Danielle Sirekis, Director of Florida Tech esports, is one of eight coaches who have been selected for the 2024 Stay Plugged In Coca-Cola All-Stars event. Sirekis, the only woman chosen, will coach a Rocket League team.
“It’s awesome to be recognized as a standout leader. I’ve had a lot of really good leaders in my life, so it’s almost like a callback to them. I saw the good things they did, and I try to continue to instill their messages in helping students,” Sirekis said.
The event will see Stay Plugged In, the premier recruiting platform for esports scholarships, partner with Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the U.S., to highlight the important role gaming plays in advancing student opportunities.
“These coaches have demonstrated their knowledge and leadership in collegiate esports, and they are ready to foster amazing qualities in this year’s All-Star talent,” Stay Plugged In posted on X.
Running Nov. 9-17, the virtual event will showcase the top 40 high school players from across the U.S. in Rocket League and Valorant, offering them a unique opportunity to demonstrate their gaming skills in a high-stakes environment while connecting with collegiate esports coaches.
“I look forward to meeting the students and showing them that they can continue in esports, go to college and even get scholarships for it. It’s important for them to know that these opportunities are out there for them,” Sirekis said.
Sirekis aims to leverage the opportunity to promote Florida Tech Esports and recruit.
“When talking with recruits, I emphasize the importance of academics. I encourage them to visit Florida Tech, as it’s crucial for them to envision themselves at any college they consider,” she said. “From a program standpoint, we boast a 5,800-square-foot facility equipped with 60 PCs and over 10 consoles, along with a university that is enthusiastic about esports and eager to see it thrive.”
Sirekis is in her first full season leading Florida Tech esports and views this recognition as a significant step toward elevating the program. “In the future, it would be wonderful to work with Stay Plugged In to host events like this at Florida Tech,” she said.
Looking ahead, Florida Tech’s Valorant Team Crimson will compete in Battle For Florida, an annual tournament hosted by the University of South Florida (USF). Florida Tech earned a spot in the group stage by defeating several teams, most notably, the University of Central Florida (UCF), in a virtual round-robin competition.
The group stage will be Oct. 18-20 on USF’s Tampa campus, where Florida Tech will compete against the University of Florida (UF), Florida International University (FIU) and Full Sail University.
