HVCC E-Sports Team Earns First National Championship

By Robert Dungan, Junior Photo Editor

The Call of Duty – Warzone duo team of Elijah Harris and Ryan Closson defeated Northeastern Technical College 3-1 in the best-of-three championship series on April 30th to claim the National Junior College Athletic Association eSports (NJCAAe) National Championship award.

The NJCAAE was founded in 2019 and is the exclusive national esports association for two-year colleges. The association consists of over 60-members schools from all regions of the country.

E-sports was one of the few sports programs still playing through the COVID-19 pandemic due to its virtual elements. “We practiced a lot,” says Harris. “We played way too much. Like every single night, we were on there practicing, and we were ready when it came.”  

And according to Harris, no matter if they win or lose, he’s just excited for the future of esports. “I think esports is just going to continue to grow,” Harris says. “It feels really good because it’s something I have done all my life. Getting on and just being able to play video games with other people and just enjoying that time is just really fun.”

Justin Hoyt, Hudson Valley Community College Director of Athletics, praised the team in an official statement. “Congratulations to Coach Bob Stranahan and the whole team on a successful first season.” “I’m proud of the way our student-athletes competed all year, and ending with a National Championship is truly remarkable. I’m excited for the future of our eSports program.”

“It was definitely the most interesting type of championship,” says Vikings head coach Bob Stranahan. “Being at home, watching on a Twitch. I was just sitting there, and my heart’s racing, not talking to anybody. I would just see the feed of Elijah and Ryan getting kills, and I was like, alright, alright, as my heart’s racing and I’m watching it.”

Assistant Director of Athletics, Adam Sopris spoke to the Hudsonian about the benefits of the championship win. “The combination of continuing to grow and promote our new eSports program and winning a national championship in our first year should positively impact our overall recruiting for the program in the future. We are already talking to a little over 50 students for the 2021-22 season, which is more than double from our Spring 2021 semester”.