Blanchard’s Cate Collingbourne
VYPE: Cate, what game do you compete in and what grade are you in this year?
Cate Collingbourne: I’ve been competing for the Overwatch team since my sophomore year. I’m currently a senior.
VYPE: What do you love most about your team and teammates at BHS?
CC: I love that teammates are motivated to do their best and unapologetic in being themselves. They let me be my authentic self while also pushing me to be the best version of myself as their leader and captain. They make competing so much fun.
VYPE: Who inspires you?
CC: I’m inspired by my mom because of how she’s influenced my personality and mindset; she taught me how to be brave and not let anything stand in my way.
VYPE: What has competing taught you that you can use in life?
CC: Personal responsibility and owning up to your mistakes. You won’t ever win a game by blaming your teammates. Being willing to admit your mistakes and overcoming them is the only way to improve. Esports has taught me teamwork, leadership, strategy, discipline, focus, and most importantly, determination.
VYPE: What is your strength and what are you trying to improve?
CC: Overwatch’s strength is the implementation of teamwork and the wide variety of roles available to play. Everybody has a different play style, and Overwatch complements that by letting a player have a variety of abilities that allows anyone in the right role to shine. I’m working on taking my strengths and putting them into just a couple of heroes and play styles to master them so that my team can have someone great to back them up.
VYPE: What makes representing BHS special for you?
CC: Representing Blanchard is special to me because of the teammates that I have.
VYPE: What current or former teammates have left an impression on you?
CC: Braidyn Tivis and Aaden Sandoval are two of my current teammates who have left the biggest impressions on me. Together, we can listen to each other’s ideas and strategies and enter a flow state to capture objectives in game. Another teammate who I’ll mention is Gavin George, who’s the first person I teamed up with in an esports match. I really appreciate having all of them on my team.
VYPE: What are your plans after you graduate from high school?
CC: I’m attending the University of Oklahoma to major in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. I hope to use my degree to help contribute towards cancer treatment research in the future.
