Saturday was a packed day for the various Esports teams at Rollins College as they swept the competition against Florida Tech. The competition took place within Florida Tech’s E-Sports arena, which was outfitted with high performance gaming equipment.
In anticipation of the event, Director of the Rollins Esports program, Ben Katz, said that the event would be “beneficial” to all the teams, allowing them to “see what other schools compete with in terms of technology.”
Teammate Tyrelle Davenport (‘29) said, “I feel that the team will perform well, but I am aware of the challenges we may face.” Additionally, Tyrelle added that he felt ready for the event, saying, “I hope my team will be able to adapt during gameplay, and that we are able to communicate weaknesses.”
The teams set off for Florida Tech at 10:30 a.m., with excitement running high. The Rollins E-Sports teams arrived at the venue around 11:30 a.m. After some brief sightseeing, the Rollins College Overwatch team organized their first matchup with the Florida Tech Overwatch team at 12:15 p.m.
After an hour of playing, the Rollins Overwatch team emerged victorious with a score of 3-1, setting a precedent for the day. The Overwatch team captain, David Correa (’26), had some words for the team. “I felt like my team went out and showed off their best abilities,” said Correa. “The synergy in Florida Tech’s arena was insane from both sides. We came in with one job, to win, and that’s what we did.”
The Rollins College Valorant team was up next at 2:00 p.m., but the Florida Tech Valorant team ended up winning 0-2. The Rollins Marvel Rivals team was the last to play against the Florida Tech Marvel Rivals team at 4:30 p.m. after being delayed due to some technical difficulties.
Despite the challenges faced, which included having to update the game on every computer for both Rivals teams, the Rollins Marvel Rivals team was victorious against the Florida Tech team with a score of 2-0. “We all played really well as a team, and the members of Florida Tech’s team were all great sports,” said Marisa Scholl (’29), co-captain of the team. “The Rivals team has great chemistry, and that really came into play against Florida Tech.”
After matches were over for the day, the teams headed back to Winter Park, where they enjoyed a dinner at Chili’s, celebrating their triumphs together. Overall, the atmosphere of the event was friendly, as players from both the Rollins and Florida Tech teams were cordial with one another.
Not only was the event an opportunity for team building, but it also was a fun experience for the Rollins Esports teams to play against others in-person. This event seems to be just the beginning of many more like it to come. Katz said the event was “a friendly competition to test the waters” and that he “hopes these events become a regularly occurring thing.”
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