Esports debuts with competitions this week

MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia Wisconsin's newly formed esports program begins competing this week for the first time in program history, as members of Rocket League and Fortnite leagues. The excitement on campus is high because the numbers of gamers are ready to be apart of a program and a team, which previously hasn't been available.

"It's been really busy and chaotic creating a program from absolutely nothing," head coach Lewis Smith said. "I was really unsure of the interest on campus within our student body because there are a lot of people into esports, but it isn't widely known. The reception I have gotten from the students has been great and they are so excited. Some of them have been in shock that we have an esports program now because it was always a dream of theirs and they never thought it would come true. The current students on campus just want to be involved and they are all skilled.

Esports is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country with seven universities in the country sponsoring esports and that number grew to 170-plus today, but that number will be much greater after the latest data is published.

The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) is the governing body for the sport and sponsors eight games to this point. League competition games in the fall are Overwatch, Rocket League; Paladins, Champions of the Realm and Smite, Battleground of the Gods. Spring competition games are Counter Strike, Fortnite, League of Legends and Rocket League.

The Falcons will initially be competing in Fortnite and Rocket League. As the program continues to evolve and grow each week, Smith has some high expectations for this remainder of this semester.

"The thing I want to accomplish the most with the leagues this semester is to get our student-athletes used to what competing in esports is like," Smith added. "People play online and they are ranked and competitive in their own right, but it is a completely different game when you are competing against a team that has prepared and strategized for you. The collegiate space is so undefined and unless you coach for a college you don't know what to expect."

Concordia Wisconsin has preliminary expectations to be competing competitively on a consistent basis in League of Legends, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, Fortnite, Magic the Gathering Arena, HearthStone, Rocket League, Overwatch and Super Smash Bros.

"I am most excited about our Rocket League team because it was our first team," Smith explained. "Those three gamers are all highly ranked in the game and I have high expectations for them. Call of Duty and Super Smash Bros. are other games that are by far the most popular on campus, so I expect some really good in-house competition, which should help us form some really good teams for seasons and leagues that we get in."

The Falcons inaugural team in any game consists of Ethan "GreenEcho51" Koch, Aaron "aaron73much" Muchenberger, Noah " ttfatfrokz" Bauknecht and Alex "Biggzy" Reimer who will be competing in Rocket League. Rocket League gamers can play on their own or as a team and there is a ranked system built into the game.

"Luckily, this first team it has been passionate about the game long enough and it has been an easy transition for them to take it seriously with organized competitions," Smith said. "They are very skilled, but playing on an organized team of three will be a bit of an adjustment, but they have all been good friends and have a connection."

Concordia Wisconsin will be competing in a Fortnite league on Tuesday nights and a Rocket League league on Thursday nights.

As esports gains traction on campus and people begin to learn what it is all about the following will grow tremendously. While there are some who will learn about the sport, those already involved in esports are thrilled that esports is now a sponsored sport on campus.

"It has just been pure excitement," explained Smith. "Everyone in esports is passionate and they feel like they were the only ones into it. Not to feed into the "living in mom's basement" stereotype, but there is a lot of interest by a lot of people for esports. Now with legitimacy from professional organizations and colleges sponsoring the sport across the country, it is becoming more widely known. Everyone across the country is excited esports is a real thing now."