The world of college sports is changing, and Shawnee State University is right in the middle of the action—on a screen near you.
The university’s Esports team made its national debut at the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC) in Arlington, Texas this month, and they didn’t just show up—they showed out. Competing in Rocket League, one of the most popular competitive games in the world, SSU’s team dominated their regular season, clinched the Great Lakes Esports Conference championship, and powered their way into the Top 12 playoff bracket at CECC.
🕹️ Meet the Roster
Team members included Blade Taylor (“SlaYeR”), Sean Downard (“Tacostash84”), Dyllan Debruyne (“Duckworth”), and reserve player Tanis Caltrider (“Spookii”). With two of the starters returning next season, Interim Esports Coach Justin Kogge says the Bears are primed to be a dark horse in next year’s national championship.
“We outplaced all expectations in every event we went to,” said Kogge. “And the exposure we got was massive—our matches streamed to more than 7,000 concurrent viewers during the featured segment.”
🎮 Not Just Games—It’s the Future
College Esports isn’t just about bragging rights. It’s a rapidly growing industry offering students team-building, communication, tech fluency, and career pathways in game development, broadcasting, and professional gaming.
Shawnee State isn’t new to this game. The university is nationally ranked for game design, recently named:
- #15 in the nation
- #2 in the Midwest
- #1 in Ohio
…by The Princeton Review’s Top Undergraduate Schools for Game Design.
Through two dynamic, coordinated programs—Game Programming and Game Arts—students learn to code, create, collaborate, and launch real-world projects through game jams and senior studios.
🚀 More Than a Game
“Our time at the CECC provided invaluable experience, significant exposure, and a clear direction for Shawnee State Esports,” said Kogge. “We’re just getting started.”
As Esports becomes a mainstream fixture of college life, schools like SSU are leading the way—not only on the leaderboard but in preparing students for careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
Whether you’re a future competitor or a game developer in the making, Shawnee State offers the ultimate power-up.