Sandburg esports wraps up spring season

BY ERIN JACKSON
The Sandburg esports team recently finished up a strong spring season. The Chargers competed in NJCAA Esports (NJCAAE) in EA FC, Overwatch and Fortnite, playing against fellow community colleges from all over the country.

In EA FC (formerly FIFA) Luis Hernandez finished the regular season with a 6-1 record and ranked second in his region. Hernandez went on to advance to the finals of the region tournament. In Overwatch, the five-player team of Hernandez, Arthur Costa, Bishop Kyser, Ben Nelson and Austin Ullrich finished its season in fourth place in its region.

The NJCAAE has three levels of competition. Tier 1 is the top level for players, while Tier 3 is more flexible and allows players of all skill levels to participate. This setup gives everyone a chance to play and improve against competitors of similar

The Sandburg esports team boasts an impressive history since it was established in 2019. The program won a national title in League of Legends in 2021 and produced a national finalist in NBA 2K24. The Overwatch team has finished in the top five nationally multiple times. The program has also played games like Rocket League, Call of Duty and Rainbow 6 Siege. The NJCAAE has a large selection of other game titles in which players can compete.

The Chargers practice and compete in the esports arena in building A on the Galesburg campus. If needed, players can also compete remotely.

If you're interested in joining or learning more about the Chargers esports program, contact coach Russ Ullrich. New players are welcome every semester to be part of the growing and exciting esports community at Sandburg.