On Nov. 15 and 16, Baldwin Wallace University’s Valorant and Smash Brothers teams went to the Great Lakes Esports Conference in South Bend Indiana. Each team was able to clutch the number 10 sport for the conference.
Leading up to the conference, the team went through much preparation. Things such as video reviews, one on one matches and reviewing other teams’ habits are just a few things that they did before leaving for the conference.
“It’s a lot of research through VOD review and through trying to improve our own gameplay,” said senior Matthias Andujar, the founder and co-captain of the Smash Brothers esports team.
However, team members claim that it’s not just about being able to play well, but it’s also about the mental game.
“I can do it, not only because I said so, not because of the hours I put in, but because my team believes in me,” said Andujar.
“It’s good to see the fruits of their labor finally come to light,” said Jake Grasso, the coach and overseer for all the esports teams at BW. “It makes me super excited that were going to see how the highs of highs and lows of lows of the season, through the season have paid off,”
Kat Eddy, a senior public relations major and the captain of the Valorant team, said “There’s a sense of pride, we didn’t think we were going to make it, since we haven’t made it all the way to first or second place,” Eddy said.
The Great Lakes’ Esports Conference is the team’s first time making it to an in-person conference.
BW’s Valorant team beat Heidelberg University two to zero in the preliminary, lost to Manchester University two to one in the Quarterfinals, won to Saint Xavier University two to one in the lower round, and lost to the University of Mount Union two to one, placing them in sixth place.
In the Smash Brothers bracket, BW won against Valparaiso University two to zero, lost against Shawnee State University two to one in quarterfinals, lost to Bethel University two to one, and lost to Tiffin University, landing them in seventh place.
