The two previous times the Montgomery County Community College Mustangs eSports Marvel Rivals team squared off against the Tigers from Marshalltown Community College, the team came up short. Yet, like the old saying goes, the third time is the charm. Or in this case, the championship.

The Mustangs won their fourth National Junior College Athletics Association Esports (NJCAAE) title with a decisive 3-0 victory April 12 against the team from Marshalltown, Iowa. In addition, the MCCC junior varsity team placed third in the online tournament. 

The varsity team, under the direction of Assistant Coach Michael Gay, is composed of students Bada Ekecs, of Schwenksville; Matthaus Gross, of Boyertown; James Jolly, of Lansdale; Devon Kozma, of Harleysville; Ryan Smith, of Gilbertsville; Salvator Sutera, of Pennsburg; and Jalen Yager, of West Norriton.

A crowd of 75 fans, including friends, family members, faculty and staff, filled the conference room of College Hall on the Blue Bell Campus to cheer on the team.

Among them was the coaching staff from Albright College esports team, where graduating students Gross, Smith and Sutera will transfer this fall to play on a scholarship. Team student broadcaster, Jacob Saltzburg, of Lafayette Hill, will also receive a scholarship to broadcast at Albright.

“Not only did they win, but four of our students are going to the same school with esports scholarships. Albright College recruited from us,” said Kelly Dunbar, Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation. “We’ve been doing a lot with them. The fact they were there watching incoming juniors was cool.”

Having twice lost to the Tigers in previous matchups, Jace Winders, Esports Program Coordinator, said the victory was extra rewarding for the team.

“It felt like it couldn’t have been written better to finally beat a team we’ve struggled against in the last possible chance with some of their new coaches in front of them, and friends and family cheering them on,” said Winders. “It’s a perfect ending from Montco.”

The Mustangs came into the single elimination bracket tournament playing against 35 teams, following a seven-week undefeated regular season. The team entered the tournament as the number two seed, behind only number one seeded Marshalltown, who was also undefeated.

Through five rounds of tournament play, the Mustangs went undefeated, capping it by besting the Tigers 3-0 in a best-of-five series.

“The championship was two years, four seasons in the making,” said Gross, noting that this season they kept team practices to once a week to help minimize the stress. “We went from heartbreak to heart fulfilled.”

“Finally winning felt the like the weight of the world was lifted off our shoulders,” Sutera said. “We wanted to win so much that we just exploded into cheers when we saw the victory screen.”

Throughout the seasons, the team has developed special chemistry, working out issues together and practicing on their own to develop and grow individually as players.

“I’m so proud of the team,” Gay said. “This is my first season, first semester, and we’re starting on such a high note. It’s a high standard to hold.”

The Mustangs eSports program is the Athletics eighth collegiate sport and its first all-gender team. The Mustangs eSports team members compete against colleges nationally as part of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), which is composed of more than 170 member schools with more than 5,000 student-athletes. The Mustangs also compete as part of the NJCAAE, composed of more than 60 two-year colleges from across the country.

The esports program began at MCCC in the spring of 2020 and has grown from 13 student-athletes more than 160. Dunbar said she’s proud of the way the esports program continues to grow.

“Even from last year’s team to this year,” she said. “We’ve built an inclusive program that allows students to prosper in their game. It’s paid off with three national championships in the past two years.”

Winders agreed and gave special recognition to two players specifically.

“Matthaus Gross and Ryan Smith started on the JV team and put in the work,” he said. “They were coachable and now they’re on top of the varsity division.”

Dunbar emphasized that esports team members must effectively balance their time as student-athletes, which requires a lot of work in and out of the classroom.

“They’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” she said. “Hence the scholarship opportunity to play at Albright.”

Next fall, MCCC will next play host to the Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League tournament finals.

Students interested in joining the Mustangs eSports program next semester or in the future are encouraged to contact Jace Winders. Prospective students can email Winders at jwinders@mc3.edu. Current students can contact him via the Mustangs eSports official Discord channel.