Galloway, N.J. — The Stockton University esports team will compete for Garden State Esports (GSE) Collegiate Circuit titles after a dominating performance Dec. 10 at an in-person competition on campus.

The Ospreys’ Rocket League team defeated Camden County College and Rowan University, and the Super Smash Bros. team beat Camden County College and Atlantic Cape Community College. With the victories, both teams won the GSE South Conference and advanced to the Garden State Esports Collegiate Cup finals on Feb. 22 at ACX1 Studios in Atlantic City.

In Rocket League, Stockton will face Brookdale Community College, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Kean University, and in Super Smash Bros. the Ospreys will compete against Rutgers-New Brunswick, Brookdale and NJIT.

The Collegiate Circuit is the nation’s first face-to-face collegiate esports league, according to Garden State Esports, and is comprised of 16 schools divided into three conferences.

Sophomore Rocket League player Michael Parker loved the in-person experience of playing other schools in the esports lab and at Stockton’s Lodge at Lakeside.

“It’s nice being able to see other people and play against them when they are like 10 feet away from you,” said the Biology major from Hammonton. “That’s probably my favorite part about it all.”

Parker, who’s also part of Stockton’s Overwatch esports team, said he’s followed Stockton’s esports team since he was a sophomore at Hammonton High School when the university hosted a Rocket League event. The university’s Rocket League team has had international success — competing in the world championships twice and finishing second in 2022.

“I still have an original Stockton esports jersey,” he said. “I joined the team as soon as I got to Stockton as a freshman. It’s one of the best things I’ve done here.”

This year’s Rocket League team also includes Nicholas Edwards, Anthony Roselli, Kevin Smith  and Howard Haughton. Hayden Seiberlich, Andres Arteaga, Jackson Busza, Daniel Digioia, Justin Ritter, Trevor Smith and Jacob Hughes comprise the Super Smash Bros. team.

Hughes didn’t really know much about the esports team before trying out in his first semester at Stockton last year.

“It’s made me have a lot of fun at college,” said the sophomore Business Administration major from Forked River. “There are so many cool things that come with it. The trips. The community. I’ve met so many people. We hang out all the time, and it’s just an amazing community to be a part of.”

In addition to the in-person competition, hosting the Garden State Esports Collegiate Circuit competition last week also allowed Stockton’s esports team to reach out to high school gamers through a virtual interactive watch party on Twitch.

During the party, Stockton’s team played game sessions with high schoolers and hosted a first-of-its-kind live, remote guest commentary, according to Demetrios Roubos, the manager of Stockton’s esports program. High schoolers were given the opportunity to join the Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. competitions and provide live commentary. Roubos said the esports team also presented a “Day in the Life of a Collegiate Esports Player” session to the high school students.

“It was exciting to see college students from four universities compete on our campus, while our Stockton Esports leadership team interacted with high school students in such a unique and engaging way,” Roubos said. “The addition of remote commentary from high school students was a first-of-its-kind experience that highlighted the bright future of esports. This event not only celebrated our competitive spirit but also reinforced Stockton’s role as an innovator in the esports community.”

For more information about Stockton's Bachelor of Science in Esports Management degree go to stockton.edu/business/esports-management.html.

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Demetrios Roubos and Jacob Hughes