Esports Supply - The Collegiate Series

Wagner College is a  private liberal arts college in Staten Island, New York City. In the Fall of 2019, they officially launched their esports program. Their program runs under the collaboration between two departments, the athletic department, and the colleges' information technology department. Athletics handles the competitive gaming side while the IT departments manage the facility infrastructure and hardware. Their program includes partnerships with sponsors to allow student-athletes at a high level.

Wagner is one of the handfuls of schools in New York to establish an esports program and joins a list of 60 institutions nationwide that offer competitive esports gaming. They compete under NACE, competing in games like Overwatch, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and Fortnite with plans to expand on other titles like Valorant, Smash Bros., and Rocket League.

In this episode, Matt Torres - Wagner Esports Head Coach, takes us through Wagner Colleges' esports program and shows us what makes their program tick.

Connect with Wagner College:

Matt Torres - Wagner Esports Head Coach

College Website: https://wagner.edu/

Program Website: https://wagnerathletics.com/sports/2018/12/19/esports.aspx?path=gen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WagnerEHawks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wagner_esports

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wagneresports?lang=en

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/wagneresports

Games we play/compete in:

Overwatch

Hearthstone

League of Legends,

Fortnite

And more

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/esport-supply/ 

The College at Brockport, State University of New York, is a constituent college of the State University of New York located in Brockport, New York.  Originally a small gaming group founded by students. Their program officially launched in November of 2019.

Relatively new to the esports scene, they have teams for  League of Legends, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros, and Rocket League to expand on other games in the future. The club is working on joining major collegiate conferences on the east coast, so their teams have a place to compete and represent their school.

In this episode, Abiel Payano - Graduate Assistant for Club Sports & Intramurals, Dan Falter - SUNY Esports President, and Kyler Loya - PR Director for SUNY Esports, talk to us about the foundation of the SUNY's esports program and the club's plans in the future.

Abiel Payano - Graduate Assistant for Club Sports & Intramurals, Dan Falter - SUNY Esports President, Kyler Loya - PR Director for SUNY Esports

University website: https://brockport.edu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bportesports/

Instagram: https://twitter.com/BportEsports

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/sunyesports

League of Legends

Overwatch

Rocket League

Super Smash Bros.

Official webpage:

Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is a public University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Their esports program sprouted from the initiative of the students about three years ago. After years of campaigning and careful planning, they were finally given the school's signal and officially launched their esports program in September 2019. Their esports program falls into two departments; the competitive side falls under club sports, and the gaming side and other related activities fall under student rec. Since launch, the program has received significant growth, sporting around 350 official members, and has become the largest and fastest-growing club in the university.

On the competitive side, they have varsity teams for League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Fortnite, Apex, Rainbow 6 Siege, Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros. Competing under these collegiate conferences: in GG League, CSL, TESPA, PlayVS, and more.

Essentially, if there are games that students want to compete in, they will find a good league for them.

In this episode,  Raleigh Davis, Graduate Assistant for Esports and Marketing, shares how the student's initiative grew to a very well organized and impressive esports program.

Connect with Southeast Missouri State University:

Raleigh Davis - Graduate Assistant for Esports and Marketing

University website: https://semo.edu/

Program website: https://semo.edu/esports

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficalSEMOEsports/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/semoesports/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/semoesports

Twitch:  https://www.twitch.tv/semoesports

Games we play/compete in:

League of Legends

Overwatch

Rocket League

Fortnite

Apex Predators

Rainbow 6 Siege

Super Smash Bros

And more.

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/esport-supply/ 

Shippensburg University is a public university in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Relatively new to the esports scene, they just launched their program in January 2020. Still, in its infancy, they're holding internal tournaments for games suggested by the students with plans on establishing competitive teams from it. Popular titles include DOTA, League of Legends, and Rocket League. An interesting and promising thing about their esports program is that it's founded on inclusivity and student initiative. The program facilities offer all sorts of activities and games and have received significant interest from the students.

Joining conferences for the school to compete in is in the foreseeable roadmap. They're currently gathering as many resources and information they can to make official esports teams and organize programs to compete and officially represent the school in the future.

In this episode, Michael Duignan, Executive Director of Student Life, shares the establishment of Shippensburg University Esports and gives us an inside look at establishing their esports program from the ground up.

