Three Schools Win CECC South Regional, Earn Bids to CECC May Madness 2025

Stamford, CT – March 25, 2025 – Texas A&M University, Winthrop University, and Concord University have earned bids to play in the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) May Madness by winning their respective game titles in this year’s CECC South regional tournament.

CECC May Madness, established in 2022, gives 84 teams in four different game titles (Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Valorant, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate) and 12 players in Street Fighter 6, a chance to face other schools from across North America and one team or player in each game are crowned as national champions.

The East regional was a two-day online tournament from Mar. 1-2 for eight teams in four competitions - Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Valorant. All the teams in this tournament were the top eight in their respective games after competing in the CECC East Region open tournament, available to all teams in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.

Texas A&M earned a bid through the Valorant competition. After going 1-1 in the group stage, Texas A&M earned the No. 4 seed, heading into day 2. They would upset No. 1 seed Winthrop in the semifinals 2-0 and No. 2 seed Cumberland 2-0 in the finals to win the South regional. This will be the program’s fourth appearance in CECC May Madness, but their first as regional champions.

“The fact that we’ve made it four years in a row is incredible considering almost every year we’ve undergone roster changes, although this year is a lot more special due to the fact we made it in through the regional,” said Nicholas Barrionuevo, Valorant game coordinator for Texas A&M. “To bring home the trophy at Arlington would be the one of the best ways to end our season. For me, this was my goal going into this year.”

Concord University would earn a bid by winning in Rocket League. The team went into the regional as the No. 1 seed, and would not drop a series. In the day 2 playoffs, Concord would sweep King University 4-0, then defeated Brewton-Parker College 4-3, and then defeated Cumberland 4-2 to win the regional. With the victory, Concord will make its first appearance as a program at CECC May Madness.

“We are super excited to be a part of the May Madness tournament. We feel as if all of our hard work and dedication has led up to this moment,” said Jonathon Rose, Rocket League coach and esports marketing and brand director at Concord. “We are putting in countless hours of VOD and scrims to prepare to take home the championship, but more importantly, we are building the best team chemistry in all of collegiate Rocket League.”

The final two bids would go to Winthrop University making their 3rd appearance as a program overall to CECC May Madness. In Overwatch 2, the team only dropped a single map all weekend and defeated No. 2 seed Bryant and Stratton College Virginia 3-0, earning the team’s 2nd bid in CECC May Madness. The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team and defending CECC May Madness champions earned their bid going through the double elimination bracket, only dropping one set to No.2 seed University of Texas, Arlington in the finals and winning the series 3-1. 

“I am very excited for the chance to go back and make an attempt to defend the title,” said CJ Wiley, manager for Winthrop esports and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate player for the team. “For us it would mean so much. It will certainly be interesting as we have a lot of work to do, but no matter what I cannot wait to try our best and take it home all over again!”

The three schools have earned bids as top four seeds in their respective games at CECC May Madness 2025, set to take place May 2-4 at Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas, renowned as the largest in-person scholastic esports event in North America. The 2024 event attracted over 4 million views and 4,100 attendees, and the upcoming 2025 event marks the fifth year of CECC's celebration of collegiate esports excellence.

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Article Written by:

Keegan Ohta

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