BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Titan players with Illinois Wesleyan’s Esports Program spent the spring semester scoring big at championships, qualifying for nationals and connecting with each other in the game room.
The program includes 43 active players, who compete in video game teams including Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, Valorant and Overwatch. Standout moments for the teams from the spring semester included Rocket League winning a conference championship, Smash Bros traveling to 10 events and qualifying for the top 3 in each, Valorant qualifying for the Great Lakes Esport Conference (GLEC) fall championship, and Overwatch winning the spring GLEC and qualifying for nationals as well as winning their National Esports Collegiate Conference and placing second in nationals.
Director of Esports Cora Kennedy said collegiate gaming is another pathway for students to engage with each other and find a purpose on campus.
“It gives students a goal to work for, unifies them as a team and creates a community unlike any other that students can latch on to,” said Kennedy. “It grows students as people, players and professionals through soft skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership and problem solving that has become a core part of every type of experience in esports.”
Psychology major Kyan Geiser ‘28, who plays on the Valorant team, said he played esports in high school and discovered the IWU esports program while applying to colleges. The chance to be involved in collegiate esports, paired with financial aid, helped secure Geiser’s choice to become a Titan.
Quickly, the esports team became a “home away from home” as Geiser adjusted to life in college.
“Having that built-in support system from the esports program made a huge difference in my success in and out of the classroom at IWU,” said Geiser. “No matter how good or bad my day was, the fact that I was able to end the day doing something positive that I love surrounded by people that I love always grounded me.”
Geiser said one common misconception about the world of Esports is that just anyone could play and win a competition, when in reality it requires significant teamwork, strategy and communication skills. But he stressed that collegiate esports “is a super welcoming community.”
“No matter your skill level, we would love to have anyone interested be involved in some shape or form. We even have academy teams that are made to help people learn and get better at the game, while still giving them a chance to compete. Everyone should feel welcome, even if it is just to come say hi,” said Geiser.
Kennedy encouraged anyone who is interested in esports to contact her at ckenned2@iwu.edu.
Over the summer, Kennedy said technology in the IWU Esports Arena will be refreshed, summer camps will open to local youth and directors and coaches will attend conferences to maintain their competitive edge .
“We have hit our stride as a program and I intend to keep it rolling,” she said.