Grizzly eSports kicks off spring season

The Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly eSports program has kicked off its 2023 spring season.

In the first week of competition, Feb. 13-17, the Grizzlies defeated Harrisburg Community College 3-0 in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) competition, Grizzly Summer Gabriel, West Plains, played a series of tight games against her opponent from Western Technical College, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, but ultimately fell 0-3.

In his rookie debut in SSBU, Grizzly Julian Proctor, Roach, took his competitor from Western Technical down to a single stock in each match, but also lost 0-3.

Coming off a playoff appearance last fall, Grizzly Zahren Whited, West Plains, took an easy 3-0 win over West Virginia University Potomac State College in Keyser.

The Grizzlies picked up a 3-0 win over Hocking College, Nelsonville, Ohio, in Hearthstone competition and a 2-0 win over Pratt (Kansas) Community College in Call of Duty: Warzone.

The Grizzly Warzone team was able to make the Invitational Season this spring which is the most prestigious grouping. In this small grouping, the best of the best from the NJCAAE compete against one another for the Master's Trophy, Grizzly eSports Head Coach Alex Pinnon said.

Fresh from a championship appearance last fall in Mario Kart 8 DX, Grizzly Dustin Johnson, Ava, faced off against the Dawson Community College Buccaneers, Glendive, Montana, in the first regular invitational season game. In a bout of six close races, the Grizzlies won 4-2.

In the Grizzlies' other Mario Kart race, Abe Khan, West Plains went up against another team from the Dawson Buccaneers. The match went all the way to game seven, but in the end, the Buccaneers defeated the Grizzlies 3-4.

In a dominant performance, the Grizzlies overcame the Atlantic Cape Community College Buccaneers, Hamilton, New Jersey, in Overwatch 2 (OW2) with a 3-0 sweep.

The OW2 game was the final game of the first week of the regular season. The Grizzlies record stands at 6-3.

Grizzly fans can watch their favorite players compete in their favorite online games through the team's Twitch account, Twitch.TV/WPGrizzlies.

For more information about the Grizzly eSports program, follow the team's Facebook page, Facebook.com/MSUWPeSports, or visit the team's website, MSUWPGrizzlies.com.