Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop Esports claimed its first national title as it won captured the 2021 Rocket League championship at the Collegiate Esports National Championship this past Sunday.
Winthrop overcame a 2-0 deficit and scored with two seconds remaining to clinch the championship win over Northwood. Tristian "TCorrell" Correll was named the Rocket League MVP.
"I am so proud of this team and the way they showed up in this tournament," said head coach
Josh Sides. "Especially the mental toughness to be trailing in the third game of a best-of-five series, down 0-2 already in the series, against the #1 ranked team in all of collegiate Rocket League, and to bring it back and win game 3, 4, and 5 to close it out is incredible. T (Tristian Correll), JK (Matt Kelly), and Hound (Jared Pickens) were all incredible and instrumental in bringing the inaugural CENC title home to Rock Hill."
The Eagles defeated a Northwood program with a history of success in Rocket League that includes an NACE National Championship. They also defeated Akron along the way, which is also one of the top collegiate Rock League teams.
Due to scheduling conflicts this spring, Winthrop didn't compete in the Collegiate Rocket League but Sides was able to get the team scheduled for the Collegiate Esports National Championship. The Collegiate Rocket League, which began Mar. 14 hits the peak May 6 with the championship day and Sides said Akron and Northwood are the favorites.
Sides is really excited about the team's accomplishment. "I think that the fact that we were able to do it by beating the consensus top 2 teams in the country, the same two teams that most expect will face off in the CRL finals this Spring, is a testament to us being a top team in collegiate Rocket League and I am glad we got the opportunity to showcase what this team is capable of. Northwood and Akron are incredible, and I am hopeful that we will be able to compete with them in the official CRL Fall 2021."
"I'm so glad we were given the opportunity to compete in the inaugural CENC tournament. It allowed us the opportunity to show what we are capable of on a national stage and it's something for us to build upon going forward. I am looking forward to continuing our success in the fall semester and proving that our "storybook" run in this tournament wasn't just a fluke and to defending our National Championship title in the next CENC tournament."
