BOWLING GREEN, KY – The University of the Cumberlands Esports program captured its first Mid-South Conference title in program history this season, earning 2026 MSC Regular Season Co-Champion honors after reaching the championship match across all four titles, conference officials announced this week. The Patriots shared the title with Cumberland after both programs finished with nine total points across the four-game regular season slate.
 
The historic season was highlighted by consistent performances across every title. In Super Smash Bros., the Patriots secured the MSC Championship after defeating Freed-Hardeman 2-0 in the finals. Ben Skatzes led the way on Kazuya with eight total stocks across the championship series, while Andy Sears added six stocks on Meta Knight to help seal the program's first conference title. Throughout the season, the Patriots consistently dominated in Smash competition behind standout performances from Skatzes, Sears, Gavin King, and Joshua Stegman.
 
Cumberlands also made a deep run in Valorant, reaching the MSC championship match before finishing second overall in conference play. The Patriots defeated St. Thomas University 2-0 in the semifinals behind a 40-kill performance from Shane Vangraafeiland before falling to Cumberland in the finals. Earlier in the season, Isaiah Jarzab set a team MSC record with 51 kills in a series against Freed-Hardeman before later posting 58 kills in a victory over St. Thomas University.
 
Rocket League pieced together several dominant wins throughout MSC competition, including a 9-0 game in the semifinals against Freed-Hardeman as the Patriots advanced to the conference finals. Aedan Poore, Jonathan Jackson, and Caleb Biel consistently paced the Patriots offensively throughout the spring before UC ultimately finished runner-up in the conference.
 
Overwatch also reached the MSC Championship match behind standout play from Ryan Hillard. Throughout the season, Hillard posted multiple dominant stat lines, including an 82-elimination, three-death performance while rotating between Reinhardt, Ramattra, and Wrecking Ball. He later added more than 60 eliminations without a death in a sweep of Bethel as the Patriots secured another runner-up finish in conference play.
 
In addition to their success in competition, the Patriots were also recognized in the classroom with seven players earning MSC Academic All-Conference honors: Nikolas Combs, Ryan Hillard, Isaiah Jarzab, Adam Kolton, Madelyn Lewis, Andy Sears, and Benjamin Skatzes.
 
Hillard, Sears, and Skatzes each earned Academic All-Conference recognition for the second consecutive season, while Combs, Jarzab, Kolton, and Lewis all collected the honor for the first time in their careers at Cumberlands.
 
 Coach Jacob ball talked about his team this year saying, "I am extremely proud of what our team has been able to accomplish. They have put their heart and soul both in and out of the game this year, and we are looking forward to the future."
 
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