Notre Dame Esports Program Finds Early Success in First Season

Notre Dame’s first year of esports proved to be an exciting and successful start for the new program, with multiple teams posting strong regular season records, advancing into postseason play, and earning recognition at the state and regional levels.

In Valorant, Notre Dame finished a perfect 5-0 in the regular season before winning sectional playoffs and advancing to the quarterfinals. The team included Minh Pham, Owen Blattel, Cole Donze, Ethan Casey, Lance Hinkebein, and Brycen Neal. The Overwatch 2 team also had an undefeated regular season at 7-0, winning its first two sectional rounds and ultimately falling in the sectional final. Team members were Brayden Davidson, Adam Cork, Asa Dorton, Pham, Nathaniel Imhoff, Donnie Braydon Kielhofner and Eli Menz. 

The program also saw success in individual and specialty competitions. Notre Dame earned second place in state in the MOSEF Minecraft Creative Building Challenge with a team of Jon Paul Thompson, Kielhofner, Rachel Noyes and Neal. In Gran Turismo 7, Jon Paul Thompson and Neal both finished in the top 10 in the Midwest region, with Neal placing second. In the Pokemon Champions Missouri State Trial Tournament, Menz, Boyd Bollinger, and DayJon Gray competed, with Boyd finishing fifth and Gray finishing second in the state.

Notre Dame fielded two Apex Legends teams in its inaugural season. Team 1 finished 5-0 in the regular season and advanced to the quarterfinals of postseason play. That team consisted of Sebastian Schaaf, Cork, Drue Duby and Jonah Patomson. Team 2 had some tough losses, but represented ND well, and included Menz, Parker Cruz, Imhoff, Kielhofner and Neal.

In Marvel Rivals, Notre Dame finished 2-5 and reached the playoffs, where the team was eliminated in the first round. Team members were Jon Paul Thompson, Dorton, Cork, Menz, Liam Ford, Kielhofner, Faraz Alam, Nicholas Thompson.

Additional students represented Notre Dame in Mario Kart and Fortnite, continuing to build the depth of the program. Dorton, Nora Koetting and Reyna Martin competed in Mario Kart, while Koetting, Jon Paul Thompson, Christopher Hanson, Jr. Dorton and Menz competed in Fortnite.

From undefeated seasons to postseason appearances and state-level honors, Notre Dame’s first year of esports laid a strong foundation for the future. The program’s early success reflects both the talent of its student competitors and the growing opportunities esports provides for students to represent Notre Dame in new and exciting ways.