WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Gaming fans get ready because the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly eSports team is about to begin competition!
The Grizzlies will play their first NJCAAE-sanctioned event at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, in Call of Duty: Vanguard. Team members competing in this event will be Brock DeWeese, Kale Willison and Joshua Burgess, all of West Plains, and Andrew Hooker, Norwood.
“We aren’t quite sure if the NJCAAE will be streaming this particular match, so I’m not sure if people will be able to watch,” Coach Alex Pinnon said. “We are working on an idea that will allow people to come in and watch, but we’re still ironing that out.”
Pinnon explained NJCAAE officials choose which games to stream during the week. At this time, officials haven’t announced which games will be streamed next week, so there is a possibility fans may be able to tune in to this and other competitions in which the Grizzlies will participate. To access the NJCAAE’s Twitch streaming account, visit Twitch.tv/NJCAAE.
The Grizzlies will compete in other games throughout the week. On Wednesday, Summer Gabriel and Zahren Whited, both of West Plains, will play Super Smash Bros. at 5 p.m.; James Dumas and Jessica Bates, both of West Plains, will play Hearthstone at 6 p.m.; and DeWeese and Spencer Spreutels, Koshkonong, will play Call of Duty: Warzone at 7 p.m.
Mario Kart action gets underway at 7 p.m. Thursday featuring Grizzlies Abe Khan, West Plains, and Dustin Johnson, Ava.
Friday, six Grizzlies will compete in Overwatch 2 beginning at 4 p.m. They include Willison, Hooker, Jackson Williams of Cabool and Jasmine Williams, Jayden Mattison and Kassidy Scott, all of West Plains.
Pinnon said each of these groups will play these same games at the same time each week throughout the season, which ends Nov. 18. Playoffs will run Nov. 28 through Dec. 11.
“While fans will probably not be able to watch them this week, we are hoping to set up a room to host fans, and, in the future we will set up a streaming account for people to watch online,” Pinnon said.
Pinnon is excited to start the season with this inaugural Grizzly eSports team. “I have been impressed with each player’s ability to adapt to the team setting,” he said. “Our communication has improved, leaders have emerged, and we’re winning matches in practices. I am confident that we will reach the playoffs in our opening season.”
For more information about the Grizzly eSports program, contact Pinnon at APinnon@MissouriState.edu or at 417-255-7965.
