By Noah Speights

The Poke Press

For some McNeese students, Wednesday nights are about more than just playing video games. They are an opportunity to compete, improve and build relationships.

McNeese Fight Club, an unofficial subgroup of McNeese Esports, brings students together every week to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The group meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Rec Center esports lounge, with larger monthly tournaments held on the last Friday of every month.

Hamilton Noah Ramirez, a junior and the organization’s head tournament organizer, said the group has about 111 members in its Discord server, with 10 to 12 students regularly attending weekly events.

The organization started as McNeese Smash in August 2023 before becoming McNeese Fight Club in March 2025. Ramirez said the group welcomes players of all skill levels to participate, even those who have never attended a tournament before.

“If you’re just starting out, try showing up for a monthly,” Ramirez said. “With more people, it’s the most fun experience.”

For Jacob St. Mary, a senior who has attended McNeese Smash events since fall 2023, the community is what keeps him coming back.

“In large part it’s the people,” St. Mary said. “You see the same people over and over again and you start building connections and making friends.”

Although the tournaments are competitive, St. Mary said the atmosphere remains laid-back. Players of different skill levels compete alongside one another with experienced players willing to give advice to newer competitors.

“It’s clear that everybody cares and wants to play well, but it doesn’t feel hypercompetitive,” St. Mary said.

Players who are eliminated from the tournament can continue spending time in the esports lounge, where many play casual games, pool or computer games.

The organization also participates in competitions outside McNeese. Its teams compete in regional Louisiana Campus Intramural Recreational Sports Association (LCIRSA) tournaments, with McNeese finishing second in spring 2025 and more recently finishing first place. Many students also compete in a weekly tournament on Mondays at Lvl 1 Gaming at Prien Lake Mall.

Ramirez said the organization plans to continue emphasizing events such as Cowboy Camp to introduce new students to competitive Smash. An Arcadian tournament, which only allows non-ranked players to compete, is planned for spring.

For St. Mary, competition is not what matters most. It is the relationships built through the organization.

“The game is one thing, but the reason to keep playing is the people,” St. Mary said.