Lake Area Tech Esports Team Offers Fans an Exciting Start to the Season
Lake Area Technical College’s Esports team kicked off the season with a bang on Tuesday, October 1st, facing off in a thrilling doubleheader against Salt Lake City Community College. Competing in Super Smash Brothers, a fast-paced 1v1 fighting game, LATC fought hard but ultimately fell 0-2. Gabe Gebhard, a first-year Occupational Therapy Assistant student, stepped up to represent LATC in this electrifying showdown, showcasing impressive skill and determination. Although the outcome wasn’t in LATC’s favor, the experience set the tone for a season filled with potential and growth.
The excitement continued to build as LATC’s Rainbow Six Siege team made a bold statement in their season opener on Friday, October 4th, against the highly-regarded Laredo Texas College Palominos. This 5v5 tactical shooter game saw LATC claim an adrenaline-pumping 2-0 victory in an intense match that had fans on the edge of their seats. The Palominos, no strangers to the esports world with a National Championship under their belt, came into the match with a strong winning tradition. However, LATC wasn’t intimidated and valiantly fought to secure the win, with rounds that went right down to the wire.
Siege team captain, Kaian Enockson, a first-year Computer Information Systems student, reflected on the team’s monumental victory, “They were a very good team, so pulling off a win in our first game of the season was huge for us.”
Assistant Coach Levi Olson echoed that enthusiasm, noting how the team’s adaptability and determination made all the difference. “My biggest takeaway was that this team has the will and teamwork to compete at this level,” he said. “Throughout the match, they kept their cool, adapted to the challenge, and overcame adversity. We’re extremely excited for what’s to come this season!”
A standout moment came from first-year Welding student and Watertown High School graduate Tucker Urdahl, who delivered a clutch performance in the second round, saving the team from losing the map by pushing the game into overtime. His heroics were a key part of LATC’s hard-fought triumph.
As the Siege team’s leader, Enockson has his sights set on the future, eager to see how his team stacks up against top-tier talent across the country. Personally, he’s also focused on becoming a better “IGL” (In-Game Leader), a role in which he excelled during the Palominos match.
LATC’s Super Smash Brothers team will be back in action on Tuesday, October 8th, with a doubleheader. They’ll face Umpqua College from Roseburg, Oregon, at 7 PM, followed by a matchup against Centralia College from Washington at 8 PM. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Six Siege team will gear up for another thrilling battle on Friday, October 11th at 7 PM, when they take on State Technical College from Linn, Missouri.
Fans can catch all the excitement live on campus at LATC’s Esports arena (Door 2A) or stream the matches on the LATC Esports Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/latcesports/. Get ready for an unforgettable season of high-octane competition and heart-stopping moments!
