When Esports made its debut on the Wilkes campus just two years ago, even its program manager, Robert Eskra, never imagined that it would be competing – and winning – on larger stages this quickly.
“It is silly to say, but the only word I can use is historic,” said Eskra of the Rocket League team’s Atlantic Conference Championship win in April. “This win will forever be our first conference championship, and this team will go down in Wilkes Esports history as the first team to achieve that, and while the program is still so young. They have set the bar pretty high for future players.”
Several teams from the newly established Esports program advanced to conference playoffs in prior seasons, but 2025 marked the first year where Wilkes advanced past the first round. Rocket League competitors Garrett Berlin, Ben Carro, Hayden Foland and Herbert Ramirez were thrilled at the prospect of gaining national recognition and even more excited to demonstrate their skills.
Ben Carro, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering from Berwick, Pennsylvania, who also happens to be competition manager for the Esports program, compares Rocket League to soccer. “Though it’s cars flying through the air, [it’s] quite realistic and easy to grasp.” The premise is that players will use rocket-powered cars to hit a ball into their opponent’s goal. Featuring stunning visuals and fast-paced gameplay, Rocket League has become one of the most popular Esports.
“What I like most about Rocket League is the culture,” said Ramirez, a senior sports management major and men’s soccer player from Hightstown, New Jersey. Ramirez will also participate in professional soccer trials in Mexico following graduation as a member of Real Central NJ, a semi-professional soccer club. “It’s a very competitive game where you can meet players from all over the world.”
“Whether it’s the intense pressure of the 1v1s or the fast, strategic flow of 2vs2s, I am all about the challenge,” said Berlin, a senior history major from Milford, Pennsylvania. “Every game is a chance to outplay, improve and dominate.”
To prepare for its win against Lesley University, the team used recordings of opponents in previous matches, taking note of techniques and approaches that might be used in live gameplay during the championship. Then, the players drilled in practice matches, working together to develop an overall strategy. When gametime arrived, the team felt confident in their abilities, but needed to navigate some unexpected challenges.
“The most challenging part of playing in that particular winning match was dealing with team miscommunications and just generally playing too fast,” said Berlin, citing double commits, awkward rotations or missed opportunities. Not to mention, their opponents, who they bested in previous matches, had put in a lot of work to prepare. “It was clear that Lesley had put in the work after their loss against us,” said Carro.
The Rocket League team felt on its heels the entire time, struggling to get a lead. Eskra described the match as a consistent “tug of war”. But then, a crucial point changed it all – an overtime goal in game seven.
“The energy changed on our side and we knew we could get it done. From there, we stayed locked in and kept the pressure up. That’s when I knew the match was ours to finish,” said Berlin.
“From the start of the season, I knew our roster had potential, and I wanted to make sure we reached it,” said Carro. “When that goal went into the back of the net in game seven overtime, I knew that this roster was something special, so the win was a long time coming.” Wilkes emerged victorious and a weight was lifted off the team’s shoulders.
As for what’s next, the newly-minted Atlantic champions are preparing for division national tournaments and gearing up for summer, which will include weekly Smash Bros tournaments on Wednesday nights and content creation for their social media and Twitch channel.
Looking back on the win, as well as their individual growth in the program, the team agrees that Esports have been transformative.
“My biggest area of growth has been my ability to manage my time,” said Carro, who works closely with other teams within the program while also participating in several music ensembles. He’s seen an improvement in both his teamwork and gameplay skills. “I have [also] learned that success takes time.”
“I’ve grown not just as a player, but also as a teammate, leader, and individual. When I first joined, I was mostly focused on improving my own gameplay, but over time I began to see the bigger picture,” said Berlin of his improved abilities to think quickly, adapt to changing circumstances and maintain a competitive mindset. “I understand how communication, teamwork and strategy are just as important as mechanical skill.”
“Something I learned from playing Esports here at Wilkes University is you never know what opportunities you come across,” said Ramirez. “Take the leap no matter what anyone has to say about Esports and the stigma behind it.”
“In two years, I have seen us go from an empty room to a program with 50 some active students,” said Eskra, beaming with pride over Esports’ growth, noting that Wilkes now has teams that regularly make playoffs and can claim a championship win. Not to mention, students have established weekly tournaments to connect the program with a local community of gamers, while others have traveled to tournaments to further themselves with the broader gaming community. “I know that we will continue to grow, and create a community that is bigger than just competitive gaming.”
Learn more about the Wilkes Esports program at wilkes.edu/esports.