Northwood Esports won the Saints Gauntlet Series Super Smash Brothers Ultimate tournament, hosted by St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The competition featured eight of the top collegiate esports teams from the Great Lakes region and Canada. In a thrilling final match, Northwood defeated Oakland University in a nail-biting 2-1 series to claim the championship title.
The Northwood roster featured standout performances from Tyler “Frosybyte” Amos of Martinsville, Virginia; Dylan “SoGoodPop” Wheeler of Broadview Heights, Ohio; Jackson “Kople” Wallace of Midland, Michigan, Jessie “JeJaJeJa” Valdez-Vallejo of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Zie “Zie” Hebert of Lafayette, Louisianna, and PJ “Malachite” Villareal of Houston, Texas. The final match came down to the last stock of the last player, with Zie securing the victory for the Timberwolves.
“This was an incredible display of resilience and skill from our team,” said Northwood Esports Head Coach Jacob R. Jacob. “We knew going in that it would be a close series, but the way our players stepped up in the final moments was nothing short of spectacular. Their dedication and teamwork made all the difference.”
Assistant Coach Aden Frosch echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the team’s growth and preparation. “This core roster has been together since Fall 2023, and in that time, they have made immense strides in both skill and synergy. Jessie, in particular, has risen to become the best Kirby player in the world, which is a testament to his hard work and determination.”
In addition to a roster of talented varsity players, Northwood Esports’ success can be attributed to the strength of its academy program, which provides emerging players with coaching and competitive experience. Academy player Logan “SpringyL” Neubecker, of West Branch, Michigan, has seen remarkable improvement under the guidance of Tyler “Frosybyte” Amos, elevating his performance to near Top 20 status in Michigan.
Looking ahead, the Northwood Smash team has already secured a spot at CECC 2025, the largest annual collegiate esports LAN event, set to take place from May 1-4 in Arlington, Texas. Additionally, Northwood’s Valorant roster will compete in the Saints Gauntlet Series on March 22, followed by the Overwatch roster’s tournament appearance on April 12. Meanwhile, the Northwood Rocket League Team is set to compete in the Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) Open 4 this weekend, aiming for their third consecutive CRL Opens victory and a first-place seed in the upcoming playoffs.
