Madison College’s Rocket League Team has delivered the Esports program its 11th national championship in 11 semesters, the first under interim head coach Tyler Dillen.
It was the fifth NJCAAE national championship in Rocket League for the WolfPack.
The team of Robert Saltzman, Cam Axtman, Jacob Lindow and Riley Woyach finished the fall semester with a 13-2 overall record, beating Marshalltown Community College twice to secure the title.
Madison College lost just once during the regular season, falling to Walters State College, 3-1, after opening the year with seven straight wins. The team entered the NJCAAE playoffs with a 9-1 record.
Madison College opened a double-elimination tournament with a bye and then beat Warren Tech, 3-1. A loss to unbeaten Marshalltown forced the WolfPack to face Warren Tech again. After winning, 3-1, Madison College advanced to face Marshalltown again.
Since Marshalltown had yet to lose in the tournament, Madison College faced the prospect of having to win twice to claim the title.
And that’s exactly what they did, with a 4-3 victory in the first best-of-seven series and a 4-2 win in the second series.
Madison College has reached the Rocket League Grand Finals in six consecutive semesters and has now won two in a row.
The Valorant Team of Tyler Beyer, Nicholas Patterson, Bhim Gurung, Blake Thurston and Tenzin Norgye went 5-2 in the regular season.
After losing in the opening round of post-season play, the team posted two wins before falling in the quarterfinals.
Three players competed in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the WolfPack this season. Arshenyo Chen, Quade Wolter and Griffin Connell.
Chen finished the season with a 9-3 head-to-head record and qualified for the NJCAAE postseason but lost both of his matches in the tournament.