Maverick Esports: From Online Gaming to Real-World Learning

Competitive gaming is a rapidly evolving industry, and students at Minnesota State University, Mankato have not hesitated to become part of the action. With the launch of the University’s varsity esports program, students are turning their passion for online gaming into real-world learning experiences.

Minnesota State Mankato launched their first season of varsity esports in spring of 2021 as an official member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). College-level esports teams compete head-to-head in titles such as Rocket League, Call of Duty, and Super SMASH Bros. Though still being relatively new to campus, Maverick Esports has had an impressive 230+ matches played, 10 playoff appearances, and 5 championship wins, establishing themselves as competitors on a national level.

This recognition further expanded in fall of 2022 with Mankato’s first Collegiate Esports Invitational sponsored by Rockstar Energy, Version1 and Minnesota RØKKR. On September 17, 2022, 16 teams from across the country traveled to compete in-person, with the hopes of winning up to

$5,000. The invitational sold nearly 500 tickets and gained an impressive 4,000 views on livestream. “It turned out to be a very successful event,” shared Jacquie Lamm, Assistant Director and Head Coach of Maverick Esports. “We’re excited to elevate it for next year with more teams and establishing ourselves as a premiere brand for esports at the collegiate level.”

There are plenty of ways for students to get involved in esports outside of competing on the varsity team. Students can gain experience through paid positions in social media management, content creation, broadcasting, and event planning. Evan Haldeman, current Minnesota State Mankato student and assistant esports coach for Rocket League teams, emphasized the importance of gaining real-world experience in sharing, “Most of our team is made up of students who are using this experience to further their resume building. They are taking their passion, and turning it into something they can pursue long-term, hopefully in a career.”

Partnerships have played a key role in the growth of the Maverick Esports program. The esports training facility on campus is the cornerstone of the gaming community. Through a generous partnership with the Dell Member Program, the space has been outfitted with high-end gaming stations. The space is used for varsity team practices and tournaments but is also open to the broader University community.

Haldeman says, “More companies are starting to understand esports, the pace it has grown, and how quickly it will continue to grow. The main thing we focus on now is how we can continue to improve.”

“Partnerships empower us to do so much more than we already can.” shared Haldeman. “More companies are starting to understand esports, the pace it has grown, and how quickly it will continue to grow. The main thing we focus on now is how we can continue to improve.”

If you are interested in learning more about Maverick Esports, please reach out to esports@mnsu.edu.