BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The trophy cabinet for the Illinois Wesleyan University Esports Program is getting full.
With teams devoted to video games like Super Smash Bros, League of Legends, Overwatch and Valorant, players have been dominating in the virtual arena — earning several regional and national titles.
“Each team had some huge accomplishments and I am endlessly proud of them,” said Cora Kennedy, IWU esports director. “The resolve and determination they showed throughout the year is second to none.”
During the 2023-24 school year, the League of Legends team was named division champions with the National Esports Collegiate Conference and qualified for nationals, the Super Smash Bros team earned a top spot at the Frosty Faustings competition in Chicago, the Valorant team competed in the Battle For the Midwest and placed in the top eight nationally, and the Overwatch team was named Champions of Lakeside Showdown in Skokie.
Since its inception in 2018, Illinois Wesleyan consistently ranks among the best colleges for esports in the nation –– including No. 5 by ValueGamers and BestColleges.com.
Data science major Oakley Fisher ‘27 said they always planned to play collegiate esports, and were drawn to IWU by the academics and the robust esports program.
“Esports programs like ours are a great way to recruit students from all over while providing a sense of community at the University. Providing a space for any student to come in and play games with their friends is really beneficial with how popular video games have become in modern day culture,” said Fisher.
Fisher plays for the Overwatch team. Playing the game side-by-side with friends “is really a whole different experience from just playing with people online,” they said.
Kennedy said teammates spend plenty of time together in Illinois Wesleyan's Esports facility on Franklin Avenue, which serves as a great space for fellowship on campus.
“This year especially we have seen many of our first year students and returning students bridge the aisle and connect with players on other teams. They all get meals together, hang out outside of esports and it feels like a family environment,” she said. “The community here is top notch and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Stay up-to-date with the Illinois Wesleyan Esports Program this season on Twitter and Twitch.