Voices of York: Zach Kaltreider ‘26 and Exploring the Era of Esports
As he prepares for graduation, Zach Kaltreider ‘26 shares his transition from playing traditional sports to becoming captain of the York College esports team and where his journey will lead him after graduation.
For Zach Kaltreider ‘26, sports have always been an integral part of his life. Growing up in New Tripoli, PA, he could be found either watching sports, following along with the numbers and statistical facts reported by broadcasters, or on the field, playing soccer in middle school and football in high school. The rush and game excitement never failed to ignite Zach’s passion, and he was confident they would remain a part of his future plans.
All of that changed halfway through high school, when Zach was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. The diagnosis meant he was forced to step off the field for his health and safety. However, as Zach would learn upon entering college, it did not mean the end of his participation in sports.
Now, four years after enrolling at York College of Pennsylvania, Zach is not only graduating from the College’s Sport Management program, but is leaving behind a legacy as captain of the York College Esports team. And thanks to these experiences, he will be continuing an internship with the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC).
“With the career path that I'm on now and everything that I figured out, it wouldn't have been possible without coming here to York College,” Zach said. “I would have never found these different industries and niche outlets that I never knew existed until coming here.”
Rediscovering Sports in a Different Passion
Zach was initially drawn to York College because of their Mechanical Engineering program. He was able to tour the college and was drawn in by its supportive staff and numerous internship pathways made available to students.
“When I was looking for colleges coming in as a [first-year], not only [did] I like the hands-on learning experience and the professors and how personal they were, but the affordability of the college compared to others was also a no-brainer decision in coming here,” Zach said.
Before he committed, though, Zach found that his interest had shifted.
It was around that time that Zach had to step away from football and began reflecting more on how he could continue to keep his interest in sports. He found he liked working with numbers and statistical data, and after doing more research, Zach realized that York College offered one of the best Sport Management programs in Pennsylvania.
“I always like just watching sports,” he said. “I had an appreciation for the broadcasters and the statisticians bringing up random stats and stuff like that. And in my head, I just found that I could keep those random facts and tidbits about players and teams really well. So, I figured this probably is something I could go into and found Sport Management to be an actual viable major.”
Exploring the Esports Life
It wasn’t long before Zach found another way to continue with his love of sports. Since he couldn’t play competitively, Zach explored other ways to get involved on campus and meet people.
Eventually, he heard about the Esports Club, founded in 2020, where students gathered to play competitive games and compete in tournaments for titles such as Rocket League and Halo. Zach was familiar with gaming in the past, but ultimately saw the club as an opportunity to make friends while still competing competitively.
“When I first came here, I didn't know anyone, and obviously I needed to find an outlet to meet people, make connections,” he said. “I wasn't going to go four years without knowing anyone. And the Esports Club gave me that outlet to make countless friends.”
Zach joined the club during his first year of college in 2022. That year also happened to be when the club’s executive board was graduating and holding an election to fill the soon-to-be-empty positions. Deciding to take a chance, Zach ran for president and, to his amazement, won.
Since then, Zach has held the position for four years. He and the rest of the club members have worked hard to hone their skills and have achieved great success over the years, participating in national and divisional championships and earning multiple second and third-place finishes. They’ve even traveled for competitions. But most of all, Zach has helped to mold the club into an environment where all players, old and new, are welcomed and encouraged to have fun.
“Everyone in here is super welcoming,” Zach said. “If you like any type of video game, you come in here, [and] I guarantee you will find at least one person who plays the same game and has those same niche interests as you. But everyone in here just wants to have a good time and play.”
A Camera-Close Internship
As Zach’s interest in and knowledge of the esports industry grew, and he became more familiar with social media and marketing, he began to consider pursuing esports as a future career and started searching for ways to be more involved.
Because the club participates in the NECC, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) equivalent for esports, students can join the NECC’s Discord channel, where, along with new updates, job openings are posted. When a notice for social media intern positions came up, Zach seized the opportunity and got the job.
“Right now, I am their social media lead,” he said. “So most things that come out of their TikTok, Instagram, Twitter or X now, it goes through me or my boss, Kylie. We do all things from live coverage from games that are broadcasted Mondays through Fridays, as partnership announcements, funny trends, all that kind of stuff.”
The work has been an immediate click for him, and he has loved everything he has done in the position over the past two years. Not only has it been fun for him, but now, it has solidified his desire to pursue a career in the esports industry. As a result, he has grown as a student, player, and professional.
Unexpected Journey, Unforgettable Experiences
Although Zach’s journey did not go as planned, it led to an unforgettable time at York College. He made many friends and built a second home that allowed him to work with teammates to accomplish team goals and hone new skills. Even if he wasn’t on the field, Zach could still participate in thrilling virtual matches and represent York College, with the same rush and camaraderie he felt playing soccer and football.
“Coming into York College, [despite] not being able to play traditional sports anymore, esports really helped me scratch that competitive itch that has been there for a while after not being able to play regular sports,” he said.
And thanks to his time in the Esports Club, Zach has prepared himself for his next steps in his professional career within the esports industry. With the knowledge and experience he gained both in and outside of the classroom, Zach is ready to take everything he learned and start working professionally.
“I’ll miss it,” Zach said. “I’ll always miss these four years here. These are the most pinnacle moments of my life—have been in these four years here. And I'll always love York College for that. But I'm very excited to further my career and see what's next for me.”