Connect with Shippensburg University:

Campus life: http://www.ship.edu/life/

All social media and gaming related outlets are still in the works.

Games we play:

DOTA2

Rocket League

And more…

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/esport-supply/ 

Shenandoah University is a private university in Winchester, Virginia. Shenandoah University officially started their esports program in 2019 and has been steadily growing ever since. Unlike your usual esports program, which usually falls under athletics or student life, their esports program operates under academics. They are the first University in the country that offers a multi-track esports major, which puts the program in an interesting position where there's a unique interplay between esports, academics, and other departments.

Shenandoah University esports have varsity squads for Overwatch, Rocket League, League of Legends, Super Smash Bros., and Valorant. They are competing under these major conferences NACE, CSL, TESPA. They also support other titles by having student-organized clubs that will eventually be promoted to an official varsity team if team performance, student engagement, and budget checks-out. The program welcomes gamers and enthusiasts in all forms and shapes and always finds ways to get community members involved, be it in competition, back-end production, broadcasting, etc. As long as you love esports and want to do your part for the community, the program will take care of you.

In this episode, Dr. Joey Gawrysiak - Esports Director and Zach Harrington - Asst. Director/Headcoach tells the story of their esports program and the program’s unique setup. Tune in as they share valuable information and a unique take on building an esports program.

Connect with Shenandoah University

Dr. Joey Gawrysiak - Esports Director, Zach Harrington - Asst. Director/Headcoach

University Website: https://www.su.edu/

Program Website: https://www.su.edu/esports/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SUesports_

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shenandoahesports

Games we play/compete in:

League of Legends

Rocket League

Smash Bros.

Valorant

And more…

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

LinkedIn:

Shawnee State University is an open admissions university located in Portsmouth, Ohio. They have one of the most robust and well-supported esports programs in the country. A university with strong gaming culture, they have been known for gaming before esports was a thing. Their gaming club originated around 2001, and over the years, blossomed into a top-notch gaming program. What's great about their esports program is its hybrid approach. Various school branches are involved in their esports program.  What's cool about their esports program is that it has various overlaps with other departments.  They have several student esports players that are also varsity members of traditional sports. Sports titles like NBA 2k, Madden, Fifa are under the athletic varsity squads program. Their esports program is built in a way that if it makes sense and beneficial to involve other departments, they find ways to make it happen.

Currently, they have varsity teams for League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Smash Brothers, Hearthstone, Smite, Call of Duty, CS: GO, competing in Collegiate Star League, Unified Esports Association, and other conferences. For a University of their size, their esports facility is awe-inspiring. Sporting 75 high-end computers and a dedicated building with lounge and multiple consoles.

In this episode, Travis Lynn - Esports Assistant Coach, Kyle Trapp - Esports Headcoach talk to us about their esports program and tells us the story of how their program grew to an awe-inspiring esports program.

Connect with Shawnee State University:

Kyle Trapp - Headcoach, Travis Lynn - Assistant Coach

University Website: https://www.shawnee.edu/

Program Website: http://www.ssubears.com/sport/0/22.php

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ssuesports

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssuesports/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSUeSports

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/team/shawneestateuniversity

Games we play/compete in:

League of Legends

Overwatch

Hearthstone

Call of Duty

Rocket League

Smash Bros.

Smite

And more…

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

LinkedIn:

Rutgers University is a University located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. They have one of the longest-running esports clubs in the country. Their club was established in 2013 and is 100% student-run. Currently, they have varsity teams for CSGO, Overwatch, DOTA, League of Legends, Call of Duty, and Smash Bros. Ultimate. They compete under TESPA and CSL and other minor leagues on the east coast.

Their club unofficially has around twenty-five hundred members on their discord account, with hundreds of active users, and moderated by about 50 student officers. Every year the club holds a gaming tournament called The Scarlet Classic featuring several mainstream esports titles. The even has an ever-growing number of participants. Their biggest number to date is around fifteen-hundred individuals. Now, the university has taken their club seriously and has been showing increasing support as their club grow.  For a 100% student-run club, it's remarkably well-organized and well-run, truly an awe-inspiring feat.

