Willowbrook alumnus finds success in esports

Willowbrook alumnus Dylan Bosco (class of 2013) participates in an esports tournament. He has competed in esports for five years and has found success in the industry. Photo from ESL Rainbow Six

Willowbrook alumnus Dylan Bosco (class of 2013, pictured second from left) celebrates with his teammates after recently winning the esports World Championships for Rainbow 6. Bosco has competed in esports for five years and has found success in the industry. Photo from ESL Rainbow Six

Like most kids, Willowbrook alumnus Dylan Bosco (class of 2013) grew up playing video games. He enjoyed the competitive nature of gaming, as well as being able to hang out with his friends. While in college, Bosco stumbled across esports, and his hobby soon developed into something more.

According to Wikipedia, "Esports is a form of sport competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams.” Bosco started casually in esports, but he quickly found success and started winning tournaments. Other players noticed, and he was given opportunities to join teams and to become part of the professional league.

“Joining the esports world on a professional level is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Bosco said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to work with a team and earn recognition.”

Bosco said he has participated in so many tournaments at this point – including three in Canada – that it’s difficult to count. To date, his public winnings are about $200,000. His team, Spacestation Gaming, recently won the World Championships for Rainbow 6. For more information about the group, go to https://spacestationgaming.com. Unfortunately, esports tournaments are currently limited because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, so Bosco and his team are only able to participate in domestic competitions right now.

While gaming might seem like something fun to do on the side, for Bosco and his four teammates, it’s a way of life. They all moved to Las Vegas and live together in a team house with two coaches and an analyst. They typically practice at least four hours a day, six days a week. Sessions include studying other teams and working on strategies.

Bosco graduated from Western Michigan University in 2019, with a major in chemical engineering and a double minor in chemistry and math. In the future, Bosco plans to use his degrees and pursue a career in science. While Bosco said it was challenging to balance school with esports, he encourages those who are interested to do both.

“My advice is to get into esports as soon as possible at a young age,” Bosco said. “While it isn’t easy, it is possible to get a college education and follow your other dreams at the same time. Don’t give up.”