NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University's esports program is experiencing significant growth, with two championship wins this spring and high levels of student participation. The program operates from the Esports Lab in the J.W. Jones Student Union.

In April, Northwest's "Valorant" team won its second consecutive NACE Plus Division Championship. Additionally, the "Rocket League" team secured a NACE Plus Division Championship as well. These victories allow Northwest to advance to NACE's Premier Division.

"The importance of claiming a NACE Plus Division Championship marks Northwest’s esports program as a competitive program able to compete against some of the highest-quality teams in the nation," said Andrew Murphy, director of esports at Northwest.

The university competes as an affiliate of NACE, which supports around 200 varsity esports programs across colleges and universities in North America. Like traditional sports teams, Northwest's varsity esport teams have structured positions for specific video games.

Approximately 150 students participate actively in Northwest's Esports Club, which organizes gaming activities within the University's Esports Lab.

Since joining Northwest in 2023 to lead its esports initiative, Murphy has prioritized creating an inclusive environment that emphasizes both academic success and personal development alongside gaming skills. "I’m trying to grow them as a person but trying to get them to hit their peak performance as an athlete," he stated.

Over the past year, about 500 students engaged with the esports program at Northwest, making it one of the largest student organizations on campus. Dr. Matt Baker, vice president of student affairs at Northwest, commented on this growth: "College students continuously evolve, and this important work continues to support a growing segment of our current and future students."

Esports interest aligns with broader trends; approximately 85 percent of U.S. teens report playing video games regularly. As such interest grows each semester at Northwest, space constraints are becoming apparent within the Student Union facility dedicated to esports activities.

Murphy expressed his motivation by sharing feedback from students who credit their college experience or personal growth to involvement in esports: “What drives me and motivates me is hearing those students that come up to me and say... ‘the things that you taught me made me a better person.’”

For more information about esports at Northwest Missouri State University, interested parties can call or email using provided contact details.