Manchester esports Smash team wins championship

For the second time in a row, Manchester University Esports Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team has brought home the Great Lakes Esports Conference (@GLEC_GG) championship.

“I am so incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished,” said Garrett "toweroftoast" Schieferstein, director of esports at Manchester. “This team, from top to bottom, has improved so much over the last three months. They work hard every day, lab matchups after class, and watch opposing team VODs (videos on demand) all on their own outside of practice time. They deserved every win they earned this season.”

This is the team’s second undefeated season. It went 6-0 last year and it went 12-0 this year. 

“The Smash team had two insanely tough goals this year. We wanted to place top eight in nationals and win the GLEC championship with an undefeated record. Now with this win, I can proudly say that we accomplished both of those goals. GGs (good games) to Huntington, Trine, Mount Union, and all other schools that we played this year in the GLEC. We are already practicing for next year!"

Saturday’s grand finals against the University of Mount Union at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, saw a clean sweep. MUES Smash (@MU_esport) won 3-0 to claim its second @GLEC_GG championship.

Manchester defeated teams from Trine University and Huntington University to get to the finals. James Walsh won the playoffs’ MVP award with his clutch game 2 performance against Trine to keep the Spartans’ championship hopes alive.

The team plays host to the 2021 Spartan Smash Tournament for high school students on Saturday, Nov. 20. The event is open to all current high school students with prizes including scholarships.

Follow Manchester Esports on Twitter at @MU_esport. To learn more about the program, contact esports@manchester.edu.

Scholarships are available for League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros., Fortnite, Overwatch and Valorant. 

For the media
More on the Spartan Smash Tournament coming up this weekend

In photo from top left to bottom right:

• Sophomore August Elliott - Wabash, Indiana, took 5 stocks in finals
• First year Duncan Burns - Walkerton, Indiana
• Senior Levi Doe - Linden, Indiana
• Volunteer Smash Coach Joshua Tribble, MU Class of 2020
• Sophomore Alex Stefanatos - Rochester, Indiana
• Sophomore Collin Eastman - Kewanee, Illinois, took 4 stocks in finals
• Sophomore Savion Hunter - Phenix City, Alabama
• First year Mitch Manns - North Manchester, Indiana
• First year Chandler Bolden - Indianapolis, Indiana, took 3 stocks in finals
• First year Matthew Wyatt - Mishawaka, Indiana, took 9 stocks in finals
• Senior Kyle Bailey - Anderson, IN
• Sophomore James Walsh - Peru, Indiana, took 6 stocks in finals