By Noah Speights

The Poke Press

For students who spend their free time playing games online, McNeese State University offers a chance to turn that into a competitive hobby. 

McNeese Esports is a student organization that competes against other colleges and universities in a variety of games. The team was established in fall 2024 by then-freshman Matthew Steckling. The organization has grown to include 40 members who currently compete across six games: Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, Rainbow Six Siege, League of Legends, Valorant and Rocket League. 

Steckling, the organization’s founder, manager and Overwatch captain, said his passion for esports, which began in middle school, led him to establish the team during his first semester at McNeese. 

“I have always been passionate about competing in esports,” Steckling said. 

McNeese Esports is divided into separate teams based on each game played. Each team has its own captain, and the amount of practice and competition varies based on how competitive the team is. 

Generally, students practice during their free time or with teammates throughout the week before coming together for an organized match against another team, competing about once a week, Steckling said. 

Competition also varies between games. For Valorant, teams compete in best-of-three matches through PlayVS College League. Opponents are selected based on the average roster ranks of each team, meaning McNeese plays against other schools with roughly similar skill levels. 

The team also participates in LCRISA, an intramural tournament held once each semester at various college campuses. The tournament traditionally includes sports such as flag football and basketball, but some universities also offer esports. 

“Getting the opportunity to go to those, thanks to the rec, is an awesome opportunity for everyone on the team,” Steckling said. 

Asiah Pleasant, a freshman and captain of the Marvel Rivals team, said she has enjoyed her experience with the team and uses it as an opportunity to grow. 

“I wanted to lead the team to gain experience in leadership, build confidence in myself and learn to trust others,” Pleasant said. 

Pleasant said a typical week involves playing with teammates and working to find practice times that fit into everyone’s schedules and don’t conflict with practice times of other teams. Outside of designated practice, she said she also plays by herself and with teammates for enjoyment. 

While competition is an important part of the organization, Steckling said goals differ between teams. For example, he hopes his Overwatch team can become the best collegiate Overwatch roster in Louisiana, while other teams are still establishing more basic goals such as consistently showing up for matches. 

Looking toward the future, Steckling wants McNeese Esports to become increasingly self-sufficient. He hopes to place more underclassmen in leadership positions so the organization can continue growing without depending on its core founding members to manage everything. 

For students involved, the team provides an opportunity to compete while also building relationships with other students who share similar interests. 

“Laughing and having fun with people who game is only a part of it,” Pleasant said. “But for some people, it might be the best part of their day.”