St. Cloud State University Esports has already seen several areas of success in the 2023-24 school year, including building new relationships on campus, creating traditions and recording impressive results in competition.
Esports at SCSU prides itself on three core principles: Community, Competition and Careers.
Community
In Fall 2023, the esports program launched the Esports Coalition; a collection of clubs on campus binding together to support one another’s esports endeavors. Since the launch of the coalition, the esports program has decided to further its commitment to growing student opportunities within the coalition by starting the Esports Coalition Aid Program.
It is designed to support our leaders within the Esports Coalition who are pushing for a vibrant and inclusive esports campus culture. Every semester, club leaders within the coalition may fill out an application for a chance to be chosen as one of up to five clubs within the aid program. The Valorant Club has led the charge and been named the first member of the Coalition Aid Program. They’ve set the example for esports engagement on campus and will help set new traditions to grow the esports culture at SCSU.
This semester, the SCSU Esports Program hosted their inaugural ‘Esports Launch Week’ activities to serve as a welcome week, but for esports opportunities. Events on Huskies Connect included the Esports Tryouts, Sidestreet Activity Fair, Study Halls, a Career’s Panel and a Town Hall meeting to provide insight on esports plans for the upcoming semester This will be a new tradition within the esports program and will occur at the start of every semester.
Competition
The SCSU Varsity Rocket League team finished a the top of their Fall Conference Finals, winning the NECC Emergents Division Finals in the Heartland Conference by beating North Dakota State University 4-1. The team consists of players Devin Strate, Calvin Ripplinger, Ryan McFadden and Evan Leeser, manager Jessica Savage and coach Noah Kylander. Check out their championship video on Youtube.
The SCSU Academy Smash Bros Ultimate Team also saw success in only their first semester of competition, placing second in their NACE Varsity Plus Divisional finals against DePaul University. The team includes players Jack Hanks, Noah Lindgren, Samuel Rocha, Riley O’Connell, manager Ethan Johnson and student-coach Camren McCall.
Careers
SCSU continues to offer in-demand career opportunities with two minors in Esports Broadcasting and Esports Management.
Director of Esports Chase Neukam is teaching Esports Commentary & Promotions this semester, while Dr. Kurtis Homan is teaching two courses within the Esports Management minor.
