Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Prime Minister of Yemen’s Houthi Government Killed in Israeli Strike

3 days ago

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Law Redrawing Congressional Maps

4 days ago

US Air Force will Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

4 days ago

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

4 days ago

Wall Street Falls as Dell, Nvidia Drive Tech Losses

4 days ago

US Denies Visas to Palestinian Officials Ahead of UN General Assembly

4 days ago

Minneapolis Children Revealed Courage, Absorbed Fear During Church Shooting

5 days ago

Ford Recalls Nearly 500,000 Vehicles Over Brake Fluid Leak

5 days ago

Fresno-Bound Passenger Says Delta Attendant Slapped Him, Seeks $20M

5 days ago
Here's One Sport That COVID-19 Couldn't Stifle
NANCY WEBSITE HEADSHOT 1
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 5 years ago on
May 29, 2020

Share

Most high school sports came to a screeching halt in mid-March with the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic — cutting short the state basketball playoffs and pre-empting spring sports — but some students kept on playing.

Nancy Price

School Zone

In eSports, social distancing is the rule, not the exception.

Monday marks the start of playoffs for the Fresno Unified eSports League, pitting 18 teams in the “League of Legends,” a multiplayer online battle arena video game.

The tournament will be held 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Wednesday. Spectators can watch via the platform Battlefy at https://bit.ly/2WO1iCU.

More than 100 students and coaches are competing on five-member teams representing Cambridge High School, Design Science Middle College High School, DeWolf High School, Duncan Polytechnical High School, Edison High School, Fresno  High School, Hoover High School, J.E. Young Academic Center, Patiño School of Entrepreneurship, Roosevelt High School, Sunnyside High School, and Center for Advanced Research and Technology.

Computer Monitors for Winning Team Members

And the winners get more than bragging rights — members of the first-place team will win computer monitors.

For those who are college-bound, Fresno Unified reports that more than 200 colleges and universities are recruiting and providing scholarships for eSports players.

Speaking of College Scholarships …

Sixty Fresno Unified seniors are sharing $118,000 in scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 that have been provided through the Fresno Unified Scholarship Fund.

The fund, established in 2009, is underwritten by donations from the community and district employees, with the biggest donation coming from the annual fall State of Education luncheon.

Students were selected based on their academic performance, involvement with their school and community, financial need, and career goals.

The traditional banquet had to be canceled this year because of the pandemic, but the district made sure they were honored. Students were surprised in mid-May with virtual meetings that included their high school principals and superintendent Bob Nelson.

Even More College Scholarships …

Forty Fresno Unified seniors who were promised scholarships as Tehipite Middle School students are collecting $1,000 each to help cover their college costs in their freshman year.

Three students earned special recognition for outstanding achievement: Karen Medina, highest GPA (4.32); Susie Quintero, most community service hours (210.5); and Evelyn Casillas, highest attendance (100%).

The Steve’s Scholars program, which was created by Francine and Murray Farber and their daughter-in-law Cordula in memory of the Farbers’ son Steven, has presented a total of 101 scholarships over the past three years.

Fifty of the first 61 Steve’s Scholars also received another $1,000 for their second year of college.

To qualify, the Tehipite grads needed to maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.0, an attendance rate of at least 95%, and complete required pre-college courses in grades seven through 12.

Three students earned special recognition for outstanding achievement: Karen Medina, highest GPA (4.32); Susie Quintero, most community service hours (210.5); and Evelyn Casillas, highest attendance (100%).

Buchanan Bears Claim State Title

Long before COVID-19 closed down schools, students were running, jumping, and splashing, and at one Valley school they were doing it better than anywhere else in the state.

Clovis Unified reported Friday that Cal-Hi Sports named Buchanan High School’s sports program as the State School of the Year.

How did the Bears rise to the top? Their accomplishments this year included a state title for wrestling for the fifth year in a row, a state team title for girls cross country, and a NorCal regional title in boys water polo.

“This award is by far the biggest award an athletic department and community can achieve in the world of California athletics,” Buchanan athletic director James Gambrell said. “For a public school with an enrollment radius of 5 miles to win in consecutive years says a lot about Buchanan’s student-athletes, coaches, and administration.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Nab 11 DUI Suspects During Saturation Enforcement

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

DON'T MISS

US Issues Iran-Related Sanctions on Network of Shipping Companies, Vessels

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

DON'T MISS

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

DON'T MISS

Thousands of Israeli Reservists Report for Duty, as Military Chief Clashes With Ministers

DON'T MISS

Vogue Appoints Chloe Malle to Succeed Anna Wintour as US Editorial Head

DON'T MISS

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

DON'T MISS

US Construction Spending Dips in July

DON'T MISS

New Quake of Magnitude 5.5 Shakes Devastated Afghan Region as Death Toll Exceeds 1,400

UP NEXT

Dollar Trades Lower With Fed Cut In View, On Course For Monthly Drop

UP NEXT

Lawsuit Links CA Teen’s Suicide To Artificial Intelligence

UP NEXT

Hearing Ends Without Ruling On Trump’s Firing Of Fed Governor Cook

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Launches New Task Force To Clear CA Homeless Encampments

UP NEXT

Fresno Area Schools Prep for Football With Stout Security Measures

UP NEXT

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Law Redrawing Congressional Maps

UP NEXT

U.S. News Releases Best High School Rankings. How Did Fresno Schools Do?

UP NEXT

Fresno State Coordinators Outline Bulldog Bounceback for Georgia Southern

UP NEXT

Who Did Fresno Unified Hire to Succeed Nikki Henry as Communications Chief?

UP NEXT

49ers Sign Former Clovis West Star as Their Third QB

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

1 hour ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

2 hours ago

Thousands of Israeli Reservists Report for Duty, as Military Chief Clashes With Ministers

2 hours ago

Vogue Appoints Chloe Malle to Succeed Anna Wintour as US Editorial Head

2 hours ago

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

2 hours ago

US Construction Spending Dips in July

2 hours ago

New Quake of Magnitude 5.5 Shakes Devastated Afghan Region as Death Toll Exceeds 1,400

2 hours ago

Trump Set to Move Space Command Headquarters to Alabama From Colorado, Sources Say

2 hours ago

Tulare County Authorities Investigate Porterville Shooting

15 hours ago

Trump’s World Liberty Token Falls in First Day of Trading

15 hours ago

Fresno Police Nab 11 DUI Suspects During Saturation Enforcement

Fresno police arrested 11 people on Saturday through a DUI enforcement operation. Police held the checkpoint at Cedar and Gettysburg avenues...

4 minutes ago

4 minutes ago

Fresno Police Nab 11 DUI Suspects During Saturation Enforcement

1 hour ago

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

United States Department of the Treasury logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

US Issues Iran-Related Sanctions on Network of Shipping Companies, Vessels

A view shows the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Wall Street entrance in New York City, U.S., April 7, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

National Guard troops wear gas masks during protests against federal immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

An Israeli soldier stands on top of a military vehicle at the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, August 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Thousands of Israeli Reservists Report for Duty, as Military Chief Clashes With Ministers

Anna Wintour attends opening remarks during a press preview of The Costume Institute's exhibition "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, U.S., May 5, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Vogue Appoints Chloe Malle to Succeed Anna Wintour as US Editorial Head

A lightning-sparked wildfire in the Sierra National Forest has burned 24,851 acres and is 12% contained, prompting evacuation orders for several zones in Fresno County as more than 1,470 firefighters work to contain the blaze amid thunderstorm threats, officials said Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service)
2 hours ago

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend