ANN ARBOR, Michigan (May 6, 2025) – Washtenaw Community College (WCC) is vying for a pair of Esports national championships this week.
 
In its first year of eligibility, the WCC Esports program qualified two teams – Counter Strike 2 and Overwatch 2 – for National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) postseason competition. Both have advanced to the finals of the 16-team, single-elimination tournaments.
 
“The program has built up so fast and we have so much energy around the program right now,” said WCC Esports Coordinator Max Kuznia. “Students are really having a great time and enjoying the team aspect. And the school is super supportive of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
 
The WCC Counter Strike 2 team will take on Southern Illinois University for the Division 3 tournament national title at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7.
 
At 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9, the WCC Overwatch 2 team will face off against Coe College for a Division 5 championship.
 
Watch parties will be held on campus, and the public can also follow the action on Twitch at twitch.tv/washtenaw_esports.
 
Since the college’s new, state-of-the-art Esports Arena was opened in March 2023, the Esports program has grown to eight club teams. The competitive, co-ed teams host tryouts prior to each semester. The NECC assigns each team to a division based on players’ ratings and preseason placement tournaments. The top 16 teams in each division qualify for the postseason tournament.
 
Along with the national finalists on the Counter Strike 2 and Overwatch 2 teams, additional WCC students competed this academic year in League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Brothers and Valorant.
 
Some students on Esports teams tie their experience into academic programs that are related to the industry, including Esports Management, Sports & Entertainment Management, 3D Animation in Gaming, Cybersecurity, C++ Programming, Java Programming, Digital Video Production and Broadcast Media Arts.
 
“Many students see Esports as a fun activity and an opportunity to develop skills that could lead to future employment in the Esports industry,” said Peter Leshkevich, WCC Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Experience. “Even students who do not wish to pursue a career in Esports can benefit from the teamwork, communication and strategic thinking skills that are cultivated through Esports participation.”
 
 
 
About Washtenaw Community College
Washtenaw Community College (WCC), Ann Arbor, Michigan, educates students through a wide range of associate and certificate programs in areas such as health care, business, STEM and advanced transportation and mobility. The college also works through community, business and union partnerships to develop highly specialized training programs to meet the region’s workforce talent needs.
 
For more information about Washtenaw Community College, visit www.wccnet.edu.