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NJCAAE enters second full year of competition
Esports continues to flourish heading into new year
Charlotte, NC – As the 2020-21 academic year approaches, with a much different feel than years past, NJCAA member colleges are shifting a focus towards Esports. NJCAAE, the national governing body of two-year college Esports, is entering its second full year of competition.
With a few weeks to go in registration, NJCAAE already has 60 registered members, including 33 new programs for the 2020-21 year, and has seen increased exposure as NJCAA member colleges deal with a fall season with limited sports competition due to COVID-19.
"We are thrilled with the growth, but honestly not surprised," stated Jeff White, NJCAAE Executive Director. "Esports is exploding across the world and college campuses are no different. College administrators recognize the impact of student-engagement on college completion rates, and now more than ever, engagement is at a premium. We offer a unique opportunity to engage students, whether classes are exclusively online or at campus. We have also seen campuses use esports to keep traditional sports students engaged and persisting."
NJCAAE is currently offering a number of titles for colleges to compete in, including Fortnite, CS:GO, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, FIFA 20, and Rocket League, among others. NJCAAE offers stand-alone tournaments and events, regular season play, postseason play, and National Championship recognition.
As the 2020-21 year approaches, one team in particular is eyeing continued growth for its program. "This year I'm hoping to create a place to play for many students during this tough time," stated Bob Stranahan, Hudson Valley head coach. "I want to build a community at the school and connect students together through video games. This year should be fast and exciting, right now I have around 20 students in the discord and hope to have that over a 100 but the end of the year."
Hudson Valley Athletic Director Justin Hoyt replicated Stranahan's ambition. "When you would walk through our Campus Center, you would see students bringing in their own gaming stations and playing at all hours of the day. It was clear there was a strong interest, and as a department, we want to make sure we are meeting the needs of our student population. We welcomed the opportunity to house it in athletics, as we already have a solid infrastructure in place and are always looking to expand our program offerings."
"As a first-year program, we are looking to build our rosters for the game offerings and have a structured holistic program," Hoyt added. "Our goal is to make sure our student-athletes have a positive experience and are able to compete at a high level."
As COVID-19 impacted colleges around the country during the 2020 spring semester, NJCAAE served as an opportunity for NJCAA colleges to continue to compete. The organization crowned five national champions in the spring. Snow (UT) captured the FIFA 20 title while Ocean County (NJ) claimed the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (singles) title. Northern Essex (MA) was a two-time champion, claiming the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (doubles) and Rocket League 3v3 championship.
Along with regular and postseason competition in the spring, NJCAAE also offered an impromptu NBA 2K Tournament open to all NJCAA member colleges that attracted nearly 100 participants.
Registration for the 2020-21 NJCAAE season is currently open through September 19th. For more information regarding registration, visit: NJCAAE Registration
About NJCAAE
The National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE), founded in 2019, is the only national esports association exclusively for two-year colleges. The NJCAAE is committed to increasing access to team dynamics, school representation, and campus life for the benefit of student-athletes and member institutions alike. Esports participants and NJCAAE members benefit through meaningful, educational, and transformative opportunities which lead to greater retention and completion rates for participants. Already boasting over 60-schools from all regions of the United States after just two semesters of competition, the NJCAAE continues to make inroads to be the association of choice for all 2-year schools.
