Students and parents lined the halls of the Student Center on the campus of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) awaiting entry into Alumni Hall. Inside, 40 high performance PCs, six Nintendo Switches, and a full production setup stood ready for an esports event.
However, this was not your standard live esports event. Upon celebrating its 35th Anniversary of competition in Connecticut, the Nutmeg State Games featured esports for the very first time.
In coordination with Stay Plugged In and CCSU, the Nutmeg State Esports Games allowed players ages 13-18 to compete and connect with college esports recruiters in person. It also allowed the students and their parents to explore the scenery and academic offerings of CCSU through a guided campus tour.
VALORANT, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate™ student athletes competed for college eyes, a $900 prize pool, and Nutmeg State Games gold medal honors. With so much on the line, intense competition manifested across all three titles. Check out the highlights, and help us honor our medal winners, in this unique version of the BearLight Breakdown.
VALORANT
VALORANT RECAP
Only 7 weeks following the announcement of their commitment to Lesley Esports, Len and Kitn joined forces with Nine, Yawv, and Mariocon to form Tyrants. A fitting name for a team that was relentless in New Britain, CT this time around.
Having only dropped a total of 7 rounds in the 4 maps they played, the Tyrants went 4-0 during the weekend, including a 2-0 in the Grand Finals to become your 2024 Nutmeg State Esports Games Champions for VALORANT. Congratulations!
VALORANT WINNERS
GOLD | Tyrants
KITNFOO / NINE / YAWV / MARIOCON / LEN
SILVER | Night Owls
WILLYSTYLEZ / TOBE / DISHSOAP / AHINAX / SEASCRUB
BRONZE | Dreamland
CARSON / FRQNT / V5BADZ / MWPRO2 / SCYTHULTRA
ROCKET LEAGUE
ROCKET LEAGUE RECAP
It was the first ever Stay Plugged In event that the Westwood Regional High School (WWHS) Cardinals of New Jersey would attend, and they essentially did so as a visiting team.
The PSA Mustangs had won two previous SPIN live esports recruiting events for Rocket League in Connecticut, their home state. They also featured Oxy, a 2023 Stay Plugged In Coca-Cola All-Star, and a top 24 recruit of 2024 according to fall SPIN rankings.
Regardless of the “home team” with a history of success across the pitch, the Cardinals would edge out the Mustangs in Game 5 of the Best of 5, but the Mustangs would charge back.
Oxy and Swazz combined for more than 10 goals in the first Grand Finals match, forcing a bracket reset after a 4-2 victory, and what looked like all the momentum for the second series. However, the Cardinals would stand their ground, and win the following series 4-1 to secure the title.
Congratulations WWHS Cardinals for winning the gold medal at the 2024 Nutmeg State Esports Games in Rocket League!
ROCKET LEAGUE WINNERS
GOLD | WWHS Eagles
NICKDAVEVICK / JODUKO / ADENT52
SILVER | PSA Mustangs
OXY / KAZU / SWAZZ
BRONZE | Raptors
GRAVIB / GREXTI / NOTADOPTED
SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE™
SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE™ RECAP
Absolute intensity for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate™ in New Britain in every match. The field was so talented, and ran so deep, that the top 3 only combined for 3 sweeps in the 14 matches played overall. Never an easy series, and certainly no time to let the guard down.
Despite every series being heated, Unii_cou still managed to make it through the Winners Final without being forced into a Game 5 scenario. Even against two-time SPIN live-event Champion bbroz_justin in their first match, no one could do it.
That changed when bbroz_justin brushed off the earlier exchange, went 3-0 in the Lower FInals, and returned to meet Unii in the Grand Finals. In a Game 5 that would come down to a final stock each, bbroz took a risk, and Unii took advantage with a clutch finisher to take the title.
Congratulations Unii_cou for becoming the Nutmeg State Esports Games Champion for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate™
SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE™ WINNERS
GOLD | Unii_cou
SILVER | bbroz_justin
BRONZE | realexpanddong
THANK YOU
A big thank you to all the folks at Central Connecticut State University for the beautiful venue and hospitality. And last but certainly not least, all of the colleges, students, and their parents for making this event truly special!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Esports Recruiting Events | For more information on upcoming esports recruiting events for 2024.
Ultimate Esports Recruiting Guide | To help accelerate you on your path to playing esports in college.