The Forum

STLCC launched its very first esports team at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, taking on several competitive titles including Valorant, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros, and Street Fighter 6. In September 2024, STLCC established its first dedicated esports arena at the Meramec campus, where it houses 18 state-of-the-art gaming PCs, large flatscreen monitors, comfortable seating, and a lucrative environment for both practice and competition. The arena serves as the central hub of the esports team, and its doors are always open to those willing to make the trip from other campuses or to those just wanting to pop their head in between classes to learn about the program.

Despite the program's youth it has already begun to show major success. They finished their inaugural season placing first nationally in Street Fighter 6 and third nationally in Valorant at the NJCAAE 2024 fall competition, a landmark success. The team currently boasts a near 70% win rate at 85-41 across all games, as of publishing time.

A major shout out is deserved to our esports team’s staff. Esports Coordinator and head coach Robert Cruz and Assistant Coach Noah Craig, whom the program couldn’t run without, have both done an incredible job at keeping players accountable and exceptional. Mr. Cruz has fostered not just an excellent team but laid important groundwork for the future. When asked if he had to shout out any players specifically Coach Craig replied “Nah, I love them all equally. Shout out Cruz.”

Overall, this has been an exciting first season, and I, for one, am looking forward to what the rest of the 2024-2025 year has in store for the premier STLCC esports team. Go Archers!

For further information or to get in touch with Robert Cruz, you can reach him at rcruz9@stlcc.edu.