Esports Empire State Winter Games Competition

Written by Zachary Butler

    Individuals wearing stylish grey and white puff jackets emblazoned with the letters ESWG can be seen all around campus. No, this is not the latest of trendy winter fashion, but rather, the mark of a triumphant member of the Alfred State Overwatch team. From January 30th to February 2nd the team competed in the Esports section of the Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) at Paul Smith’s College. The Esports team was given quite literally an Olympic style welcome at the game’s opening ceremonies (complete with a torch relay), in which they were paraded through the Lake Placid Olympic Skating Rink along with the game’s athletic teams. Qualifying in preliminary matches, in the games the team won matches against St. Peter’s, and vieing for first place, thrashed University of Albany winning 3-1. With this victory the team secured first place, and a $2,000 prize. The winning team consisted of coach Austin Clay, starters Magnus Roberto, Stephen Gonzalez, Carson Gage, Kyle Sze, Keagan Gerber, and Katelynn Cary, and substitutes Jonathan Lubarsky, Lucas Schlenk, and Ashley Manzueta.