Arkansas College Esports Team Wins National Championship

Last spring broke the University of Arkansas at Monticello esports team's hearts when they lost in the national championship match. This April, those same players came back stronger and claimed the title they'd been chasing.

On April 20, UAM's League of Legends team defeated High Point University of North Carolina to win the PlayVS College League Ranked Central Division championship. The victory was especially sweet since High Point handed UAM its only regular season loss.

The championship match played out like a Hollywood script. UAM won the first round, stumbled in the second, then rallied to defeat their rivals in the decisive third round.

Team captain Alexsavior Ayala, a junior chemistry and biochemistry double major, led four teammates through the intense competition. Jordan Berryman, Kersean Amir Hollis, Jimmy Lee Luster III, and Alexander Wargo balanced their diverse majors from nursing to psychology to computer science while competing at the highest collegiate level.

Both teams entered the playoffs as top seeds with identical 7-1 records. The single-elimination format meant one mistake could end their championship dreams.

League of Legends requires the same skills traditional sports demand: teamwork, strategy, and split-second decision making. In this fantasy battle arena game, five-person teams coordinate to destroy the opposing team's base while defending their own across 30-minute rounds.

Why This Inspires

UAM's esports program launched just two years ago in 2023. Most new programs spend years building before reaching championship level, but UAM has already claimed two divisional titles.

The team's makeup tells a compelling story about modern college athletics. These students aren't just gamers—they're future nurses, scientists, and engineers who've found community and competition through esports.

Director Bryan Fendley praised how the players set the standard for the growing program. Chancellor Peggy Doss celebrated how the victory establishes UAM's place in collegiate esports while showcasing student-athlete dedication.

The program now competes in four games: League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Students can even propose new teams for games not yet offered.

This championship shows how quickly passion plus hard work can build something special from the ground up.