Esports Ohio Advisory Board

Jacob Gebers - Immediate Past President

Jacob Gebers serves as Immediate Past President of Esports Ohio and remains involved as a member of the Advisory Board. He works as Technology Coordinator for Napoleon Area City Schools and holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology from Tiffin University. Jacob helped establish Napoleon’s esports program and has supported Esports Ohio since the league’s founding. He is passionate about using scholastic esports to provide students with opportunities for competition, teamwork, personal growth, and future scholarships.

Nate Meeker - Director of Esports, University of Akron

Nate Meeker is the Director of Esports at the University of Akron and has a background in higher education, curriculum development, and international teaching. Nate earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Akron and a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California. He has also competed at a high level in Counter-Strike and Hearthstone.

PJ Farrell - Director of Esports, Cleveland State University

PJ Farrell is the Director of Esports at Cleveland State University, where he leads the university’s competitive esports program. Before joining Cleveland State, he launched the esports program at Holy Name High School, helping expand scholastic esports in Northeast Ohio. PJ believes esports is a powerful platform for developing leadership, teamwork, and lifelong connections.

Lena Moore - Esports Coach, Sheridan High School

Lena Moore is an experienced English teacher, Drama Club advisor, and esports coach at Sheridan High School. A lifelong video and board game enthusiast, Lena founded Sheridan’s esports program and discovered a passion for helping students grow as competitors, teammates, and individuals. She is especially interested in helping schools in smaller communities establish successful esports programs.

DJ Oravec - Esports Coach, Miller South VPA School

DJ Oravec is the founding esports coach at Miller South VPA School and represents middle school programs on the Esports Ohio Advisory Board. He actively supports coaches by helping troubleshoot competition, networking, and platform-related challenges. DJ brings strong technical and organizational skills to the organization and is committed to improving the systems that help middle school programs and students participate successfully.

Michael Newton - Co-Founder, Ethlete Lab Academy

Michael Newton is the co-founder of Ethlete Lab Academy, where he connects esports, education, and career-focused learning to help students develop real-world skills and opportunities. He created Ohio’s first state-certified esports pre-apprenticeship program and has extensive experience designing youth programs centered on teamwork, leadership, and digital skill development. As head coach of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA 2K League affiliate, Michael led the team to the 2023 league championship, becoming the first Black coach to win a 5v5 championship.