Wichita State Esports continues to prove itself as a Midwest powerhouse in collegiate gaming, with championship titles, national appearances, and leadership recognition highlighting their phenomenal spring semester.
Program-Wide Success
Across Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Call of Duty, WSU has racked up top finishes in both ECAC and NACE:
Competition Highlights
Overwatch Varsity
In Overwatch, Wichita State claimed a spot in the ECAC Titans Top 8, reached the NACE Top 25, and finished Top 4 in Heartland Showdown with the guidance of teammates Lane Pywell, Deitirick Radford, and Trace Kesinger. They ended the year 29-19 across both semesters, boasting an impressive 60% win rate.
Valorant
Valorant made waves this semester, claiming a spot among the ECAC Titans Top 8, finishing in the NACE Top 16, and taking home both the East 3 Conference Championship and the Mizzou LAN Championship. Their success culminated in winning Heartland Showdown and earning a bid to the Collegiate Valorant National Championships, solidifying captain Caleb Allen and alternate captain Mac Unruh as a perennial force on the national stage.
Rocket League Varsity
Rocket League Varsity advanced to the NACE Top 32, placed Top 6 at Boost on the Beach in Myrtle Beach, and qualified for CCS Nationals. The team went on to secure runners-up finishes at both the CCS American Conference and the CCS Night Lights Invitational. On the competitive side, the Shockers recruited Eli “night” Price, a Kansan sophomore who recently finished Top 10 in North America
in the Rocket League Championship Series. His addition underscores the program’s commitment to acquiring and developing homegrown talent.
Rocket League JV
The JV squad impressed as well last spring, placing Top 16 in ECAC Division A, finishing as NACE Varsity Plus Runner-Up, and qualifying for the ECAC Spring Showdown in Troy, NY with team captain Spencer Russell leading the charge.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) Varsity
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the varsity team earned the ECAC Titans #1 Seed and subsequently won their 2nd ECAC championship. They additionally qualified for both NACE and CECC LAN Nationals, hosted in Orlando, FL and Dallas, TX respectively, showcasing consistent dominance at the highest level with standouts Japheth Briney, John Navarro, Azael Renova, Justin Schierbaum, and Camren McCall.
SSBU participated in superconferences in both ECAC and NACE, and their 65% win rate
against the strongest teams in the country proves their Top 10 status was not unwarranted.
SSSBU JV
Led by captain Aiden Heckard, the Smash JV squad followed up their showing in Fall 2024 with a strong ECAC Division A Top 4 finish and a NACE Varsity Plus Championship in the spring, marking their best season since the JV team’s inception in 2022.
Call of Duty (CoD)
The Call of Duty varsity team stood out against the national field with a College Call of Duty League (CCL) Sun Belt Conference Runner-Up placement, Top 4 in the CCL West Region, and a Top 16 finish at CCL Nationals, earning them a national ranking of #7 — the highest in program history. In the pre-season, the Shockers stomped through the Checkpoint XP summer circuit,
winning their first trophy as a unit. Captain Tyler Wilson and Alternate Captain John Bruno continue to push the team forward, with veterans Bryan Zepeda and Deuce Porter bolstering the depth in the lineup.
Call of Duty JV
The Call of Duty presence within the program has grown steadily since the inception
of the varsity team, and the CoD JV spooled up for competition for the first time
in the ‘24-’25 school year. The team competed in NACE, ECAC, and the CCL’s academy
circuit. They had some strong showing against some of the best teams in the country,
led by captain Raiden McLaughlin and alternate captain Codi Reinert.
Leadership Recognition & Awards
Off the stage, WSU Esports was nationally recognized for its leadership. Joe Mazzara, Director of Esports, was elected to the NACE Board of Directors and nominated for NACE Director of the Year. Avery Pierce, former Program Manager, earned a nomination for NACE Assistant Director of the Year, while Brooks Valdez, partnerships manager and Rocket League varsity player, was recognized with a NACE Student Leadership Award nomination.
Program Growth & New Faces
The program has returned to its home in the Corbin Education Center 156A, returning student-athletes to a dedicated space to gather and compete.
Wichita State also welcomed MacKenzie Kessler as the new Program Manager, continuing a trend of experienced administrative leadership and preparing the program for the future. Kenzie has a diverse professional background in graphic design and social media management, with over 3 years of experience with the esports program at Wichita State.
Looking Ahead
With fall competition kicking off in early September, Wichita State Esports is competing at the highest levels while continuing to shape the future of collegiate gaming. Beyond collegiate play, the program is committed to fostering the growth of K-12 esports, providing students in the Greater Wichita area with opportunities to learn teamwork, communication, and connect with Wichita State through esports.
For more competition and event updates, follow WSU Esports on social media and visit their website.