On January 23rd, CSU hosted Baldwin Wallace University for an in-person GLEC Smash Ultimate match. The event featured challenging gameplay and great conversation between the local teams. CSU secured a 2-0 victory. The program thanks Baldwin Wallace for visiting the lab and competing.

CSU Esports held a team bonding event at BOSS Pro Karting, featuring go-kart racing and a VR tournament. Director of Production Christian “Xandit” Davis won the racing portion with a time of 20.06 seconds, narrowly beating Director PJ Farrell (20.4s). In the competitive VR bracket, a Valorant team featuring Nung Lian, Ziyeir Norman, Isaiah Howard, and Matt Lam took home the victory.

CSU Smash player Scott “Dr. Kirb” Wade won his first regional tournament since joining the program at Rootown Rumble 5 in Akron. He defeated top-ranked players like Dice and Rob to win the singles bracket, exceeding his #4 seed. He also won the doubles bracket alongside teammate Jackson “RetroLazer” Curet. In total, Scott took home $1,200 in prize money.

CSU Esports welcomes new Varsity League of Legends player Reid "TOPDOG655" Lake. A freshman Accounting major from Beavercreek, Ohio, Reid specializes in the Top Lane with champions like Dr. Mundo and Mordekaiser. His career highlights include a game-winning backdoor play at the Game Arena and a 2nd place finish in the GLEC tournament. Outside of the game, he enjoys cooking and gaming with friends.

n a December interview, CSU Esports profiled Austin "Saucetin" Cioce, the Head Coach of the fighting game team. With over 15 years of competitive experience, Coach Austin emphasizes game theory, logic-based decision-making, and positive life habits. His goal is to build strong players who can apply these skills to their daily lives. He considers his greatest achievement to be contributing to the region's legacy and growing the next generation of talent.

The CSU Varsity Rocket League team has made history by earning a promotion to NECC Division 1. The promotion was secured after consecutive clutch victories over Southeastern Oklahoma State (3-2) and BPCU Esports (3-1). Having previously won a Division 3 National Championship in 2025, the team is now aiming to repeat their championship success at the highest level of NECC competition.

The CSU Smash Ultimate team traveled to the Afterburner tournament in January, a major event with over 400 players. The team finished 4th in the collegiate crews event after close last-stock losses to Purdue and Akron. In singles, Victor "Dreamless" Marcelo placed 97th, while Scottie "Dr. Kirb" Wade made CSU history by placing 17th overall—the highest placement of any collegiate player at the event and the first Top 32 finish at a major in program history.

CSU Esports welcomes new Varsity Overwatch player Matthew "LEE" Lam. A freshman Electrical Engineering major from Dresher, Pennsylvania, Matthew recently achieved Rank 1 on the North American leaderboard. In addition to his gaming success, he is an avid weightlifter. The team looks forward to his contributions in future seasons.

Over winter break, Junior "CptJunior" Ramos was promoted from Secretary to President of the CSU Esports Club Team. A Senior Electrical Engineering major, Junior is an active player for the Overwatch Academy and Marvel Rivals club teams. He is recognized as a beloved member of the community whose hard work and passion have been a backbone of the program for years.

On January 11th, CSU hosted the Northeast Ohio Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Awards (NEOH Awards). The event was an invitational for the region's best players to compete and earn awards for their 2025 accomplishments. CSU’s Victor "Dreamless" Marcelo won the tournament, taking home the gold on his home turf. Photos for the event were taken by Evan French.