Marymount California University Adds eSports, Surfing

Marymount California University has announced the addition of eSports and surfing to its athletic program, beginning fall 2019, bringing the school’s sports offerings to 16. The school also introduced women's indoor and beach volleyball and men's and women’s tennis earlier this year.

"Some of the best surfing in the world is located right here in Southern California," said Athletic Director Courtney Thomsen. "Marymount hopes to attract well-rounded student athletes who are as motivated as we are to make history at this university while pursuing a solid liberal arts education."

Situated along the Pacific Coast near the best wave-rich beaches in North America, including Manhattan, Hermosa, Huntington and Laguna, Marymount offers an ideal location for a surf club. The co-ed team will compete in the National Scholastic Surfing Association, which is the highest amateur competitive surfing association in the United States. The university has hired local Palos Verdes resident Lazlo Egeto as head coach.

Marymount has also started recruiting for its inaugural eSports team for gamers who enjoy competing in tournaments while being watched by a live audience.

eSports has seen tremendous growth as an industry, nearing a $1billion business with a global audience of over 300 million fans.

“Like other competitive team sports, eSports is a great way to develop leadership skills, promote teamwork and nurture discipline,” Thomsen said. “Participation can improve critical thinking, problem solving and communication—all transferable skills for success in the classroom, too!”

Interested students will have the opportunity to try out for a spot on MCU’s coed roster, with the highest scorers invited to join the team. Players will meet regularly in the on-campus computer lab to practice, scrimmage and analyze gameplay, building up to regional and national competition against other colleges.

Marymount will compete in online multi-player games, starting with Rocket League, League of Legends and Fortnite.

About Marymount California University

Marymount California University is a private liberal arts university in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Ranked among the top 15 regional colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report, Marymount offers undergraduate and graduate programs—in on-campus, online and hybrid formats—that lead to associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees designed to prepare students for purposeful lives and careers. Marymount athletics supports 16 varsity-level intercollegiate programs that compete within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For more information, visit www.MarymountCalifornia.edu.