The Montgomery County Community College Mustangs eSports program won three national titles during the fall 2025 semester in "Rainbow Six Siege" "League of Legends,” and "Overwatch." Featured here are the members of the "Rainbow Six Siege" and "Overwatch" teams. Photos by Eric Yang and Jace Winders
The Montgomery County Community College Mustangs varsity eSports program has more awards for their trophy case after recently winning three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) national championship competitions.
The Mustangs took a 3-2 victory in “Rainbow Six Siege” against the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure University Monday, Dec. 8 before a crowd of about 50 cheering spectators. After that, the Mustangs completed a reverse sweep 3-2-win Friday, Dec. 12 against the Rams of Farmingdale College in “League of Legends,” online. Lastly, the team shut out the Panthers of York University 4-0 in “Overwatch,” Thursday, Dec. 18 before a packed crowd of about 70 fans.
The Mustangs eSports program has now earned a combined seven national titles since launching in 2020 with its most recent national championship in May 2025.
The “Rainbow Six Siege” team is led by Michael Gay, Assistant Coach of Esports, and is composed of student-athletes Mohhamed Akmal, Daniel Gyongyosi, Levi Hailey, Kaitlyn Hilburt, Kaidan Kinkade, Erik Yang and Thomas Winstanley.
The “League of Legends” team is led by Coach Jace Winders, Esports Program Coordinator. The team is composed of student-athletes Ryan Antonucci, Jayden Colucci, Ryan Jackson, Alice Li, Dorian Seaver, John Yi and Brian Zheng.
Winders also led the “Overwatch” team, which is composed of student-athletes Kyle Boos, Hannah Hang, Truman Irizarry, Colin Krotzer, Daniel Rosa Jr. and Lawrence Wood.
Kelly Dunbar, Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, said she was incredibly proud of the team for all three of its accomplishments, especially considering the team was squaring off against four-year institutions. She gave special credit to each team’s coaching staff.
“This fall was our biggest varsity competitive program,” she said. “We had 36 varsity esports student-athletes playing over six games. To win this early, and this much, with several students-athletes in their first year on the team, our coaching staff did a remarkable job bringing everyone together and winning.”
Winders, meanwhile, congratulated his players for their efforts.
“I am ecstatic. I couldn’t ask for a more successful semester. I’m used to deep playoff runs, but it’s nice to see three teams finish all the way. I pass the credit to students,” he said. “I challenged students to want to win as badly as I do. I’m a competitive guy. I like to win. So, seeing students match that level of passion for it—I knew we’d have a successful semester. This level of success is on our students. They deserve it.”
Each team’s win was significant because of the diversity of players involved. Both the “Rainbow Six Siege” and “Overwatch” games were played in-person before crowds of more than 50 people cheering on the team. The “League of Legends” game was played entirely online, allowing online students the ability to compete in the sport as well, said Winders.
Dunbar noted that the wins were extra special given the amount of time and effort student-athletes and coaches spend practicing, while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining good academic eligibility requirements. She commended Winders for his ability to oversee the program, while coaching three of the teams simultaneously.
Competing in the ECAC conferences, she said, gives student-athletes the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of coaches from four-year institutions.
Student-athletes from each winning team were proud to celebrate their victory and the three titles for the esports program.
“I’m honestly really proud of Jace,” said Psychology major Hannah Hang, 24, of Philadelphia. She joined the varsity team in the fall 2025 semester after playing as a junior varsity athlete for nearly two years. She was thrilled to take home a title in her first semester on the varsity squad. “Three teams bringing it home was huge for the esports program. It’s super exciting for everybody there.”
“It feels pretty good,” said Psychology major John Yi, 22, of North Wales. “This is two semesters in the making for me. It’s good to win on the third semester.”
“It’s so awesome to be able to play this game and win for your school. It’s so rewarding,” said Nursing major Kaitlyn Hilburt, 22, of Perkiomenville. “It feels so unreal to finally win. We did it.”
The Mustangs eSports program began at MCCC in the spring of 2020 and has grown from 13 student-athletes to more than 180 during the fall 2025 semester. The program is the Athletics program’s eighth collegiate sport and the first of two all-gender teams. It competes as part of the ECAC conference, which features more than 340 schools nationwide, primarily on the East Coast.
Students interested in joining the Mustangs eSports program in the future are encouraged to contact Jace Winders. Prospective students can email Winders or reach out via social media @mustangsesports on all platforms. Current students can contact him via the Mustangs eSports official Discord channel.