Team Takes Challengers Division Trophy at Collegiate OVERWATCH & VALORANT Tourney

California State University, Dominguez Hills

1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747

CARSON, Calif. – The CSUDH Esports Association brings home a new trophy to campus by achieving a third consecutive victory at the NECC National Gaming Competition. The CSUDH Esports Association team, with over 230 members, claimed the Challengers division championship in the Overwatch gaming playoffs, after 10 weeks of intense, inter-campus competition. The 2021 NECC Championships involved dozens of campuses, ranging in size from small community colleges all the way up to large, four-year Universities, demonstrating the increasing strength and popularity of collegiate Esports programs.

NECC Commissioner, Jacob Van Ryn declared that, “It’s truly been a pleasure to work with the CSUDH Esports program. Their success throughout our initial academic year of play is unmatched, having won three titles over the course of the first two semesters. Regardless of their success, their players have been fantastic to work with and we’re extremely excited to continue to work with them going forward and watching and supporting their success.”

Rhomeozon Blankas, Cellular Molecular Biology major and president of the CSUDH Esports Association, explained why the championship victory was so significant. “Victory means the world to us. It shows that CSUDH is capable of competing against bigger schools with well-established Esports programs, and to the students that worked hard for the victory it shows them that hard work truly pays off and they can take what they learned from the process and apply it to other aspects of life.”

As evidence of this, HyperX, the Official Gaming Peripheral Partner of the CSUDH Esports Association, and a global leader in esports equipment, offered their “HUGE CONGRATS to the Toros for the 3-peat and becoming 3x champions in the NECC!“  HyperX spokesperson, Kitty Nguyen went on to say that, “We’re so proud to sponsor the NECC conference leaders and have the CSUDH Esports Association in the #HyperXFamily! Great job the entire team on a record-breaking season! Let’s do it again next year!”

Blankas’ Esports teammate, Clinical Sciences major Michael Del Carmen, concurred mentioning the crucial role that collaboration plays in their gaming activities. “Understanding our individual roles and how to play in certain situations: is a critical part of team strategy. Adaptability is the most important factor when it comes to playing in a competitive setting. This would include knowing how to play with each other in terms of know-how and what to-do, depending on the (rival) school we are facing.”

Another major CSUDH Esports Association sponsor and contributing partner, the American West Restaurant Group, franchisee of Pizza Hut, added that “It’s an exciting time to be a part of the gaming community.” American West Restaurants Group’s President and CEO, Jerry Ardizzone, went on to state that, “I am excited that great gaming platforms are available to student at CSUDH. Pizza Hut loves being a part of the gaming revolution and honored to be the official pizza partner of CSUDH Esports”

The CSUDH Esports Association is centered in four domain areas: academic research, community engagement, competition and entertainment. The aim to always meet the needs of all students by providing development programs within the Esports environment in order to obtain transferable career skills. The NECC was established to help small collegiate Esports programs flourish, and provide competitors with an even playing field on which to participate in the bourgeoning Esports community.