eSports, a form of computer-based competition across a variety of video games that showcase gaming strategy, speed and skillful execution, is thriving at Randolph-Macon College. RMC’s eSports program, which began in 2018, has 35 members who train and compete in the college’s eSports Arena, which opened in April 2019.

Community and Sportsmanship
Alex Gunnerson serves as director of the eSports program.

“eSports allows you to tap into your competitive drive,” says Gunnerson, whose teams compete in the six games that Randolph-Macon currently fields in intercollegiate competition: League of Legends, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Rocket League, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and Fortnite. “The students on our teams work together to create an amazing culture of community and sportsmanship.”

Winning Teams  
Thanks to hard work and dedication, the eSports teams has had winning seasons.

“The Fortnite, Overwatch, and Rocket League teams all made playoffs in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), which hosts a comprehensive eSports program,” says Gunnerson. “And the Rocket League and Fortnite teams both went undefeated in the fall season.”

Gunnerson’s philosophy reflects his passion for eSports and leadership.

“I am here to help our teams win championships and build community,” he says. “Our teams are made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores and have so much potential. We have more resources at RMC—including eight top-of-the-line, custom gaming computers that Velocity Micro donated—than many larger colleges. We are also fortunate to be one of the few colleges that has a dedicated Arena.” In January 2020, Velocity Micro will donate an additional eight custom gaming computers to RMC’s eSports program.

Generous Donors
Construction of RMC’s eSports Arena was made possible by the generosity of the late Macon F. Brock Jr. ’64 and his wife, Joan Brock, through the Brock Venture Fund.

Alex Gunnerson
Gunnerson, who hails from Boston, Massachusetts, grew up in Houston, Texas. He earned his B.A. in marketing from Miami University (Ohio). As a student at Miami University, Gunnerson built the university’s eSports club from the ground up. The Miami University eSports varsity program launched during his senior year, with Gunnerson serving as president.

An avid eSports player, he also served as Miami University’s League of Legends coach, which made top 16 in the Collegiate Starleague tournament, a national league that hundreds of colleges compete in across the country.

“We are incredibly excited to have Alex join our staff and to direct the eSports program,” says James McGhee, assistant dean of students. “eSports is expanding across the country, and we are so very lucky to be on the forefront of the industry in terms of resources and excellent staff.”

eSports Live Streaming + Social Media
RMC streams competitive eSports play on its Twitch channel. Twitch is a live streaming video platform allowing for anyone across the globe to tune in and watch eSports competitions. The RMC Twitch channel allows viewers to watch any current streaming match and access all previously recorded matches. Visit the online schedule of streaming matches, and be sure to follow the team’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.