Northeastern Technical College’s Esports gaming room was a battlefield.

Even better, a WarZone.  

Six middle schoolers booted up and logged in July 8-10 for NETC’s annual esports camps where honing gaming skills is a priority.  

At the start of the week, the guys bandied together getting wrapped up in Warzone.  

Esports Camper Austin Hinson, of Florence racked up more than 30 kills in his recent game in the second-day morning sessions. 

“I’ve played video games since I was four,” he said. 

To become a gaming marksman, Hinson recommends taking the time to practice as well as utilizing training programs like Aimlabs.  

“A lot of people don’t change their control settings,” he said.  

Customizing a gaming controller’s sensitivity to the individual player’s touch is crucial to prevent swinging the sights past the target, he said. 

In contrast to the bleak grays and dark coloring of the gritty war-torn landscape of the popular first-person shooter, one lone computer was bright colors. 

Annie Edens, of Bennettsville, stuck with Fortnite, a game she is familiar with.  

“Fortnite is the only game I know. I usually play it with friends,” she said.  

Middle school esports camp focuses on the fun of gaming, said NETC Athletic Director and Esports Head Coach Tyler Nolan.  

“High schoolers, however, get incredibly competitive,” said NETC Esports Coach Tyler Nolan, who competed professionally in esports with pro team FaZe Clan as its top competitor at the age of 20, outperforming 100,000 contestants. 

NETC’s High School Esports camp follows the middle schoolers July 15-17. 

The middle school camp introduces students to competitive gaming with strategy sessions for individual and teamwork skills playing a variety of games, Nolan said. 

“The video game industry generates about $100 billion annually in America outperforming Hollywood with opportunity to be a part of it from game developers to reporting,” he said. 

Competitive gaming generates more than billion dollars annually in the United States with professional teams franchising into larger areas, Nolan said. 

High school students who enjoy competition gaming, can transition into the intramural program open to all full-time, part-time, and dual enrollment NETC students, Nolan said.  

However, to be an official Trailblazer team member, students must be full time with at least 12 semester hours and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, according to National Junior College Athletic Association rules, in which NETC participates under.  

NETC’s set-up for student gamers consists of 20 Alienware machines with monitors in a dedicated space in the John C. West Building. 

NETC’s esports team is an official varsity program sanctioned by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Students are recruited locally and globally for the team and compete throughout North America.

Teammates must be enrolled at NETC with at least 12 credit hours and maintain a 2.0 GPA. 

Students, full-time to Dual Enrollment, can compete in the school’s Intramural League – even NETC alumni. 



For more information, visit online at www.netc.edu or call 800.921.7399. 

Due to a sinkhole that developed April 18 at the NETC Cheraw Campus exit point facing Hwy 9, it has been closed to thru traffic.

There is one entry and exit point facing Hwy 9.

Traffic may also utilize the entry and exit facing Tec Road.

College Administration and the Maintenance Department are working diligently to address this issue.