Waynesburg University Esports finished off an incredible season to end the 2025 spring semester, winning National Championships in Rocket League and Overwatch, bringing the university their first Championships in any sport since 1966.

But now, the focus has shifted to this season. The Yellow Jackets Esports team features competition across ten different videogames this season: Fortnite, Madden NFL 26, MLB The Show 25, EA Sports FC 26, Valorant, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros., Rocket League, Marvel Rivals, and NBA 2K26. 

Inside the Esports arena on the second floor of Buhl Hall, there is positivity and excitement showing among the locker room. These players have high hopes coming into this fall semester season. 

Competition began with the Valorant varsity team battling Sacred Heart in a National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) placement match.

“We did not have a team last year at all. There was a lack of students wanting to play,” Felicia Duffy, the captain of the Valorant squad said. “It makes me so grateful to see the program grow and more Waynesburg students participating, because Valorant is back.”

Duffy, a senior creative writing and journalism major, is also a contributor to the Overwatch team. She outlined her goals this semester as captain for the first time. 

“The goal for me during this fall season is to get the rest of my roster comfortable with one another and to see them improve in gameplay,” Duffy said. “Many members of the team are freshmen. Even from when we arrived at campus in August to now, many have made lovely improvements, and I am ecstatic about the upcoming season.”

Tim Nielsen, head coach of the Overwatch team and a graduate assistant coach for all other videogames, feels his team can make another deep run this year.

“We want to put ourselves in a position to make a run at Nationals. All the work we are doing in the fall is working towards that goal,” Nielsen said. “Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. That’s what got us a National Championship last year and it’s going to be what gets us there this year.” 

Nielsen has expectations for Rocket League to chase a repeat championship season, but he also has an eye on another squad to make some noise this semester. 

“Our Super Smash Bros. roster has some sleepers this year so keep an eye on them,” Nielsen said. 

There are a lot of high hopes coming into this season of Waynesburg University Esports and it should be an intriguing semester going forward.