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In 2023, during their inaugural season, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Esports team ended the year one match short of the Rocket League video game's championship match, finishing runner-up in the semifinals in their division of the national collegiate competition. This year? Redemption.

On November 18, the UAM Esports Rocket League team became champions in their National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) division with a thrilling win against the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD). The Weevils claimed four of the seven rounds in the best-of-seven series in a division that also includes Barton College, Glenville State College, Manchester University, Mount St. Joseph University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and William Peace University.

The win was particularly impressive, as the Weevils, 5-2 during the regular season, took on the top-seeded UNTD Trailblazers. Prior to the match, the Trailblazers were not only undefeated this season, they’d also only lost four rounds, two of which occurred in prior matchups against the Weevils. During the rounds of the championship match, UAM handed UNTD four more losses.

UAM Esports Rocket League team members Jacob Baker, a junior computer information systems in cybersecurity major from Vilonia, Arkansas; Evan Bealer, a freshman computer information systems major from Monticello, Arkansas; Kristian Harris, a sophomore business major from Trumann, Arkansas; and Jeremiah Hutchison, a senior computer information systems in cybersecurity major from El Dorado, Arkansas, claimed UAM’s first-ever esports title while keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout the match.

Gameplay in Rocket League features a futuristic soccer stadium where teams compete 3-on-3, except instead of six humans on the field, six flying cars race around the stadium with the objective of bouncing a massive ball into the opposing team’s goal. The video game requires precise coordination between teammates’ uniquely designed cars to outmaneuver the other team. Each round lasts five minutes, and the first team to win four rounds wins the match.

Despite losing the first two rounds of the series, the Weevils shifted momentum with a dominant third round 4-0 victory and went on to take the fourth round, halving the match at 2-2.

During the match, which was livestreamed on Twitch — a video game livestreaming service — Christian Hubbard, a freshman business administration in management major from Denton, Texas, served as UAM’s shoutcaster, providing colorful play-by-play commentary that reached peak energy during the final rounds.

After losing Round 5, the team needed to sweep the remaining rounds. The Weevils rose to the occasion, securing Rounds 6 and 7 with scores of 4-3, with the latter round ending in a tense five-minute sudden-death overtime. UNTD came close to scoring the winning goal, but their shot ricocheted off the goalposts before UAM regained possession and booted the ball into UNTD’s goal. 

More than 160 people viewed the match on Twitch.

"This is a huge win for our program," said Devin Burton, UAM Esports head coach. "It represents everything we've worked for as a team, and having our fans show up to support us really motivates the players."

Bryan Fendley, director of the UAM Esports program, also weighed in on the exciting nature of the competition. "This match is the perfect example of why esports is so thrilling to watch, even if you're not familiar with the game itself," he said. "Our commentators do a great job of keeping the audience engaged, explaining the action and really bringing the intensity to life. It’s just as exciting for those watching at home as it is for the players."

Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, stated, “Congratulations to the UAM Esports Rocket League team for their thrilling overtime victory, securing the first esports championship in UAM's history. This achievement not only showcases the talent and dedication of our student-athletes but also elevates our university's presence in the world of competitive esports. A special thanks to Bryan Fendley and Devin Burton for their vision and commitment while creating and coaching this outstanding team.”

The Weevils' triumph represents a milestone for UAM Esports, which has been steadily gaining recognition on the national stage. The victory also comes at a time when esports is becoming an increasingly popular competitive avenue, with hundreds of universities acknowledging the importance of supporting teams and programs in this exciting and rapidly growing field.

UAM Esports currently competes in four titles — Rocket League, Overwatch 2, League of Legends and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — between the NACE and the NCAA DII Great American Conference and will resume competition during the upcoming spring semester.

Follow the Weevil Esports page on Facebook for updates on the team and links to their livestreamed matches.

UAM offers a variety of scholarships for UAM Esports team members. For more information on UAM Esports, contact Devin Burton at burtond@uamont.edu or 870-460-1663.