12月2日，西顿希尔大学电子竞技队在全国电子竞技大学会议（NECC）东部联盟锦标赛中击败了印第安纳大学科科莫队（IUK）。 经过6轮比赛，两队的比分持平。 在第七回合的最后时刻，狮鹫队取得了胜利。

作为对IUK最初领先的回应，狮鹫队连续赢得了三轮比赛。 他们的连胜被美洲狮队打破，美洲狮队在最后一轮比赛前扳平了比分。 Max Kazmierczak，西顿山漫威对手团队的坦克和队长描述了最后时刻； “They [IUK] won the first point of the last game 永利博彩 then we won the second. So in the final round after many team fights that went back-永利博彩-forth… We just barely won a team fight that secured us the win. We could’ve very easily lost if we were not playing in perfect sync. It was incredible.” Kazmierczak is a sophomore on the 生物医学预科 track of the LECOM program at Seton Hill.

This win made history for the team, being the first time 西顿希尔电子竞技 has ever won an NECC East Conference Championship in Marvel Rivals. 它在火箭联赛中赢得了两次冠军。 该团队于2022年在国会山成立，自那以来一直呈指数级增长。 该团队现在有42名玩家，参加守望先锋、英雄联盟、Marvel Rivals、Smash Ultimate、火箭联盟、堡垒之夜、Madden和FC2X的比赛。 下学期，他们计划将《英勇战士》和《反恐精英》添加到他们的曲目中。 This year’s Marvel Rivals team consists of captains Jess Simonovitch 永利博彩 Max Kazmierczak, 永利博彩 players Peyton Cercone, Ari Case, Ariel Winfield, Carter Schaffer, 永利博彩 Cass McVicker.

“...作为对手团队的一员，感觉就像成为一个家庭的一员，相互永利博彩支持，相互推动，超越我们的极限，作为一个团队学习和提高。 团队中的每个人都非常友好和永利博彩支持，我们都尽最大努力让我们的队友感到自己很重要，不管他们的角色是什么。”

“Whenever teams within the Esports Program see other teams being successful to this degree, it can be very motivating for them as a group to go out 永利博彩 push for that same sort of accomplishment,” says Coach Christopher S永利博彩ers. 自2023年加入这所大学以来，他见证了球队的成长和繁荣。 他对西顿山项目的未来表示兴奋。 He said, “As a Coach I am excited to be able to continue to foster a winning culture 永利博彩 an environment where students are able to spread their wings with success.”

The growth of the 西顿希尔电子竞技 team coincides with the sport’s acceptance 永利博彩 popularity in collegiate athletics. NECC目前与北美400多所学院和大学建立了合作关系。 电子竞技不仅为许多学生提供了竞争的渠道和受教育的机会，而且还建立了社区。

“...being a part of the Rivals team feels like being part of a family, supporting each other 永利博彩 pushing each other to grow past 永利博彩 limits, learning 永利博彩 improving as a team,” said Jess Simonovitch, a captain 永利博彩 DPS for the Marvel Rivals team. “Everyone on the team is super kind 永利博彩 supportive, 永利博彩 we all try 永利博彩 best to make 永利博彩 teammates feel important, no matter their role.” Simonovitch is a sophomore 沟通主要.

这种感觉在球员之间是相互的。 Junior 沟通主要, 永利博彩 DPS for the Marvel Rivals team, Cassie McVicker shared, “Being on an Esports team has greatly enhanced my student experience, it's a tight-knit community where nobody feels like they don't belong. It gives me something fun to look forward to after classes are over.”

像许多参与电子竞技的人一样，她希望看到这项运动在西顿希尔和所有大学得到发展。 “I hope it becomes more mainstream, I want it to be held in the same regard as every other sport. It may not test people's physical strength, but it still has a lot that goes into it, stuff like reaction time, coordination, teamwork, 永利博彩 so much more go into every game.”

请看下面的胜利时刻。