Viking GG Gazette

Cleveland State University E-sports

Author

Lexi Pewitt
May 18, 2026

5/4-5/18

This will be the final newsletter of the season. We will return to monthly newsletters until the season starts back up! Thank you!

CECC 2026

CSU’s Overwatch and Valorant teams recently took on CECC in Waco, Texas! The arena was booming with determination and intense gameplay as teams battled for the championship title. CSU’s Valorant team fought hard throughout the tournament, taking on an incredibly competitive group and finishing 17th overall. CSU’s Overwatch team earned an impressive 8th-place finish after fighting against some of the nation’s top teams! Beyond CECC, the team had a fantastic time at their Airbnb, enjoying the hot tub and grilling up some delicious dinner with Briar Cliff University’s Esports team! The team cherishes the memories that they make together on these trips, and will remember this one forever! 💚🎮

Written by Lexi Pewitt

CSU’s League of Legends Team Wins NECC Nationals

Pictured left to right: Reid L. (TOPDOG655), Tim S. (HisBeardsWeird), Matt N. (Skrub McLord), Aidan P. (FlyingRedTiger), and Dylan S. (Shepherd).

HUGE congratulations to CSU’s League of Legends team for becoming the next NECC Division 3 National Champs! Through hard work and dedication, this team proved what can happen when talent, teamwork, and determination come together! After an incredible season filled with perseverance, the team has earned its place at the top! 💚🎮

Written by Lexi Pewitt

Graduate Spotlight

Wilson Lin, "Nikuz," Valorant

Meet Wilson Lin, aka “Nikuz”, a senior Computer Science major from Seven Hills, Ohio, who plays Dualist for CSU’s Valorant Academy team. After school, Wilson has a job lined up as a software engineer, but not before travelling to China and Japan for some time! In his free time, Wilson enjoys playing basketball, badminton, and video games like LoL, Valorant, and TFT. Wilson recalls his favorite moment with his team was going 37-19 in a game with his team back in the Spring of 25. We wish you good luck on your future endeavors, Wilson! 💚

Written by Lexi Pewitt

Player Spotlight

Javi Seward, "Lobs," Street Fighter 6

James Elder, “Dr Foad,” Valorant

Meet Javi Seward, aka “Lobs”, a sophomore player on CSU’s Fighter team! Javi is a Film and Media Arts major who plays Mannon. In their free time, Javi enjoys modding games and making YouTube videos. Javi also mentions that his favorite moment this semester was getting top 5 in two Guilty Gear tournaments. Great job, Javi! We are so happy to have you on the team! 💚

Meet James Elder, aka “Dr Foad”, a graduate student who plays for Initiator for CSU’s Valorant team. James is studying to get his PhD in Mechanical Engineering. When he’s not playing the game or studying hard, you can find James leatherworking or playing guitar. James also enjoys robotics and has been in the Esports scene since 2014. During his time with Esports, James has captained 14 different teams in Team Fortress 2 and was the CSU Esports Valorant Captain for 1 and a half years! Thank you for all your hard work and commitment to the team! We love having you! 💚

Written by Lexi Pewitt

Interested in Joining Cleveland State’s D1 Varsity Esports Team?

CSU Esports is a D1 Varsity program offering the perfect mix of intense competition and unforgettable team experiences. Between thrilling tournaments, exciting team activities, and valuable volunteer events, this is your chance to be part of something extraordinary!

Ready to take your game to the next level and create lasting memories? Fill out our recruitment questionnaire below and start your CSU Esports journey for the Fall 2025 season!

Upcoming Events

Nothing for now!

-gg! ✌️