Triplets lead Calgary Christian Cougars to esports victory at Play VS Fall Rocket League Championships

Calgary Christian Secondary School principal Jadan Barthel with "the triplets", Nathan, Jonathan and Ethan Edem who have propelled Calgary Christian up the esports ladder.

A Calgary secondary school is celebrating a little more this December after winning an esports competition thanks to the talents of a trio of remarkable triplets.

Calgary Christian Secondary School (CCS) Cougars took on the Natrona County High School Mustangs of Cody, Wyo., in the PlayVS Fall Rocket League Championships last week, winning the best-of-seven series four games to two.

The CCS team consists of a trio of brothers, Nathan, Jonathan and Ethan Edem who have propelled Calgary Christian up the esports ladder.

Rocket League is a 3v3 action soccer video game where players control rocket-powered battle cars in an enclosed pitch. The game is available on multiple platforms and rated E for Everyone.

The Cougars' victory was in the Mountain West Division championship, where they defeated 25 other teams and won the right to compete at the North American championships at the PlayVS Cup in the spring where they will compete for scholarship awards of up to US $10,000.

Earlier in 2024, CCS took third place at the Alberta Scholastic Esports League’s Fall Rocket League tournament, then went on to represent Alberta at Esports Canada’s national competition, where they placed in the Top 8 teams in the country.

“It’s a great feeling. I get to represent my community,” said Jonathan, in a media release.

The triplets have been huge supporters of the Albertan esports scene and have even started to amass a social media following, with their fans eager to watch the trio compete on Twitch.

“We’re trying to make [esports] a big thing in our city, and that starts off in our school,” said Nathan.

The victory comes as esports grows in popularity around the world, and in Calgary, where Bow Valley College recently opened its own esports arena on the second floor of its south campus.

Inside Calgary's first esports arena at Bow Valley College on Sept. 25, 2024.

'School first'

While competitive esports is time consuming, the three brothers say they manage to stay on top of their schoolwork.

“[You have to] stay on top of your work,” said Jonathan. “Put your school first.”

CCS Principal Jadan Barthel said launching an esports team was about creating opportunities for students to participate in a unique community.

“One of the things that led me down the path in the first place was just to create more spaces where students felt like they belonged,” said Barthel. “All of these other things that we develop through sports like volleyball and basketball can also be developed through [esports].”

At the moment, the school has four gaming computers for student use in its computer lab, but Barthel hopes to add more as the demand is there.

“We’re limited by the devices we have… I have students regularly asking to be part of [esports],” Bardel said.

The triplets are finishing up at CCS this year and are thrilled to see esports on the rise.

“I want to leave behind a legacy. I want to leave behind a community,” said Ethan.