December 18, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Game On: UMW Esports Tournament Takes the Program to the Next Level

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University of Mary Washington hosted its first large-scale collegiate esports tournament in the Cedric Rucker University Center Chandler Ballroom. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

University of Mary Washington hosted its first large-scale collegiate esports tournament in the Cedric Rucker University Center Chandler Ballroom. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

The University of Mary Washington’s esports program took center stage in the gaming world as it hosted its first large-scale collegiate tournament late last month, transforming the Cedric Rucker University Center Chandler Ballroom into a lively digital arena. Whizzes, bangs and friendly banter rang out, as teams from across the mid-Atlantic gathered face-to-face to compete in popular video games like Valorant, Rocket League and Overwatch 2.

UMW’s coed team – comprised of 13 starting players and three substitutes – welcomed competitors from Radford and Virginia Wesleyan, Penn State and Harrisburg University in Pennsylvania, and Glenville State in West Virginia. The event, which was open to the public, showcased players’ skill, strategy and teamwork, with the Mary Washington Eagles earning a pair of top-place finishes.

In Valorant, Harrisburg, Radford and UMW took the top three spots. In Overwatch 2, Penn State, UMW and Glenville State took the top three places. And in Rocket League, it was Harrisburg, Radford and Virginia Wesleyan placing in the top three.

“It’s a great opportunity for our players to compete in person, where the atmosphere is both fun and competitive,” UMW Director of Esports Mark Link said of the tournament, a culmination of the semester’s regional league play. “The playful back-and-forth between teams adds to the excitement and camaraderie of the event.”

This occasion highlights the expansion of esports at Mary Washington, which launched its program in the spring of 2022. In less than three years, it has flourished, providing students with opportunities for sportsmanship, competition and personal development comparable to traditional college athletics. Read more.

UMW Zaps in on Esports, Betting it’s a Winner

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Freshman Chris Goodwin, a competitive gamer, will be one of the first students to try out for UMW’s growing esports program, which was unveiled last month. Short for “electronic sports,” esports involves teams competing against each other in video game tournaments both face-to-face and virtually.

Freshman Chris Goodwin, a competitive gamer, will be one of the first students to try out for UMW’s growing esports program, which was unveiled last month. Short for “electronic sports,” esports involves teams competing against each other in video game tournaments both face-to-face and virtually.

University of Mary Washington students are used to going ballistic over an at-the-buzzer 3-pointer or a fast-as-lightning volleyball spike in a brightly illuminated Anderson Center. But how do offense and defense play out in a dimly lit room with video consoles – and mashing and peeling and speed-boosts?

Get ready, UMW. Esports is on the way, and it’s revolutionizing preconceived notions about collegiate athletics. The cyber sport joins Mary Washington’s 19 NCAA sponsored sports and two team sports, as a third team sport. And it’s open to everyone, regardless of physical prowess.

“There’s a real sense of community around esports … an inclusive nature about it,” said UMW Assistant Athletic Director Caitlin Moore, who played a critical role in the development of Mary Washington’s esports program, unveiled last month. “Esports is not going away,” she said. “It will only grow.”

Having expanded globally over the last decade, esports, short for “electronic sports,” involves teams competing against each other in video game tournaments both face-to-face and virtually. Statistics show that video gaming is a bigger business than ever, eclipsing movies and music combined, with revenue around $60 billion worldwide and burgeoning. Read more.