Seahawks Win Esports Conference Championship

UNCW’s Esports Valorant team captured the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Division II East Conference Championship on Dec. 1 with a hard-fought 3–2 win over Mizzou Esports in the Grand Finals. The victory marks the team’s fourth conference title in just two years and advances them to national championship competition in spring 2026.

“Our teams have been playing great, and seeing the Valorant team win another conference championship was a proud moment for all of us,” said Ray Pastore, professor of instructional technology in the Watson College of Education and faculty advisor for UNCW Esports. “Watching the UNCW Esports Club evolve from a small group of casual gamers into teams that are competitive across the region and even nationally has been extraordinary.”

Championship roster:

• Nicholas Crane, senior, information technology
• Kavi Miller, senior, computer science (cybersecurity concentration)
• Brandon Mason, sophomore, cybersecurity
• Richard Stroup, junior, political science
• Owen Nelson, senior, business administration (business analytics concentration)

UNCW’s Rocket League team also had a standout fall season — winning their Collegiate Conference Series Conference Championship and placing third at the 5th Annual Florence Esports Festival in South Carolina in November.

About UNCW’s Esports Club

Founded in 2019, the UNCW Esports Club earned varsity status in 2022 and now operates from a dedicated on-campus esports lab. The club fields 10 competitive teams and supports a Discord community of more than 800 members. It is open to all students, from competitive players to casual gamers.

About WCE’s Esports Certificate Program

The Watson College of Education’s Esports Certificate Program prepares students for careers in gaming, streaming and the broader esports industry. The curriculum explores four central roles — strategists, organizers, content creators and entrepreneurs — and new classes begin each semester. For more information, visit the UNCW Instructional Technology website.