The UW-Green Bay Varsity Rocket League team has advanced to the Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC) Championship following a win at the Northeast Regional tournament, hosted by UW-Green Bay, on November 16. The team bested Wisconsin Lutheran College in a back-and-forth, best-of-seven series that concluded with sophomore Jackson “hzrd” Burd making a game-winning goal line save. The Conference Championship will be held the weekend of December 6-7 at UW-Stout.
UW-Green Bay Esports hosted both Rocket League and VALORANT teams from five other nearby colleges & universities for the Northeast Regional tournament on November 15-16. The conference featured a seven-week season that culminated in an extensive playoff format, beginning with four regional tournaments in each of the four quadrants of the state.
Teams from Lakeland University, Lawrence University, Ripon College, Wisconsin Lutheran College, and Concordia University Wisconsin were welcomed into the University Union for a full weekend of high-octane gaming action. The 30-computer Esports Lounge was converted into a tournament venue for the weekend, and the nearby Phoenix Club was utilized as a live spectator area.
As hosts of the event, 10 student volunteers of the new Esports broadcast & production team produced two simultaneous all-day broadcasts. Student volunteer commentators were joined by guests from Lakeland & Ripon throughout the weekend to round out the talent lineup. The livestream videos are now available on the UW-Green Bay Esports YouTube channel.
The event marks the first of two major esports events held in collaboration with a state conference planned this year, as the program looks forward to hosting the Wisconsin High School Esports Association State Winter Championship in February.