Capping a stellar season in which all of the RMC eSports teams advanced to the playoffs, coach Alex Gunnerson and six student-athletes were awarded top prizes by the Eastern College Athletics Conference.

Alex Gunnerson was named ECAC eSports Coach of the Year by the conference. The conference noted his extraordinary effort during the pandemic, and the success of his nine teams this year, including the championship captured by Hearthstone. “Alex has an uncanny ability to reach student athletes where they are and to have them open up and begin to take ownership of their future. He role models good sportsmanship, leadership, and integrity. Alex recruits students, and he invests in the whole student to make sure that they are performing at their best, and they feel valued for their unique identities, skills, and contributions,” ECAC eSports noted in their press release announcing the award.

Also honored were:

• Thomas Dixon ’24, Overwatch Rookie of the Year

A walk-on to the B team, Brown earned a starting spot and transitioned from console play to reaching Master tier on a PC.

• Josh Brown ’22, Hearthstone Player of the Year

Captain of the championship-winning Hearthstone team, Brown was also awarded the Director’s Award at RMC for his leadership throughout the year.

• Jon Scholl ’24, Hearthstone Rookie of the Year

Jon moved from analyst to earn a starting spot on the team. His consistency lead the team to an 8-match win streak that helped them capture the ECAC championship and earned him the Hearthstone MVP award from ECAC.

• Conor Brennan ’22, Rocket League Player of the Year

  Conor won ECAC Player of the Semester in the fall after leading the team in every single stat. He lead the Rocket League to a new peak in the spring with a 5-3 record.

• Sab Chizhik ’24, Fortnite Rookie of the Year

Sab made up half of a Fortnite team that placed 5th in the Fall and climbed from 14^th to 4^th through the playoff season.  

• John Makuch, ’23, Fortnite Player of the Year
  As Captain, Johnny led the Fortnite team to a stellar fall and remarkable come-back in the spring, jumping all the way to a 4^th place finish after a playoff run in the spring semester.
  

Coach Gunnerson expects all of the awardees, and many other veterans on the team to return in fall 2021 with another stellar season. “I am so proud of our student-athletes this year, and the hard work they put in,” Gunnerson said. RMC eSports will also be adding two additional teams as well as new players to the roster.

This summer, the eSports arena will be home to the XP League Midlothian Youth eSports Prospect Camps. These half-day camps include opportunities for youth to specialize in Fortnite, Rocket League, Overwatch and Valorant. For more information, visit the XP League Youth Summer Camp Registration Form.