For a program that already claimed three national titles and one national runner-up in its first five semester, the Madison College Esports may look back at the Spring 2023 semester as its most significant one yet. The WolfPack and head coach Joe Hanson celebrated the program's fourth grand champion with perfect run to the NJCAAE title in Rocket League, and also earned national runner-up finishes in Valorant and by Mario Rea-Garcia in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Following a run to the national semifinals in the fall, the Rocket League team of Ian Conlin, Robert Saltzman, Ethan Transue, and Connor Espenscheid were locked in on their mission for the spring. The Pack won all seven regular season battles and posted a league-best +114 goal differential en route to earning the nation's top overall seed. A quarterfinal contest with #9 Iowa Central Community College resulted in the team's first single game loss of the season, but Madison came back with wins in four straight games, highlighted by a Robert Saltzman buzzer-beater to force overtime in an eventual 4-1 win over the Tritons. Another win in five games against #13 Heartland Community College in the national semifinals moved the Pack into their first-ever appearance in the Rocket League Grand Final. A slow start put the WolfPack in a two-games-to-none hole against #2 Lincoln Land Community College. A lineup change turned the momentum and sent Madison College to four straight wins for a 4-2 decision and the team's first national title with a still-perfect 14-0 record. 

Watch the NJCAAE 2023 Spring Rocket League Grand Final

That wasn't the only highlight of the spring season for WolfPack Rocket League, as the quartet also showed the state of Wisconsin how good they were. At the 2023 Wisconsin Esports Summit at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, the WolfPack battled through the lower bracket to reach the grand finals against the host Panthers, a NCAA Division I program. UWM jumped out to a fast lead in the finals and had match point three times, however, the WolfPack stayed strong and rallied for a 4-3 upset win in the best-of-seven series to claim the WCRL crown. Sophomore and Team Captain Ian Conlin was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.


Madison's other Rocket League team of Eli Lehman, Victor Martinez Lazaro, and Andrew Lulis went 1-6 on the season, with several outcomes being decided by a single goal.

Just days after the Rocket League win, the WolfPack Valorant team had an opportunity to win their second national title in as many years. The group of David Vazquez Rojas, Liam McKnight, Sean Lahey, Nicholas Torstenson, Logan Melvin, and Ty Dillen earned a 6-1 regular season record and a #3 seed. A trio of 2-0 sweeps over Calhoun Community College, Union College, and Catawba Valley Community College put Madison College in the finals against top-seeded Northeastern Oklahomas A&M College. In a rematch of their only prior loss of the season, the Pack were swept in the best-of-five series to finish 9-2. 

Watch the NJCAAE 2023 Spring Valorant Grand Final
Despite the loss, Madison College's impressive spring run was not quite over. Mario Rea-Garcia, a NJCAA national runner-up in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in Spring 2022, was on the verge yet again. Following a 7-0 regular season, the sophomore from Madison, Wisconsin, defeated teammate Connor Mayhew in Round 2 as part of stringing together three straight victories to reach the Upper Bracket Finals. A 3-2 loss against Laredo College sent Rea-Garcia to the Lower Bracket Finals, where he won the decisive fifth game over Calhoun Community College to advance to the Grand Finals. Hoping to become the second player in WolfPack Esports history to win a SSBU championship, he was again pitted against Laredo College. The rematch went back-and-forth, however, Rea-Garcia would be denied the program's third SSBU title with a 4-2 setback.

Watch the NJCAAE 2023 Spring SSBU Lower Bracket Finals

Mayhew finished his semester with an 8-3 record that included a 2-2 mark in postseason play. Austin Zhu also went 6-1 in the regular season, but was unable to finish out his season due to scheduling conflicts. And Celeste House went 3-4 in a difficult regular season grouping, and saw several matches decided by one game.

The duo of Ty Brien and Jackson Rasmussen competed in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, and reached the postseason with a 5-2 record. They swept their opening round best-of-five against Mineral Area College to reach the quarterfinals. In a seesaw series against Catawba Valley Community College, the WolfPack lost 3-1.

In Overwatch 2 team opened the semester with an impressive win over the University of Illinois (Grey), but eventually lost four straight in NACE Starleague competition against mostly major NCAA Division I programs. The six-person team of Ryan Stroede, Elizabeth Shanks, Nick Torstenson, Spencer Allion, Megzie Sass, and Brian Haugh went 2-4, and will lose half their team due to graduation. 

"This past spring season was one of the most memorable experiences that we have had as a team. From the LAN win at UW-Milwaukee's Panther Arena, three different teams making appearances in the Grand Finals, RL Captain Ian Conlin team being named Fall MVP of the WCRL and a team first NJCAAE championship win for Rocket League – we continue to set the bar and never settle for 'good enough'," proclaimed head coach Joe Hanson. "I'm proud beyond words for what this team has been able to accomplish this past year. While it's always bittersweet to have players graduate and continue the next journey in life, I hope that their time with our team has been as rewarding for our players as it has been for myself and the rest of the coaching staff."

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