," Delaney said.

He also said academic success is the most important factor when searching for players.

"If you're not getting the grades, you're not going to play the game just like any other sport."

He even said many universities are starting to offer scholarships and full rides to lure potential students in.

Ten total colleges competed this weekend, from five different states, including the University of Jamestown, MSUM, North Dakota State University, Valley City State University, the South Dakota School of Mines, the University of Minnesota, Midland University (Neb.), Graceland University (Iowa), and St. Ambrose (Iowa).

St. Ambrose walked out Rift of the North champions.