Senior Dustin Mohler works alongside his teammates to beat Illinois College. Photo by Addy Wells.
The Wartburg Esports program hosted the Midwest Valley Esports Conference (MVEC) Finals this past weekend, Nov. 8-9. The event marks the first in-person esports tournament Wartburg College has hosted.
The monitors, PCs, gaming chairs and tables that normally furnish the Wartburg Esports room were relocated to the stage in the McCaskey Lyceum for the weekend. With the livestream of each game being projected for audience viewing, the entire space transformed into the ultimate gaming and spectating environment.
On Saturday, six teams competed in the single-elimination Valorant tournament. Coe College stunned Cornell College 2-1 in the grand finals, giving Cornell their first and only loss of the season.
Sunday featured a double-elimination Rocket League tournament that consisted of six teams, including the Knights. Wartburg swept Buena Vista University 4-0 in the quarterfinals before they fell short to Cornell College in the semifinals 1-4.
In the lower quarterfinal, Wartburg bounced back with a gritty 4-3 win against Illinois College to advance to the lower semifinal against the University of Jamestown. The Knights lost to Jamestown 1-4, ending their MVEC season.
St. Ambrose would go on to claim the Rocket League title in dominant fashion, defeating Cornell 4-1 in the grand finals.
The Wartburg Esports Rocket League team will compete in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Rocket League Playoffs on Wednesday, Nov. 12. They will face Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 8:30 p.m..
To support the Rocket League team, check out the NECC website and watch their livestreams on the Wartburg Esports Twitch page. Keep up with Wartburg Esports by following them on Instagram at @wartburg_esports.
Rocket League action in the Lyceum continues as Wartburg College plays against Cornell College. Photo by Addy Wells. 
Sophomore Evan Richardson races toward the ball on his monitor. Photo by Addy Wells. 
The Wartburg Esports equipment, relocated to the Lyceum for the weekend, illuminates the competition space. Photo by Addy Wells. 
Senior captain Collin Brandt focuses on his monitor during their semifinal match. Photo by Addy Wells. 
After scoring a goal against Illinois College, Dustin Mohler and Collin Brandt fist bump to celebrate. Photo by Addy Wells. 
The Wartburg Knights logo on the PC glows. Photo by Addy Wells. 
The Wartburg Rocket League team faces off against Illinois College. Photo by Addy Wells. 
John Fischer, the Wartburg Esports head coach, watches his players battle out a win in their first local area network tournament. Photo by Addy Wells. 
Wartburg College and Cornell College compete on the Lyceum stage in the semifinals. Photo by Addy Wells.
