MARION, Ind. - This Thursday, Rocket League went 1-1 in their NECC National Tournament, finishing the season in the top 8 of NECC Division IV, the highest finish for them yet.
In the Round of 16 they faced off against #12 University of the Cumberlands, who the Wildcats defeated previously in the Central Conference Tournament. This time, Cumberlands was able to take game 1 away from the Wildcats, before the #5 seed stormed back with three straight wins to take the series 3-1.
In the Quarterfinals, the Wildcats Rocket League team took on #4 Southern Nazarene University. As promised by the two teams' seeds, the games went right down to the wire. The Wildcats were actually able to win game 1 in overtime, before SNU took two straight games. With their backs against the wall and nothing to lose, the Wildcats stormed to a 3-0 win in game 4. Finally, in the deciding game, a costly mistake from the Wildcats gave SNU a lead that they never lost, winning the series 3-2.
Despite a full freshman team, the Wildcats managed to win the Central conference, take the #5 seed and finish in the top 8 of the NECC Division 4, along with an 8
th place finish in the Great Lakes Esports Conference, their second league. As the team was the last IWU team still in nationals, this wraps up the entirety of the 2024-25 season. Two of the three teams from the Wildcats made nationals, with both finishing in the top 16.
"While we did win a national championship last year, we saw even more growth in our student-athletes this year," said Head Esports Coach
Ryan Plummer. "While the wins and losses are a part of life, this year we were truly able to celebrate personal growth among our players. We even got to see one of them accept Christ and get baptized. And that's something I wouldn't trade for anything."
We hope to see you in mid-September, when the Wildcats will kick off their 2025-2026 season! Thank you for your support this year!
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