Lakeland University Overwatch Secures Conference Championship
Earlier this month, the Lakeland University Overwatch team defeated the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in a best-of-seven series to win the conference championship of the Midwest NECC Emergent division. With the win, Lakeland also earned an automatic bid to the national tournament this spring, where the top teams from all regions will battle for a national championship.
Lakeland Overwatch entered the finals as the frontrunners, boasting a flawless 6-0 regular season. Their journey through the playoffs included a swift 3-0 victory over Mizzou Club Javan in the first round and a 3-1 triumph over Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in the semi-finals.
The Grand Finals brought a familiar opponent, UWGB, whom Lakeland had defeated in the regular season. The Fish Bowl, Lakeland’s Esports arena, hosted nearly 50 friends, family members and students who gathered to cheer on the Overwatch team, complemented by an additional 50 viewers tuning in through our Twitch stream—an impressive turnout for live spectators.
Lakeland started strong, securing a quick 1-0 lead over UWGB; however, UWGB rallied back, claiming a convincing victory in game 2 to level the series. Sensing the need to regroup, Lakeland took a brief intermission to gather their thoughts and emotions, a pivotal moment that would prove to be the turning point in the series.
The team emerged from the break with renewed focus, securing three consecutive wins to clinch the conference title. A standout performance during the series earned junior Nicole Dombrowski MVP honors. Dombrowski was subbed in for game 3 and showcased exceptional skill, a decision validated by Coach Brett Sheldon, our dedicated casters for the day—Christian Bump and Anthony Lucey—and the viewers on the Twitch stream.
