How Anaheim Achieves helped launch a high school student’s path to collegiate Esports success
Garret Garcia’s story is a shining example of how afterschool programs like Anaheim Achieves can help students discover their passions and turn them into lifelong careers.
From 2019 to 2023, Garret was an active participant in the Anaheim Achieves afterschool program at Loara High School, where he quickly became a standout member of the school’s Esports Club. He competed in Super Smash Bros. tournaments and served as the Twitch shoutcaster for Loara’s Valorant and Overwatch 2 teams, offering live commentary and analysis during matches.
In 2023, Garret led Loara’s Overwatch 2 team to victory at the AUHSD STEAM-a-Palooza tournament, going undefeated throughout the event.
Building 21st-Century Skills Through Esports
Recognizing the rising popularity of competitive gaming, Anaheim Achieves supported the creation of a Twitch livestream to broadcast matches, complete with student commentators. Known as shoutcasting, this role gives students the chance to develop critical communication skills by narrating matches in real-time, similar to traditional sports broadcasters.
For Garret, shoutcasting became more than just a fun hobby. It sparked a deep passion.
“Shoutcasting at Loara was something I actively looked forward to. I would even wear a suit all day to school just to get that ‘professional Esports shoutcaster’ feeling!”
Turning Passion into Opportunity
Throughout the 2022–2023 school year, Garret’s skills and enthusiasm caught the attention of collegiate programs. After researching top Esports universities, he was invited to interview for a scholarship at Maryville University, home to one of the top collegiate Esports programs in the nation.
Demonstrating his commitment, Garret traveled alone by train from California to Missouri for the interview. That spring, he was awarded a full scholarship to Maryville University, where he continues to thrive.
Making Waves in Collegiate Esports
Today, Garret is a lead shoutcaster for Maryville University’s Esports teams, regularly appearing on Twitch streams where he not only casts matches but also reads sponsor promos for brands like McDonald’s. He also hosts “60-Second Speedrun”, a rapid-fire recap series for Maryville’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Now in his second year, Garret has taken on a leadership role as Head of Commentating, where he coaches new student commentators and helped launch a new $1,000 scholarship for aspiring shoutcasters through the Maryville Gaming Club.
His talents and growing influence have also earned him one of just 19 exclusive co-streaming slots nationwide for Valorant’s official Challengers League, where he livestreams games in partnership with Riot Games.
“Anaheim Achieves gave me the best opportunity I could ask for when my peers were giving me a hard time. I have complete gratitude to Anaheim Achieves for showing me a passion that I now want to make a career out of,” Garret says.
“To anyone who wants to pursue a career in Esports: do not be ashamed of it. Your confidence and personality is what shines through. And most of all—believe in yourself and the heights that you can achieve!”
Looking Ahead
Garret is currently majoring in Photography and Film at Maryville University, with plans to become a professional Esports shoutcaster and content creator after graduation. He continues to grow his personal Twitch and YouTube channels, and is taking on new content responsibilities for Maryville Esports starting in the 2025–2026 season.
The Anaheim Family YMCA is incredibly proud of Garret’s journey and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next.