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Austin Browning, center, is the first from PHS to sign as an Esports competitor at the college level. He will attend Thomas More University. Browning is pictured with his mother and father, Steve and Stephanie, and his siblings.
By Sam McClanahan
Pendleton County senior Austin Browning made school history on March 28 as he became the first person from the Esports program to sign a letter-of-intent to compete at the college level.
Browning, who has been an avid video game player for most of his life, received a scholarship offer from Thomas More University last fall. He officially signed on the dotted line at PCHS and was surrounded by his family, teammates, and supporters.
“It feels good to be apart of history,” Browning says. “The whole experience has been very rewarding for me and in the past few months its shown me the direction that life will take me after graduation,” he added.
Browning joined the Esports program during his freshman year at PCHS and during that time has been able compete against schools from around the state through video games. This year he has excelled at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (PCHS currently ranks 13th out of 47 schools) and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He credits Coach Aldridge for creating the relationship between himself and the university that he will soon call home.
“We were able to take a tour of Thomas More and I like the fact that it is a smaller campus that I know I’ll be comfortable at. I look forward to playing for Coach Derrick McBride,” Browning explained.
Esports has seen its popularity explode throughout the U.S. in recent years. According to gamedesigning.org, just seven
colleges offered a varsity Esports program in July of 2016. Now, that number has ballooned to over 175. It’s a hobby that Browning will look to turn into a career as he’ll major in computer information systems while at Thomas More in hopes of one day being a video game developer.
“I’d really like to thank everyone who helped make this possible,” Browning said. “From my coaches and teammates to my parents and siblings for always supporting me.”Austin is the son of Steve and Stephanie Browning of Falmouth.