GUNNISON, Colo. — The Western Colorado Esports program enters its third year at the conclusion of the fall 2021 semester. The program currently competes in five varsity games between Overwatch, League of Legends, Rocket League, Rainbow Six and Super Smash Bros.
This past semester four teams competed over three titles in the NECC (National Esports Collegiate Conference) as Western Colorado fielded two Overwatch teams, one League of Legends team and a Rainbow Six team. Three of those four teams made the playoffs in their respected bracket, as the League of Legends team won the Navigators bracket becoming the first WCU Esports team to win a conference title.
The League of Legends team finished the regular season 5-1, as they entered the playoffs with the No. 2 seed giving them a first round bye. They faced off against Concordia University – Nebraska in the semifinals, sweeping them 2-0 to make it into the finals. In the finals, they played Waldorf Iowa in a best of five match, where the Mountaineers took the victory 3-1 to be crowned champions.
Finishing second in their bracket was the Overwatch B-Team who entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed with their 2-5 regular season record. The team then won their quarterfinals match over University of Norther Alabama 3-0-1 and defeated East Stroudsburg University 3-1-1 in the semifinals. The Mountaineers then finished runner-up in the finals of the Navigators bracket to Valparaiso University in a 0-4 loss to the No. 3 seed.
Competing in the Challengers bracket was Western Colorado’s Rainbow Six team who finished their regular season with a 6-1 record. Giving them the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and a first round bye. The Mountaineers faced off against Clark University (No. 3 seed) in the semifinals, as Western Colorado fell 0-2 in the best of three match.
Not making the playoffs, was the Overwatch A-Team as they competed in a more difficult bracket (Emergents Bracket) than the B-Team, finished their regular season with a 3-5 record.
Next semester Western Colorado will compete in all five varsity games in two separate leagues, NECC and Aces Collegiate League, with hopes of becoming champions.
