eSports Team Makes Fast Start in Inaugural Season
JONESBORO – Arkansas State University’s eSports team is off to a fast start for its inaugural season of competition, both in the number of scrimmage events and growing invitations to participate with other university-based eSports teams.
“We have six teams starting competition in five different games this fall, and looking for more opportunities as our skill level increases,” A-State eSports volunteer head coach Stephanie Lott said. “It’s a process of proving we are a worthy opponent, which is leading to more and more invitations.”
Most of A-State’s contests are streamed via the university’s Twitch channel, Twitch.tv/ArkansasState.
A-State opened up with a 2-1 win against Missouri Baptist University for its first-ever scrim, followed with another League of Legends series with MBU that the Red Wolves lost. The Red Wolves have another scrim set with MBU, one of the higher ranked LoL college teams, later this week.
Overwatch is becoming one of the Red Wolves’ top games. The Red Wolves dominated the Cy-Bears of NYIT this past weekend, 5-1-1, and defeated both Louisiana Tech and Ball State on map count in the game.
The early scrim experience has earned A-State an invitation to participate in the play-in tournament for the Overwatch Collegiate Championship.
The Rocket League team won its scrimmage against Old Dominion, 3-2, last week. Earlier the Rocket League team faced off with Florida Southern.
A-State is slated to participate in its first Apex practice event on Wednesday, and is considering an invitation to travel to a Fortnite tournament at Southern Arkansas at the end of September.
As one of the first university’s in the region to announce a club-to-varsity eSport plan, Arkansas State is also working on outreach programs to high schools statewide that are competing in the new Arkansas Activities Association leagues.
“We’re talking with several high schools to help them get their teams established, and we’re interested in hearing from potential future Red Wolves,” Lott said.
Arkansas State will be competing as a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) this year.
For more information on eSports at A-State, contact Lott at eSports@AState.edu or follow the Red Wolves on Twitter.com/AStateeSports and on Twitch.tv/ArkansasState.
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