BECKLEY, W.Va. — WVU Tech esports rallied from an opening-game loss to defeat Thomas College 2-1 in NECC Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competition Tuesday, Oct. 20, improving to 4-0 in league play.
Freshman Bryse Jenkins led the Golden Bears with 10 stocks across two games, while junior Rylan Ellison took eight stocks in the deciding victory. Tech also competed against Purdue University Northwest's PNW Gold in Marvel Rivals and SUNY Morrisville in Street Fighter 6.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
WVU Tech remained unbeaten in NECC Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competition with a 2-1 comeback victory over Thomas College.
The Golden Bears dropped the opening game 12-2 in stocks before responding with a narrow 12-11 victory in Game 2. Tech completed the comeback with a 12-8 win in the deciding game.
Freshman Bryse Jenkins (ConcludedNut1) led WVU Tech with 10 stocks across two games while competing as Captain Falcon. Jenkins helped turn the series around by taking eight stocks in Game 2, accounting for two-thirds of Tech's total in the victory. He added two more in the deciding game.
Junior Rylan Ellison (RyeBread) delivered another standout performance in Game 3. Playing as Joker, Ellison took eight of Tech's 12 stocks to help secure the victory.
Sophomore Adams S. Turpin-Abdulrazaaq Jr. (Trickks) contributed four stocks across the series while competing as Incineroar. He took one stock in each of the opening two games before adding two in the finale.
Junior Evan Ingram (Dunks) added three stocks while competing as Falco, including two in Game 2. Freshman Josiah Pilkington (DaBeastLoL) also appeared in the opening two games, taking one stock with Greninja in Game 2 after competing as Roy in the opener.
The Golden Bears combined to take 26 stocks across the three games, including 24 in their two victories.
The win followed NECC victories over UWSP Esports Black, Eastern University and Pittsburg State University's Greek Freaks, improving WVU Tech to 4-0 in league competition.
Marvel Rivals
WVU Tech fell 3-0 to Purdue University Northwest's PNW Gold in NECC Marvel Rivals competition, but the Golden Bears challenged their opponent in a closely contested final game.
PNW Gold won the opener 2-0 and followed with a 3-0 victory in Game 2. Tech produced its strongest offensive showing of the series in Game 3, scoring three points before PNW Gold secured a 4-3 victory to complete the sweep.
Senior Noah Tucker (bizzy.biyombo) led WVU Tech with 61 eliminations and 30 final hits across the three games. Tucker recorded 33 eliminations and 16 final hits in the finale.
Sophomore Wyatt Plumley (Plum) finished with 57 eliminations, including 29 in Game 3. Senior Ty Bock (BockShiesty) added 55 eliminations, highlighted by 32 in the final game. Bock also finished with 107,440 damage blocked across the series.
Fifth-year Anthony Biley (G0thGirlsHMU) contributed 49 eliminations and a team-high 112,164 damage blocked. Biley recorded 29 eliminations and 46,224 damage blocked in Game 3.
Senior Benjamin Cogar (I3ennii) led Tech with 85,925 healing and contributed 35 eliminations and 49 assists. Sophomore Tyler Vines (Tytanium) added 60,630 healing and 53 assists.
The Golden Bears combined for 276 eliminations across the three-game series.
WVU Tech moved to 1-3 in NECC Marvel Rivals competition.
Street Fighter 6
Sophomore Ralph Aaron Etaba Ateba (Wreck) fell 4-0 to SUNY Morrisville's itbelikethat in ECAC Street Fighter 6 competition.
Ateba entered the matchup following a 4-3 victory over Plymouth State University on Oct. 13. He also earned a 4-3 win over Russell Sage College on Sept. 29.
The result moved Ateba to 2-3 through five matches.
What's Next
WVU Tech returns to competition Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the undefeated Rainbow Six Siege team faces Marietta College at 7 p.m.
Rocket League takes on SUNY Empire Elites RL Yellow on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m.
Overwatch returns Friday, Oct. 23, against Illini Esports Blue at 8 p.m.
Three competitions follow Monday, Oct. 26. Junior Triston Stover competes in Teamfight Tactics, sophomore Luca Koenig continues EA Sports FC 26 competition and Tech's ECAC Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team faces Stockton Smash Ultimate. All three events are scheduled for 8 p.m.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, NECC Super Smash Bros. Ultimate takes on Buena Vista Blue at 8 p.m. Street Fighter 6 is also scheduled for 8 p.m., followed by Marvel Rivals against Illini Esports Blue at 8:15 p.m.
All competitions are scheduled for the Golden Bear Esports Lab in Beckley.
