UM-Flint Esports: Building a competitive legacy

The University of Michigan-Flint Esports program is proving that last year's breakout season was just the beginning. After a landmark 2024–25 academic year, the program has followed up with an impressive fall and winter campaign, pairing Local Area Network trophies and undefeated records with a spring packed full of playoff-bound teams eager to make noise on the national stage.

"I'm just super proud of all the teams and their success," said Luke Rimarcik, Esports program manager. "Getting the opportunity to watch the players grow and improve in the game, then seeing it pay off, makes me so proud."

Fall: Building a Winning Standard

The team set a winning standard for Rocket League early in the season. Teammates Noah Sanford, a sophomore business major from Swartz Creek, Jacob Schultz, a sophomore criminal justice major from Davison and Jacob Cummings, a sophomore computer science major from Owosso, powered through the fall regular group stage at 7-0, then carried that momentum into the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division B playoff bracket, claiming first place against Ashland University.

A group of esports players wearing blue and yellow Michigan Flint Esports jerseys and headsets, sitting in front of computer monitors and gaming equipment. — From left to right, Tony Anderson a sophomore, computer science major from Flint, Ian Slackta, a junior cyber security major from Flushing, Dylan McNeal, a sophomore business major from Swartz Creek and Rylie Yeiter, a senior criminal justice and communication major from Owosso, compete in a match.

"It was the perfect blend of chemistry and execution that led us through the season and to that grand final win," Schultz said. "We refined everything in such a way that it was perfectly executable in every series and that helped our consistency a lot."

Overwatch 2 added another undefeated regular season to the program's résumé. The team went 7-0 in ECAC Division B play before advancing to the conference grand finals.

"I'm very proud of how far we have made it as a team and couldn't have asked for better teammates to take to the finals with me," said Yeiter. The team of Yeiter, Shayne Benjamin,a first-year student from Howell, Jayden Barber, a first-year computer science major from Flint, McNeal and Anderson ultimately fell 0-4 in a hard-fought match against Southeast Missouri State University in the finals but cemented UM-Flint as a consistent contender in the conference.

Teamfight Tactics showcased UM-Flint's strength in solo titles. Asma Arrak, a senior computer and information sciences major from Tunisia, battled through a rough start to the season, earning enough points during the regular slate to clinch a playoff berth. She caught fire at the right time, finishing with 26 points to secure first place, edging past the second-place finisher by just two points

"I was ready for a top three (finish) since I was confident with that last patch, but I was not expecting a first place, so I'm happy it worked out," Arrak said.

Valorant pushed the program onto another collegiate LAN stage. Christian Sullivan, a senior mechanical engineering major from Imlay City, Tyrone Zheng, a sophomore computer science major from Commerce Township, Ja'Taé Fordham, a sophomore cybersecurity major from Flint, Jake Wohlfert, a junior cybersecurity major from Fenton and Sam Williams, a senior information teach and informatics major from Flushing, traveled to Grand Rapids for a Michigan High School Esports Federation-hosted LAN geared toward college teams, where UM-Flint went undefeated on day one with three straight wins. On day two, the team advanced to a grand final matchup against Michigan State University, falling 0-2 but gaining valuable high-pressure experience.

"It was a really fun experience and I had a really good time with my team–let's not talk about the grand finals," Fordham said. "We're looking forward to attending more LANs in the future. Not stopping until we get a first-place trophy."

Two players seated on stage facing each other with monitors, large screens above showing gameplay from two different video games. — *UM-Flint Esports competes at Western Michigan's "Match Point Invitational" on March 21.*

Spring: Playoff Pushes and National Ambitions

The momentum from fall has carried directly into the winter semester, during which multiple rosters are heading into playoffs with strong records and national aspirations. In Valorant, UM-Flint enters the postseason undefeated in ECAC and 6-1 in the National Esports Collegiate Conference, putting the squad in position for a potential return to the NECC national bracket, where selection is based on points earned through regular-season wins and playoff placements. Fordham and his teammates will look to build on last year's national-level run and their recent LAN experiences as they take on some of the strongest collegiate programs in the country.

Super Smash Bros. delivered one of the spring's biggest moments. Competing at Western Michigan University's "Match Point Invitational" LAN on March 21, UM-Flint claimed its first Smash LAN title against a field that included Western Michigan, Bethel University, Valparaiso University, Central Michigan University, Ferris State University and Trine University. The final against WMU was a nail-biter, with the opening set coming down to both players on their last stock before UM-Flint pulled away in the second. Holding a three-stock advantage, student competitor Cole Mays, a junior engineering major from Flint, closed out the decisive game to secure first place and set the tone for an undefeated run in NECC and ECAC play.

Four esports team members wearing matching blue and yellow jerseys with lanyards, one holding a trophy. — From left: Mays, Bryce Pemberton, a sophomore business major from Grand Rapids, Michael Miller, a senior graphic design major from Davison, and William Mullane, a senior computer science major from Goodrich, hold up their first-place trophy from winning the Match Point Invitational.

That Smash success is part of a broader spring playoff picture. UM-Flint's Super Smash Bros. players enter NECC and ECAC brackets undefeated, joined by Marvel Rivals, Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant Maize, Super Smash Maize and Rocket League, all of which posted strong regular seasons to qualify for NECC and ECAC playoffs. Together with fall's results, those berths show a program no longer defined by a single headline roster or breakout run; UM-Flint Esports is building competitive depth across titles and seasons.

For Rimarcik, watching that depth translate into trophies and playoff spots is about more than the win-loss column. "When I get to witness these moments of their hard work paying off, it honestly touches my heart," he said. "Watching all their emotions and excitement through every battle, up until they get that final win to lift the trophy—it's amazing for the program's success. It's one thing if we have one super team winning a lot, but to have multiple teams with so much success really builds to the atmosphere of our arena."

How Fans Can Show Support During Tournament Time

The ECAC playoffs began the week of March 23, and UM-Flint students, alumni and community members will have plenty of opportunities to support these teams as they chase deeper postseason runs. Fans can follow UM-Flint Esports on social media for updated brackets, match times and opponent announcements, and watch selected matches live on Twitch.