Mo West Finds Esports League Home

Missouri western’s esports teams have found a conference home.

It was announced Thursday afternoon, the Griffons esports teams will compete in the peach belt conference as an associate member starting with the fall 2021 “Overwatch” season. Missouri Western will be the eighth member of the league in esports.

Missouri Western began their esports program in 2020 with 30 students playing four titles: League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite and Rocket League. the program offers scholarships to athletes, managers and coaches with multiple on-campus gaming clubs contributing to the formation of the varsity program.

Mo West has two dedicated esports facilities on campus; one dedicated to the varsity teams for competition and the other open to all students. The 2021 Overwatch season will be the first varsity competition season for that title.

The Peach Belt Conference was the first NCAA conference in any division to begin esports as a league championship, starting with League of Legends in 2018. The league added Overwatch as its second championship title in the fall of 2020 and conducted the first tournament virtually last fall. The 2021 Overwatch season will begin in early September, leading to the league’s first live, in-person championship in October.