MOUNT VERNON – The Cornell Esports team's 2023-24 season got off to a great start as both the Valorant team and the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate garnered wins.
 
The Rams competed in the Midwest Esports Conference Fall Clash LAN Tournament Sept. 16-17 in Des Moines.
 
The Rams are new members to the MEC, which includes Grand View, Ottawa, Illinois College, Purdue Northwest, Drury, Ohio Northern, Briar Cliff, Cleveland State, Simpson, Clarke, Ashland, Campbellsville, Miami (OH), and Benedictine.
 
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team finished in third place in the team tournament with wins over Benedictine, Campbellsville, and Ashland. In the individual tournament, the singles bracket saw five Rams have great showings.
 
Captain Camden Bergquist and freshman Joyuse Avila-Rodriguez, who finished second and third in the singles tournament respectively, both had outstanding performances in the crew battles in Des Moines.
 
The Smash team followed its third-place finish in the tournament with routs against Cleveland State, 8-0, and Benedictine, 15-0, in the regular season to start the year undefeated 2-0.
 
The Valorant team finished second in the lower bracket of the tournament after wins versus Miami (OH), Simpson twice, and Southwest Baptist. 
 
"They showed a lot of grit and really brought it on Sunday. Their upset win over Miami (OH) University really proved that the sky's the limit for the team this year." said Coach Jack VonKampen about the Valorant team.
 
In its regular season matches against Southwest Baptist and Cleveland State, the Valorant team split to start the year 1-1. They won against Southwest Baptist 2-0 but lost to Cleveland State 0-2.
 
Valorant and Smash will continue their MEC regular season Monday. Smash will face Miami (OH) at 7 p.m., and Valorant will take on Simpson also at 7 p.m., streamed on https://www.twitch.tv/cornellesports.