In this episode, Seth Santos, current Esports President at Rutgers University, and Thomas Palka, previous Esports President, share how a shared vision, dedication, and tight-knit community has built a very special esports club.

Connect with Rutgers University:

Seth Santos - Esports President

University Website: https://www.rutgers.edu/

Program website: http://www.rutgersesports.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutgersesports/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rutgersesports/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RutgersEsports

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/rutgersesports

Games we play/compete in:

League of Legends

CS:GO

Overwatch

DOTA

Call of Duty

Smash Bros. Ultimate

And more…

Connect with us:

Official webpage: https://www.esportsupply.com/

Park University is a private University in Parkville, Missouri. Park University Esports was initially a gaming club that fell under student life. In 2019, the university officially launched its esports program.  Receiving sizeable support from the university, the club ultimately transitioned from student life to athletics. It has almost quadrupled in size since then with varsity teams for League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League. They compete under two major conferences: NACE and the Collegiate Star League.

Park University is the first college/university to offer a varsity esports program in the Kansas City area. They provide scholarships to their esports athletes as well. One of the most commendable things about their program is their holistic approach, balancing competitive performance and student wellness. They put equal importance on students' academics, emotional, mental, and physical fitness.

In this episode, Ashley Jones tells us good things about their esports program and share valuable info about their approach in terms of program development and student growth.

Connect with Park University:

Ashley Jones - Esports Head Coach

University Website: https://www.park.edu/

Program Website: http://www.parkathletics.com/sport/0/31

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/parkesports

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParkEsport

Games we play/compete in:

League of Legends

Overwatch

Rocket League

and more…

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

LinkedIn:

Northwest Missouri State University is a public university in Maryville, Missouri. Their Esports program was just established in late 2019 and its esports facility set to open in the Fall of 2020. The program initially was under the campus’ athletics department. After further deliberation, they’ve decided to have it under Student Affairs and Campus Recreation where it made more sense as a club sport and fit their setup better.

They started as a fighting game club playing titles like Smash Bros., Street Fighter, and the likes. After over three years of careful thought and consideration, they’ve recently received the approval of the university to become an official school program. Currently, the club has 55 members. Their esports team competes in League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, Hearthstone, Super Smash Bros. Melee. Since its establishment, they’ve received the wholehearted support of the campus all the way to top university personnel. As a result of the campus’s tremendous support, they are now offering a credited ‘Intro to Esports’ class, with the likelihood of developing into a minor or a major course if everything falls into place. Which is pretty exciting.

In this episode, Jordan Mehl - Coordinator of Competitive Club Sports and Paul Bennett - Esports Head Coach shares the story of their budding esports program and how the campus’ full support is essential to the fruition of their esports program and its bright future.

Connect with Northwest Missouri State University:

University Website: https://www.nwmissouri.edu/

Club Website: https://nwmissouri.presence.io/organization/northwest-esports-club

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nw__esports

Games we play/compete in:

League of Legends

Rainbow Six: Siege

Hearthstone

Super Smash Bros. Melee

and more…

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/esport-supply/ 

Missouri Western State University is a public university located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. After months of careful planning and deliberation, they officially launched their esports program on January 1, 2020. One of the most compelling things about the program's fruition is the tremendous involvement of the students. As soon as the University announced their plans on having an esports program, they received a surge of support and interest from the student body, sending them passionate essays about why their game needs to be represented. Which made it easier to choose which game they want to compete in.

Currently, the program is under Strategic Initiatives with the likelihood of moving to athletics or student affairs. Competitively, the program has teams for League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, and Fortnite. They're planning to compete in these conferences: NACE, TESPA, CSL, and PlayVS. Plans are in place to compete in more games. They made it easier for students to form official clubs and special interests for other games and see if they can develop them into a varsity team.

In this episode, Christian Konczal, Esports Director/Head Coach at Missouri Western State University talks to us about the foundation of their esports program, their inclusivity ethos, and their promising future direction.

Connect with Missouri Western State University:

University Website: https://www.missouriwestern.edu/

Club Website: https://www.missouriwestern.edu/esports/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griffonesports/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/griffonesports

Games we play/compete in:

League of Legends

Overwatch

Rocket League

Fortnite

and more…

Connect with us:

Official webpage:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/esport-supply/