Photos and story by Giovan Santiago
Leaders of a new esports training facility in Altamonte Springs have a specific goal in mind.
That is, they want parents to learn the benefits of the activity.
However, what’s first and foremost at Valhallan Esports Training Center near Wekiva Springs is simple: Just play.
“Our hope is to get the word out and start to educate parents on the positive impact of esports,” said Dani Kelsey, the franchise’s owner and mother of an avid gamer. “We want to build out local teams for each of our games. We want to train and have the players compete in the national eSports league, while helping them realize each of their own potential.”
The training center, at 990 N. State Road 434 #1192, is an offshoot of a Texas-based brand and is part of a growing number of franchises on the East Coast.
Kelsey said she saw immediate interest when she launched in September.
The facility coaches young players on popular games like Fortnite, Valorant and Overwatch.
It includes top-of-the-line gaming PCs with a talented roster of coaches.
One of its coaches, Jandell “Scooby” Bryant, 19, is on Full Sail University’s esports team Armada.
“When you start to make these kids feel like it’s real, that’s when they start taking the right (approaches),” said Bryant, vice president of Full Sail’s gaming club. “That’s when they go home and they’re not just casually playing anymore. They play with a purpose.”
A second coach, Cristopher “gama007” Collina, agreed.
“When you ‘go with the flow’ or play on autopilot, you don’t really learn from your mistakes,” said Collina, 21. “When you start to realize the mistakes you’ve been making and go, ‘Ah, let me do something else about that. What can I do better there?’, that’s the growth and competitive mindset I strive to put into my students.
For Collina, teaching the next group of esports champions while also having lofty dreams of becoming one.
He said he plays roughly four hours a day to keep improving.
“Keep on following your dream,” he said. “If you have a passion, consistency is always the key. Just keep on doing every little step you can for your passion every single day.”