BLINN HONORS ESPORTS CALL OF DUTY TEAM WITH CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS

The Blinn College District celebrated the Buccaneer esports program’s third national championship Tuesday with a championship ring ceremony on the Brenham Campus. 

David Rodriguez, Landon Campos, Logan Rivera, and Wesley King won the NJCAA Esports national title during the fall 2023 semester, just the second semester of competition for Blinn’s Call of Duty team. 

Executive Dean of the Blinn College-Waller Campus and Esports Program Director Max Hibbs provided opening remarks, followed by congratulations from Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District. Hensley and Hibbs oversaw the launch of the esports program in fall 2020. 

“This championship reflects the talent of our student-athletes, the dedication of our coaches, and the support of the entire Blinn community,” Hensley said. “Esports is a growing part of collegiate athletics, and I am proud that our students are competing at the highest level.” 

Blinn head coach Kyle Murto also addressed the audience before introducing Call of Duty coach Ryan Lucich. 

“Our season was very up-and-down. It was anything but smooth sailing,” Lucich recalled. “There were times when I thought we felt lucky even to win a map, let alone a match. I think lesser teams would not have overcome the hurdles our group overcame, and that’s a testament to the type of players and the type of young men they are.” 

The Buccaneers finished the fall 2023 NJCAA Esports season with a 6-1 regular-season record. The team went on to post a 2-1 mark in the NJCAA Esports regional playoffs to earn a spot in the four-team national tournament. Both of the Buccaneers’ losses came at the hands of Central Community College, and as fate would have it, Blinn and Central faced off once more with the national championship at stake. After defeating the University of South Carolina-Sumter to advance to the title match, the Bucs went on to take the best-of-five series from Central 3-1. 

Rodriguez, who attended the ceremony to receive his ring, said overcoming Central required more than individual skill. 

“We bonded throughout that entire season; we knew each other so well outside of the game,” Rodriguez explained. “We spent time together, we had dinner together, we watched movies together, we studied the game together. When you can build that type of bond outside of the mission you’re trying to accomplish, you build trust and closeness that I think translates to your overall goal. That’s definitely what happened for us.” 

Since its launch, Blinn Esports has captured three national championships. The Valorant team won the NJCAA Esports title in spring 2023 and claimed the National Esports Collegiate Conference Legends Division championship in spring 2024.

Murto said the program’s championship tradition inspires future competitors. 

“The players who join our program each year see the trophies and hear the stories about these past teams and know that they are in a successful program and can be successful themselves,” Murto said. “We cherish each of these championships because they drive home the message that we want our student-athletes to succeed, and we have the tools to help them reach their esports goals. Today further emphasizes that.”