Along with Fall Yellowjackets sports like soccer and volleyball, the UWS Esports club is back in action for the 2024-25 campaign.
Following the debut of the club in Spring of 2024 with a single Rocket League team, the club will welcome new faces in new places for the upcoming seasons, with the launch of the Wisconsin Esports Conference and the creation of two new Valorant teams.
After competing in the Wisconsin Rocket League last season, UWS esports will be competing in the WEC for the league’s inaugural season.
Grand opening of Esports lab in Swenson Hall in March 2024. Photo Promethean File
The WEC is a new type of sporting organization in the state of Wisconsin, allowing for previously dissociated gaming titles to consolidate under a single name and league, including all three of UW-Superior’s teams for 24-25.
The league will even be fielding in-person competitions later in the season, held at different locations at various universities around the state.
UWS’ new faces come in the form of new teams and a new coach. The club is now fielding two teams in the game Valorant, the club’s first step into first-person shooter games.
The two teams fielded by UWS this season are named UWS Valorant Black and UWS Valorant Yellow.
Esports lab in use during grand opening in Swenson Hall, March 28, 2024.
Photo Promethean File
“It’s awesome to see UWS ESports field two (Valorant) teams,” said UWS Esports Club coach Brady Stocker, “Two is the max the league allows, and if they allow more next year, I think we will have enough interest in the future to do more!”
The new Valorant teams are joined by the club’s inaugural team, its Rocket League squad, who are heading into their 2nd semester of competition.
The team opened their season with a win, which Coach Stocker said is a wonderful start for the returning students.
“We’re excited to be returning two of our three Rocket League students from last spring,” said Stocker. “It’s exciting to see a 1-0 start! I am hopeful for more growth in this title in the future of esports at UWS!”
The club will also have the support of a new coach, as the club parted ways with co-coach Will Taft over the off-season, welcoming in Nestor “Sxiny” Martinez in the former’s place.
Per the Esports Club’s page on the UW-Superior website, Coach Martinez is, “Excited to see the students succeed and bring home some trophies from all their hard work.”
With the club entering its second semester and it’s first full semester in its “Gaming Lab” in Swenson Hall, esports at UWS appears set to continue its exciting growth into 2025 and beyond.
“We have about 15 students competing across our 3 teams and that’s awesome growth from last years’ four students,” said Stocker.
Those interested in joining the UWS Esports Club are encouraged to contact esports@uwsuper.edu for more information and reach out to coaches Brady Stocker and Nestor Martinez for any additional information.
