HUNTINGDON COLLEGE

News Release

November 2, 2023
For more information, contact:
Dr. Anthony Leigh, aleigh@hawks.huntingdon.edu

Q and A with Freshman Esports Player Hawke Rinehart

Montgomery, Ala. – In a nest full of Hawks, there is only one Hawke. Hawke Rinehart ’27 is a member of Huntingdon’s inaugural Esports team and he has given us a glimpse into the newest team on campus in this Q and A feature.

Q. Give us your basic information – name, class year, hometown, major.

A. Hello, my name is Hawke Rinehart, a freshman from Kansas City, Missouri, and I’m a sports management major.

Q. Beyond Esports, what else are you involved in on campus?

A. Outside of Esports I am involved in Greek life on campus and the Freshman Leadership Initiative.

Q. For someone who doesn’t know what Esports is, what would you tell them?

A. It’s competitive video gaming. Video games with large player bases that are based on some sort of competition become Esports.

Q. How many Esports games is Huntingdon playing this Fall and which ones do you play?

A. Huntingdon offers 12 different titles ranging from games like Fortnite and Call of Duty to Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Street Fighter. I play on Huntingdon’s Rocket League A team.

Q. What does your practice schedule and competition schedule look like?

A. Esports has me occupied between 4-6 days a week depending on games, and for an hour and a half to three hours a night.

Q. Tell us about the camaraderie that has been built on your team.

A. One of my Rocket League teammates is my roommate and the other lives across the hall and is my fraternity brother and they’re two of the closest friends I’ve made here at Huntingdon. As for the rest of the people in Esports, we all see each other a lot and interact throughout the day so we’re all friendly.

Q. How do you see the skills you have gained as an Esports player helping you in life?

A. Esports teaches teamwork and communication skills. You’d be surprised at the amount of details that need to be communicated throughout a competitive team game. It also teaches critical thinking. Micro decisions in-game will dictate the outcome of the game so you have to find a way to outplay your opponents.

Q. How best can fans follow Huntingdon Esports?

A. We live stream all of our titles @twitch.tv/hchawksesports and post team updates on both X/Twitter and Instagram @x.com/HCHawksEsports and @instagram.com/hchawksesports.

Q. Our Esports team doesn’t just play schools similar in size to Huntingdon. What are some schools Huntingdon has played that might surprise some people?

A. Esports doesn’t follow the same restriction of divisions like typical sports do. I’ve played against schools like Ohio State and Purdue and schools like North Alabama and Middle Tennessee State. Huntingdon’s program is great because it has facilities and a dedicated coaching staff so it’s not surprising programs like ours compete with larger, student-led organizations.

Q. Want to give a shoutout to a few of your teammates for why they are awesome Hawks?

A. Shout out to my two Rocket League teammates Adriel Carias and Riley Stephens. Thanks for working hard and being good friends.

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Huntingdon College, in accordance with Title IX and Section 106.8 of the 2020 Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, other applicable federal and state law, and stated College policy, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.  Similarly, it prohibits discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age and/or national origin in its education program