Northwood University will represent the United States in the 2023 Collegiate Rocket League World Championship Series in Dallas, Texas.
“The world championship will consist of the best Rocket League teams from 16 countries, with the United States getting three additional spots and Canada getting two additional spots,” explained Esports Coach Cody Elsen. “Both of the Northwood Rocket League teams have qualified for the world championship, so two out of the three U.S. teams will be from here in Midland, Michigan.”
Esports is an umbrella for multiple competitive games, similar to how a university’s athletics department is an umbrella to numerous traditional competitive sports. So Rocket League is to an esports program what baseball is like to a university’s athletics program.
Last summer, a Northwood Esports team brought home the Collegiate Rocket League world title. It was Northwood Esports’ first world title. In December, Northwood won the Valorant world championship.
“To have a team qualify to compete at the international level is incredible — to have two qualify is astonishing,” Elsen stated. “We are beyond proud of these hard-working, dedicated players.”
The following students are on the qualifying Northwood Blue team:
• Alexander Che — Houston, Texas
• Hunter Woitas — Tucson, Arizona
• Stephen Hoelbinger — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The following players are on the Northwood White team:
• Aaron Cadiz — Newark, New Jersey • Zander Shah — Newton, Pennsylvania • Carter Tschumper — Menomonie, Wisconsin
On March 1, Northwood White joined Northwood Blue in qualifying for the world championship after defeating West Virginia University live in front of 15,000 viewers.
“We invite Michigan high schoolers to come meet with these exceptional players — and more from Northwood Esports — during a March 22 Esports Open House,” Elsen said.
The March 22 event is free and will give high school students a chance to play with Northwood players in the Northwood Esports training facility. To register, visit https://bit.ly/EsportsOH032223.
For more information about Northwood’s Esports, visit https://esports.northwood.edu/.
