Esports excellence: Competitive teams continue to prove their skill in CECC

BY COLTON BRADBERRY

Opinion Editor

Esports has been rapidly growing in collegiate athletics, and Tarleton’s esports team is no exception.

Competing in games like “Overwatch 2,” “Valorant” and “League of Legends,” the team has been making waves, proving that competitive gaming is more than just a hobby; it’s a serious sport.

Landon Thetford, president of the Texan Esports Club, emphasized the strong sense of community within the program.

“It’s a tight-knit community, that’s what I enjoy most about it,” Thetford said.

Tarleton’s esports team participates in the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC), one of the premier collegiate esports leagues, facing off against teams from universities across the country. The league provides a structured environment for collegiate esports programs, featuring intense competition in popular games.

The program went undefeated last season, securing championship titles in “Rocket League” (Division 5) and “Overwatch 2” at the conference level; a testament to their skill, teamwork and dedication.

“So far, all the teams are set to make the playoffs again. We have gone up one to two divisions per game. We’ve been slowly working our way up, and we have been winning a lot. Everyone has been improving, our ranks have been going up and we see better win percentages,” Thetford said.

For fans eager to follow the action, Texan Esports streams its matches live on its YouTube channel, TexanEsport, providing a front-row seat to competitions.

With regular-season matchups, playoff contention and a shot at national recognition, CECC offers Tarleton’s players an opportunity to showcase their skills on a major stage. Their participation in this league is a testament to the university’s commitment to esports and its growth as a competitive program.

Despite their growing success, Thetford emphasized that Texan Esports remains a club open to all students.

“Don’t be shy. Even if you don’t play competitively, we still have a casual scene. Members play games over the weekends. We’re trying to introduce more people who are on the casual side,” Thetford said.

For students interested in joining Texan Esports, Thetford encourages them to stop by the gaming lounge on the bottom floor of the Student Center or connect with the club online.

“The best way to join the team is just coming and talking to us,” Thetford said. “We [also] have a Discord; that’s our main point of contact. You can find the link to our Discord on our Instagram.”

With multiple teams competing across different titles, Tarleton’s esports program is one of the most active in collegiate gaming. Each day of the week brings a different challenge as players gear up for intense competition:

Monday – “Valorant”

“Valorant” is a tactical first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Riot Games that combines precise gunplay with unique character abilities.

Each match features two teams of five players, alternating between attacking and defending bomb sites. Strategy is key, as players must coordinate their agent’s abilities, ranging from healing and reconnaissance to deploying smokescreens and teleporting to outmaneuver their opponents.

Matches require quick reflexes, sharp communication and well-executed strategies to secure victory.

Tuesday – “League of Legends”

“League of Legends” (LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game where two teams of five players battle to destroy the opposing team’s Nexus (base) while defending their own.

Each player selects a champion, a character with unique abilities and roles, such as tanks, assassins, mages or marksmen. The game is a blend of strategy, teamwork and mechanical skill, requiring players to manage resources, control objectives and outmaneuver their enemies in intense team fights.

With over 160 champions to choose from, no two matches are ever the same, making adaptability and strategy crucial to success.

Wednesday – “Rainbow Six Siege”

“Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege” (Siege) is a tactical FPS game developed by Ubisoft that emphasizes teamwork, destructible environments and strategic planning.

The game is played in a 5v5 format, with one team attacking and the other defending an objective, such as a hostage, a bomb or an area that needs to be secured. Players select from a variety of operators, each with unique gadgets like drones, reinforced walls, breach charges and cameras.

Matches are often slow and methodical, requiring patience, precise communication and clever strategies to outsmart the opposing team. One wrong move can turn the tide of a match, making Siege one of the most high-stakes games in collegiate esports.

Thursday – “Rocket League”

“Rocket League” is a high-octane hybrid of soccer and vehicular mayhem, where players control rocket-powered cars to hit a ball into the opposing team’s goal.

Played in teams of three, “Rocket League” requires quick reflexes, aerial control and precise mechanics to execute impressive plays. The game’s physics-based gameplay rewards creativity and fast decision-making, as teams perform incredible aerial maneuvers, calculated passes and last-second saves to outscore their opponents.

Friday – “Overwatch 2”

“Overwatch 2” is a fast-paced, team-based FPS game developed by Blizzard Entertainment, where players select from a diverse roster of heroes, each with unique abilities, roles and playstyles.

Teams of five players compete in various game modes, including escort missions, control point battles and hybrid maps that require dynamic strategy shifts.

The game is highly dependent on team coordination, ultimate ability usage and real-time adaptability as teams fight for objectives while countering their opponents’ hero choices.

As the next season unfolds, Texan Esports is poised for even greater achievements, and their presence in CECC competition will only strengthen. With a dedicated team, a history of success and an ever-growing community of supporters, the future looks bright for Texan Esports.