Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Mesalands Community College esports team recently qualified for the playoffs in its very first season.
The Stampede made it to the postseason for its play in “Halo: Infinite,” “Super Smash Bros Ultimate” and “Call of Duty: Warzone” video games. All Mesalands players qualified for the playoffs as a starter or substitute.
Mesalands was eliminated in the early rounds of the postseason, including losses to top-seeded Hutchinson Community College of Kansas and No. 1 overall seed Shelton State Community College of Alabama.
“We are proud of the all of our players and their contributions to our successful season which culminated in our first playoff appearance,” Mesalands coach Nicholas Busch said. “It is unusual for a first year program to make it to the postseason.”
Mesalands, the first sanctioned college esports team in New Mexico, competed in Division I in the National Junior College Athletics Association-Esports. Esports is short for electronic sports.
“While technical issues and limited resources got Mesalands Esports off to a rocky start, our players’ resilience and determination helped us persevere and earn three spots in the NJCAA-E playoffs,” Busch stated.
“Many first-year programs don’t experience this level of success, but the camaraderie and efforts by all involved reflect our college and community,” stated coaches Stephen Edwards, Nate Glaspie and Destiny Zukevich.
Mesalands Stampede Esports will add “Overwatch 2” to its lineup for the spring season, along with new recruits. Those interested in joining the Stampede esports program should email Busch at [email protected].