While the championships might be earned in different gaming titles, it is safe to say that Madison College Esports Head Coach
Joe Hanson has quickly built a dynasty. The WolfPack, who began competing in the Fall 2020, won their fifth national title in seven semesters when Team Valorant claimed a 3-1 win over South Puget Sound Community College in a Best-of-5 Grand Final on December 7. The win also marks the second championship in Valorant after Madison College finished atop the podium in the Fall 2021. One night later, the WolfPack Rocket League team nearly made it the program's first two-championship semester, but lost a dramatic Best-of-7 Grand Final to Montgomery County Community College as they tried to defend their crown from Spring 2023.
"This was another season where we hit another team milestone with all NJCAAE teams making the post-season," stated Hanson. "The WolfPack's overall record in the NJCAAE was 51-23 this fall season, with two Valorant teams, two Rocket League teams, and three Smash Ultimate players/teams. Additionally, we had three Rocket League teams participating in the Wisconsin Collegiate Rocket League (WCRL), and they combined for a record of 18-16.
"This was a rebuilding season with over a dozen players graduating between last spring and now. The determination of both returning and new players was on display across the board in our competitions. The conclusion of another season is always bittersweet after realizing many have just played their final game with our team. I'm incredibly proud of our team and how we competed across all leagues, and I'm honored to say Madison College Esports have just wrapped up another championship season this fall. To each player graduating or transferring after this season, I extend my sincere gratitude for you during your time on our team. While our time together may have been limited, we always made the best of it. I hope for your continued success as players, students, and Madison College alumni as you embark on the next chapter in life."
Valorant (Team 1 - Nicholas Torstenson, Sean Lahey, Bhim Gurung, Ethan Hanson, Nicholas Patterson | Team 2 - Logan Melvin, Ava Johnson, Connor Kosiorek, Dawson Luther, Michael Thao)
Madison College fielded two teams competing in Valorant this fall, with Team 1 going 7-0 during a regular season that saw them drop just one single game in any best-of-three match. Team 2 posted a 3-3 mark and qualified for the postseason along with Team 1, which earned the #1 overall seed in the nation. The opening round saw Team 2 defeat Navarro College 2-1, while Team 1 earned a bye. Both squads came out on top in Round 2, with Team 1 downing Finger Lakes Community College 2-0 and Team 2 matching that score against Centralia College to reach the quarterfinals. Team 2's postseason run ended with a 2-0 setback against Bergen Community College to cap their season with a 5-4 record. Team 1, meanwhile, kept right on rolling with a 2-0 defeat of Dallas College-Eastfield, followed by a 2-1 victory against Catawba Valley Community College in a semifinal match where the Pack trailed by five points late in the deciding game, rallied to tie, and eventually earned the win in overtime. The grand finals pit Madison College against the Clippers of SPSCC in a best-of-five. The teams split the first two games, and after holding on for a close win in the third game, the WolfPack created some separation late in the fourth en route to securing a 3-1 win.
One semester after roaring to the
WCRL and NJCAAE Rocket League championships, the WolfPack were back in the fall looking to defend their titles. Team 3 competed in WCRL events, and after a slow start, made some key adjustments to right the ship with a and reach the wild card game of the WCRL Fall LAN. Squaring off with Carthage College White for the final spot in the tournament, and after splitting the first two games of the best-of-five series, was unable to keep up with the Firebirds and took a 3-1 loss.
At the NJCAAE level, Madison College's two teams reached the postseason after Team 1 went 5-1 in the regular season and Team 2 was 2-3. A bye and a forfeit win moved both teams to Round 2 of postseason play, however, that's where Team 2 would falter with a 4-1 loss in a best-of-seven match against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College to wrap up a 3-4 campaign. Coach Hanson described Team 2 as having played "on another level all year long". Team 1, meanwhile, had their teammates backs, and earned a bit of revenge with a 4-1 quarterfinal victory of their own over the same NEO Norsemen squad that just eliminated the other WolfPack. In the semifinals on December 8, Madison College continued their revenge tour with a 4-1 victory over Massbay Community College, the only team to have taken down the Pack during the regular season, and earned a spot in the NJCAAE Grand Finals for a second straight semester. In an epic best-of-seven series against Montgomery County Community College, the teams played seven close games and the WolfPack staved off elimination with wins in the fourth, fifth, and sixth games to force a winner-take-all Game 7. Trailing 1-0 throughout the final game, Madison College took some scoring chances in the final minute looking for the equalizer, and allowed MCCC to tally a second goal in the final second to hand the WolfPack a runner-up finish.
Watch the Fall 2023 Rocket League Grand Final
Overwatch 2 (Ty Roghers, Nikolai Savitskij, Alonzo Blevins, Amber Evans, Megzie Sass, Kaden Graham, Robert Bruening, Tye Dillen)
Overwatch 2 once again competed in the NACE Starleague, seeing opponents from all levels of the collegiate gaming world. The WolfPack posted a 5-2 record in the regular season, earning a spot in the quarterfinals. Madison College took the opening game in the best-of-five playoff matchup with the University of Iowa, but unfortunately, were one-and-done in the postseason with a 3-1 setback to finish 5-3 on the season.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Connor Mayhew, Steven Reyes, Logan Santos Mecatl)
Madison College saw three individuals compete nationally in SSBU this fall, with sophomore
Connor Mayhew being joined by freshmen
Logan Santos Mecatl and
Steven Reyes. The trio registered winning records during the regular season, led by a 6-2 mark from Mayhew and followed by Santos Mecatl at 5-2 and Reyes at 4-3. All three earned a spot in the postseason, and all three opened with Round 1 victories by scores of 4-0. Round 2 saw Mayhew and Reyes draw each other, with Mayhew earning a 4-0 victory over his teammate. The loss sent Reyes to the consolation round, where he fell to SUNY-Sullivan by a 4-1 final to finish 5-5. In the next round, Santos Mecatl was eliminated with a 4-1 loss to Marshalltown Community College to close his season with a 7-3 mark. Mayhew engineered a reverse sweep to rally from a 3-0 deficit and beat Lackawanna Community College 4-3 to reach the quarterfinals. There he was unable to find the same magic and fell short of another big rally in a 4-3 loss against Lorain Community College to end the year with nine wins and three losses.
Follow WolfPack Esports:
Facebook |
Twitter |
Instagram |
Twitch
