The Big Esports Conference, a league comprised of all Big10 schools, came together this year to form its own esports conference. Within this conference, schools competed in multiple games, including the ever-popular tactical shooter game, Valorant.
Valorant is a competitive team-based tactical shooter game developed by Riot Games. Each team assumes the role of attacker or defender on maps set in various locations around the world. Players choose from a diverse roster of characters, each with unique abilities that are strategically used to outmaneuver opponents. The first team to win 13 rounds wins the map; the overall winner of the match is determined by the best-of-three
maps.
The Hoosiers Valorant team just finished their season, and in typical Hoosier fashion, they dominated. They played against premier schools including Purdue University, University of Michigan, and even the latest Big10 additions of UCLA and USC. After 15 matches, the Hoosiers ended their regular season with a perfect 15-0 record.
Daniel “Druff” Dugan, the longest-standing member of 3 years and team captain, is a junior from Crown Point, Indiana, majoring in labor studies. Daniel is the team’s In- Game Lead (IGL), which means he is calling plays and strategies mid-game. While leading the team, he was also in the top ten in the league for assists. Daniel’s leadership and ability to set-up his teammates was essential to the Hoosiers’ success this season.
Ted “opTED” Ford, a junior from Brownsburg, Indiana, is majoring in marketing and supply chain management. Ted is the second longest-standing member of the team. As one of the team’s most skilled players, he excels in mid-game communication. His knowledge of the game allows him to redesign plays mid-round to adapt to the opposition.
Brandon “bsmooth” Harper, the junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, is currently majoring in accounting. Brandon is the glue that holds the team together when they are battling through a tough match. The team can always rely on Brandon to play his role to perfection.
Antonio “enjoy” Billen, a freshman from Chicago, Illinois, is currently a pre-business major. Although he is one of the newest members of the team, he was the MVP this season. His ability to take over the game is second to none. Because he leads the league in eliminations, he is in the running to win league MVP.
Gage “Pit” Larson, the newest member, is a freshman from Lucas, Texas and is majoring in Psychology. While he is the newest member, he is eager to learn about team play at the collegiate level. Gage has quickly improved since joining the team, and his future looks bright.
Ethan “estone” Stone is the Hoosiers’ Valorant coach. He is a junior from Greenwood, Indiana, majoring in computer science. A coach, just like in basketball or football, is crucial for success. Ethan’s ability to oversee the entire game and spectate all 5 players allows him to create plays that Daniel can refer to in-game. Ethan also has the ability to call timeouts during the game to adapt to the other team’s playstyle, which has allowed the Hoosiers to come back from early deficits in several matches this season.
The Valorant team is part of a larger club, Esports at IU. The club is entirely student-run, relying on volunteer work and donations. Many other schools have invested in their esports programs with dedicated facilities, directors, and scholarships. The student- driven nature of Esports at IU is part of what makes their dominance in the Big Esports Conference so impressive.
