For Romaello Range (AKA Regent) of the Delaware Wolves, gaming was more than just a shared interest between him, his brother and father. “This is how we learned social skills and how we learned to work together to achieve something,” Range says, “Rainbow 6, CoD, Metal of Honor… these games really built a rapport between us.”
But it was a middle school classmate and long-time friend, Mr. OG, who introduced Range to Ultimate Endgamers League (UEL) after hearing about them through his job at a game store.
“I was hesitant to join at first. Everyone thinks they’re THAT good, but when you’re dealing with a league of players who are all that good, you have to ask, ‘how good am I?’” Range explains.
After looking into it further, however, Range realized that Mr. OG’s wife and a few friends he’d never met IRL already played in the league. “It was only natural for me to take the step to join the team,” he says.
For Range, gaming is a dream job. “I have had a passion for gaming for a long time. I’ve wanted to do this my entire life, but it’s not just something I have had the opportunity to delve into too much until now.”
It’s more than a job though, it’s a coping mechanism. Having recently completed nearly a three-year stint in the Navy, Range looks to gaming to overcome his PTSD and issues with people socially.
“I got the help that I needed,” he explains, “Video games are a cornerstone for building relationships for me… it’s something we all connect on. I’m now the leader of the family when it comes to gaming.”
Having experienced his first season with UEL, Range is excited to continue building the Delaware Wolves into a bigger, more known organization. “I’d like to build our fan base. A lot of our players are minorities, and I just think it would be great to push that forward as our platform and to have fun while we’re doing it,” says Range.
He also enjoys the power of the room. “Not every player or coach is from the same walk of life. Until we get on those sticks, we’re all equal. We talk our trash. We’re all competitors, but outside of those four hours, it’s all love,” he explains.
Range treats game play the same as he treated being in the Navy. “I fulfill a purpose. Whether it’s saving the galaxy or raining chaos from the heavens, I still fulfill a purpose… only now I get to work with my team and my best friends to do it,” Range says.
But don’t be fooled, in his time of quiet, he’s usually watching people play independently to get to know their strategy.
To my wife and child, this is what support feels like.
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