IU Kokomo integrated its athletics department a little over ten years ago, meaning it is still a new program and will continue to undergo significant changes in coming years. In the 2023-24 academic year, IU Kokomo has introduced the newest member of the athletic department: the co-ed Esports team.
The Esports team competes in video game competitions against schools from all over the country and currently plays in three games, including Rocket League, Overwatch, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The three teams operate independently, with competitions being centered around one specific game rather than an event with multiple games. IUK Esports currently has 20 players on its roster, with most athletes focusing on one game and a few who compete in two. This season, the Overwatch team has 11 players, Super Smash Bros. has seven, and Rocket League has five.
The newest member of the Cougar athletics family is currently at the end of their fall season, with their final scheduled event being a Rocket League matchup against Bradley University on November 10th. The team currently holds an overall record (encompassing all three games) of 13-8.
The Esports program already is quite well developed; accumulating 20 players on the roster and posting a winning record while competing for playoff spots is impressive for an inaugural season. “I am absolutely thrilled with how our team has done in their first year,” says head coach Nick Liegey. “We have a super young group that has been very supportive of one another and is constantly pushing each other to improve. I cannot wait to see what this group can accomplish over the course of the next few seasons.”
Jackson McCullough, a freshman who plays on the Rocket League team and serves as a captain, also spoke to the early success and development of the program. “We are pioneers for this program. Seeing all the pieces come together, our teams getting stronger and our program advancing, is a great thing that I am happy to be a part of,” said McCullough.
The IU Kokomo Esports team is off to a great start in its first season, and it is exciting to see a brand-new program developing before our eyes. Bright things are ahead for Cougar Esports.
