Under the steady glow of monitors instead of stadium lights, St. Edward's esports spent the fall semester quietly building one of the most successful stretches in program history.

By the time finals week arrived, the Hilltoppers had stacked championships, produced professional-level talent, and established themselves as a national contender across multiple titles. Division championships in Valorant and Marvel Rivals (10-0 record), a third-place finish in Super Smash Bros., and a Division I Rocket League qualification made the fall more than productive — it made it defining.

"This has been one of our best semesters of competition," head coach Tony Zhong said. "Across the board, we competed at a very high level."

Nothing embodied the semester's spirit more than Marvel Rivals, a team that didn't exist a few months earlier. Built from scratch, short on expectations, and long on uncertainty, the Rivals roster began the fall simply trying to find its footing. What it found instead was cohesion.

"It was challenging to find players," Zhong said, "but this wonderful group of misfits came together and consistently improved over time."

The Hilltoppers went undefeated, winning their division behind a resilience that showed itself in tight matches and late rallies. The team's growth was gradual, visible, and earned. The kind that comes from practice sessions that stretch past scheduled hours and a shared refusal to plateau.

Leadership mattered. JOSHUA RODRIGUEZ-ECK, the team captain and one of its tanks, set the tone with a competitive edge Zhong believes can carry a team to championships. Alongside him, JUAN DAVILA served as both a front-line presence and a constant in the Hilltoppers esports arena, balancing play with responsibility behind the scenes. 

The damage dealers, RICARDO MARTINEZ and BRYCE RITCHIE, performed at their best when the pressure was highest, delivering their best performances in the grand finals. And the support duo of ANA VERDIN and JOSHUA DECARLO made one of the most dramatic leaps of the semester, climbing from gold and platinum ranks to diamond, nearly touching grandmaster by the end of fall.

That growth has already shifted expectations. In the spring, Marvel Rivals will move up a division, with nationals firmly in view.
If Marvel Rivals was the semester's revelation, Valorant was its confirmation.

The Hilltoppers finished 9-1, claiming a division title and avenging their only loss against a team that reached the grand finals. Zhong admitted he began the season cautiously, aware of the gap between his elite talent and the rest of the roster. What he didn't anticipate was how quickly that gap would close.

"They proved me wrong," he said.

At the top were duelists TRISTAN HUTTON and LOGAN BROWN, both ranked Radiant, placing them among the top 200 players in North America. Hutton, a streamer averaging around 150 viewers, has built an audience that reflects his in-game presence, while Brown competes on a tier-two team and sits on the doorstep of professional play. But Valorant's success wasn't simply about star power. It was about communication. High-ranked players guiding teammates, calling strategy, and building chemistry that translated into wins.

That chemistry has raised the bar for spring. Nationals aren't a hope. They're the expectation.

In Rocket League, the Hilltoppers didn't just compete; they crossed into the professional conversation. KODY RICHARDS and JOSEPH KIDD joined professional organization Lotus 8 and placed 16th at the Boston Major: North American Open, an achievement that underscored the program's growing national relevance.

Kidd's first semester stood out for reasons beyond results. Zhong praised his focus on academics, calling alignment between education and competition essential to the program's identity. As a team, Rocket League finished top 12 nationally, earning Division I status and a top-eight NECC finish, navigating highs and lows while maintaining chemistry through roster changes.

The spring will bring even tougher tests, with St. Edward's competing in both NECC Division I and Collegiate Rocket League, a field that includes elite programs from across the U.S. and Canada. Zhong's goals are ambitious: top eight nationally, top four in NECC.

In Super Smash Bros., the Hilltoppers placed third despite missing two players, disrupting balance and depth. Still, the team held its ground, thanks in large part to freshman DAMIEN WHITTLE. Playing Pac-Man and serving as the anchor, Whittle repeatedly stepped into high-pressure situations with only three stocks left for his team and delivered.

"For a freshman to handle that pressure," Zhong said, "that's very rare to see."

Across four titles, the common thread was clear. Talent mattered. So did preparation. But more than anything, the fall semester was defined by investment. Players practiced on their own time, leaders emerging organically, and expectations rose because results demanded it.

Zhong isn't hiding from what comes next.

"I'm setting the expectations high," he said. "More undefeated seasons."
For a program still writing its story, this fall didn't just add a chapter. It raised the stakes for everything that follows.