From underdogs to national champions, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵֱ²¥â€™s Overwatch team proved that determination, teamwork and resilience can take you all the way to the top.
In just their second year of competition, the Sunbirds made an unforgettable run through the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) playoffs.
Entering nationals as the No. 12 seed, Fresno Pacific battled past higher-ranked opponents and advanced to the championship match, where they completed a dominant 4–0 sweep of the University of Evansville to capture the NECC Division 8 Championship title. The historic season marked a major milestone for the program and a testament to the leadership of Esports Director Chris Carlson and the dedication of the student-athletes who made it happen.
In the video, two members of the championship-winning team share their experiences as Sunbird esports competitors, reflecting on the friendships, challenges and opportunities that helped shape their journey both in and out of the game. Their stories offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a championship culture and why esports has become such a meaningful part of the Fresno Pacific student experience.
Get to know Estevan and Riley:
Estevan Gonzalez:
The idea of competitive play at a school was really attractive, especially when, as a kid, you watch a lot of people who go pro in video games. Coming here gives me another platform to compete. It makes it more competitive and gives it higher stakes.
Riley Kirk:
During my last year of high school, I started playing on the school’s team. That was my only real experience. I love playing esports, so I wanted to join ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵֱ²¥â€™s team, and I was lucky enough to be able to do that.
What made me interested in esports was how accepting they were, even though I had little to no experience with video games. It was very different from all my previous experiences with sports.
I really enjoyed the team aspect it requires and the individual skills you have to bring to your team, as each person has a different role to play.
Estevan Gonzalez:
A lot of people in my generation play video games or have some experience with them. To be able to do that, have fun and be part of a team is great because it helps students who already play video games do it at their school and in social settings.
Riley Kirk:
I was deciding between two schools, and they both offered esports. I decided to come here because it was a smaller school with a smaller team environment, and everybody seemed really nice. Esports was a big incentive for me to come here.
This transcript was adapted from the original interview.
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