Also, League of Legends Coach Goes Pro and Rocket League Finishes Fourth Nationally in Collegiate Rocket League
Northwood University Esports is closing out the fall semester with multiple national achievements across several titles — including a first-ever national championship in Deadlock, a Top-4 national finish in Collegiate Rocket League, a professional League of Legends coaching contract, and four varsity teams qualifying for the PlayVs College Fall Grand Finals in December.
“These milestones reinforce Northwood’s national leadership in collegiate esports and strengthen student recruitment for one of the country’s most successful varsity esports programs,” stated Northwood Esports Coach Jacob R. Jacob. “We are proud of our incredibly talented students, 20 of whom are heading to the Fall Grand Finals in Ohio next month.”
Four Northwood Rosters Qualify for the PlayVs College Fall Grand Finals
Northwood’s Super Smash Bros., Overwatch, Valorant, and Rocket League rosters have all qualified to compete in the PlayVs College Fall Grand Finals, Dec. 13-14, in Akron, Ohio. PlayVs is one of the premier collegiate esports leagues in the country, alongside the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and official circuits run by game publishers.
Twenty Northwood students have qualified to compete in the championship, and Northwood enters the weekend with Overwatch and Rocket League both earning No. 1 seeds, while Smash Bros. and Valorant secured No. 2 seeds.
“Expectations are high,” said Northwood Esports Assistant Coach Aden Frosch. “Earlier this year, when PlayVs was branded as Playfly, we brought home three trophies from the Tournament of Champions in Dallas. These teams know how to win on big stages, and we’re excited to compete for more hardware in Akron.”
Northwood Wins First National Championship in Deadlock
In just its inaugural season competing in one of esports’ newest titles, Northwood’s Deadlock roster delivered a near-perfect campaign — dropping only one game all season — to capture the 2025 Deadlock Collegiate Series National Championship on Nov. 23.
The championship roster includes:
- John “iCy” Kazura of Markham, Ontario (Canada)
- Nathan “D1” Chapman of West Dundee, Illinois
- Ben “Benas” Vysnia of Barrington, Illinois
- Noah “Blur” Paul of Juneau, Alaska
- Jordan “Crimz” Herzog of Sudbury, Massachusetts
- PJ “Malachite” Villarreal of Dickinson, Texas
- James “Faustus” Frye of Vanceburg, Kentucky
Northwood strategically invested early in Deadlock, recruiting top talent and positioning the program to dominate a rapidly emerging competitive scene.
“With Deadlock still being such a new game, it’s amazing to see how much of a community it has already fostered,” Frosch said. “We wanted to be one of the first programs to invest in the game and get ahead of the competition. With the roster we built, we were the heavy favorites to win this fall — and we couldn’t be any prouder that, in addition to a national title, the team almost had a perfect season.”
Rocket League Finishes Fourth Nationally in Collegiate Rocket League (CRL)
In the official Psyonix-run Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) — one of the most competitive collegiate esports ecosystems — Northwood finished fourth in the nation following playoff competition this weekend.
The fall roster includes:
- Stephen “HockE” Hoelbinger of West Deptford, New Jersey
- Gwilym “Creamz” Muir of Invermere, British Columbia (Canada)
- Kadin “Zineel” Zineelabidine of Franklin Park, Illinois
“Collegiate Rocket League has become so incredibly close that on any given day, any of the top four teams could win the championship,” said Northwood Esports Coach Jacob R. Jacob. “While this wasn’t our ideal finish, it shows the strength of the program — and the leadership of CRL World Champion HockE in his final year. We’re already preparing to be even better next semester.”
Northwood’s League of Legends Coach Signs Professional Contract
Northwood also celebrates a major milestone for its coaching staff: Varsity League of Legends Coach Ian “Ido” McCormick has signed to coach for professional organization Disguised in the League Championship Series (LCS).
McCormick joined Northwood in Fall 2024 and rapidly helped elevate the program into one of the most promising young League of Legends rosters in the collegiate scene.
“While Ian has only been with us since Fall 2024, he’s helped us lay the foundation for a strong League of Legends program,” said Broadcast and Competitions Coordinator Ryan Sebek. “He helped us identify top players, secure multiple second-place finishes in leagues like PlayVs and NECC, and earn a Top-8 finish in the Riot Games–run CLOL tournament — an incredible accomplishment for a program that’s only one year old. We’re excited to see what he can do in the LCS.”
Founded in 2019, Northwood Esports has quickly become one of the nation’s premier collegiate programs, earning two world championships and over 30 national titles across multiple games against more than 500 colleges across the U.S. The program’s success extends beyond competition, with several Northwood athletes having signed professional contracts, while others continue to represent the university on a global stage.
Northwood Esports is equipped to train and perform at the highest level with a state-of-the-art gaming center. For more information, visit https://esports.northwood.edu/ — or connect with our coaches here to explore opportunities to visit the Northwood Esports Arena.
