WAVERLY, Iowa- The Wartburg esports season will open up this week. In the fall season, the Knights will compete in Rocket League and Super Smash Bros Ultimate and in the spring will continue their season playing Overwatch, Rainbow Six Siege and Valorant.
 
Last Season
The Overwatch team finished as the National Runners Up in the National Finals of the NECC Emergents Division Bracket.
 
Season Outlook
The Wartburg esports team is entering their third season as an organization. Some rearranging of games has occurred, with League of Legends no longer being played, and the addition of Rainbow Six Siege now being a game to play.
 
The biggest recruiting this year for Wartburg esports was Overwatch, now with the addition of their JV squad. Head coach Josh Fischer is adamant with their skill growing this year, that they will move up to Varsity going into next year.


 
As the esports program enters its third year, Fischer is optimistic with how the season will preside with the team culture.
 
"The team culture is amazing this year," said Fischer. "Everyone is glad to be back, seeing how the players interact with each other. A lot of the team captions came back this year, and they are helping the new incoming freshman get adjusted. Everyone is ready to get back on the grind."
 
The NECC is the main conference that the esports program has competed in, which includes schools from across the country. It works by putting the schools' skill levels together, and it changes every year. Fischer talked to other esports coaches and tried out a new conference last year and are still looking to make it grow.
 
"Maybe in the future it can be big enough if more A-R-C schools add esports," said Fischer. "We want to try to mirror traditional athletics and help build some rivalries."