SOCORRO, N.M. – New Mexico Tech’s popular and growing eSports club has taken a big step towards becoming a full-fledged program by signing  its first player to compete for the Miners team. The eSports signing is a first in the school’s history.

According to Damian Banks, eSports program director at New Mexico Tech, the first player to be signed for the program is Ben Mannal, who is graduating this spring from Sandia Preparatory School in Albuquerque. Mannal will compete in the title Valorant for New Mexico Tech. Mannal, who also was accepted into the Stanford University summer Artificial Intelligence (AI)  program, recently spoke on a panel at the Albuquerque Comic Con about eSports at the high school level in New Mexico. 

“Mannal is highly accomplished in his own right and will be a great addition to the developing Miners team,” said Banks. 

As the largest organization at New Mexico Tech, the eSports program has continuously grown in the three years since it was created, according to Banks. The club has more than 300 members -- about one-quarter of the school’s population.

“The group has had some impressive competitive finishes, just shy of qualifying for the national championships this past Spring in League of Legends,” Banks said.