No one will call UNC Greensboro’s Esports community a bunch of “newbs” after this incredible year. Just a few months in, its current teams began blowing past high scores and records in matches against longstanding collegiate players.
Because at UNCG, it’s all about the love of the game.
The 2024-25 academic year became “Year Zero” for fielding varsity-like esports teams at the competitive collegiate levels, and UNCG eclipsed every expectation set before them.
“Each of us possesses a different set of skills that enable us to work so successfully as a team,” says Grace Zobkiw, a high-ranking player in Overwatch 2. “From the smallest tips and tricks to full on gameplay review, each team member has something to offer the others that improves our team performance. We have made so much progress in this way from the beginning of the year to now.”
There are currently two premier esports teams at the University for separate game titles: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Overwatch 2. Made up of 15 students in total, they compete every week across 2-3 collegiate leagues, proving that we are a top esports program in the collegiate landscape.
Esports Team Achievements
In Year Zero, the Esports team bagged a lot of high scores and wins:
- UNCG won Spring 2025’s Playfly Grand Championship (a $2,000 prize).
- UNCG beat more than 500 schools to secure the NECC Nationals’ collegiate league and the NACE championships for Super Smash Bros.
- The Overwatch 2 squad placed in the Top 18 out of more than 300 schools nationally in the NACE playoffs.
- The “Smash” team won the “Cavalier Clash” collegiate tournament in Virginia (a $1,300 prize pools).
Furthermore, the team currently has the top-ranked Smash player in North Carolina. Jordan Marelli is in the Top Three on the team and among the Top 150 players in North America. On the Overwatch side, Zobkiw started in the Platinum rank (Top 50%) and is now in High Master Tier (Top 2%).
“The most rewarding part of being on a team at UNCG has been the many social connections I’ve had the opportunity to make,” says Zobkiw. “I have made so many new friends this year because of my time on the esports team.”
They Play to Win, But All in Good Fun
It may be Year Zero, but the groundwork had already been laid for a successful esports community at UNCG. The Esports club first took shape in 2012 as a League of Legends group. With the opening of the new Esports Arena in 2022, the momentum around the gaming community has held through each year.
As of Spring 2025, the club has around 1,600 members; 120 of them compete across 11 teams. Both teams attended tournaments in New York, Miami, Sandusky, Chicago, and other locations. Moreover, UNCG competes through three of the five big organizations: NACE, NACC, and Playfly.
Zobkiw says, “To any incoming students interested in esports I will say this: It can seem a bit intimidating at first to take a step into the arena, but once you do you will find the friendliest environment on campus. It offers so much, from new friendships to competitive opportunities, and I owe so much of my positive experiences at UNCG to the people there.”
What comes next after Year Zero? Dozens of students are asking about how to get involved. With all that excitement, UNCG Esports has proven they’re ready for the next stage.
And other teams better watch out! UNCG loves a challenge.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications; with contributions by Zach Ephlin, UNCG Esports
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications; and Zach Ephlin, UNCG Esports
