ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Adrian College Esports team closed out its 2023 season last week with a championship victory, earning the Counter Strike NACE Division 3 Championship.

The Adrian College Counter Strike 2 team soared to unprecedented heights in the NACE Counter-Strike Open Plus Division 3 Championship, culminating in a flawless season and a well-deserved championship title. The Counter Strike 2 team put together a strong effort all season thanks to all coaches and members of the championship squad.

Roster Overview:
Coach Jeff Leretsis
Jeff has been with the team for three years now, providing elite strategy and a heavy focus on routine and consistency. The end goal is to make what is practiced become an automatic decision, often repeating a drill until the team has it right. Jeff has five years of total experience in competitive play, both on a D1 collegiate varsity team and a Tier-5 amateur team. With multiple playoff runs and winning seasons under his belt as coach, he's been a major reason for the teams strategic success.
 
Ryan Winemiller - Sophomore
Ryan joined the team in Fall of 2022 and quickly took over as team captain and emerged as a major source of the slaying power for the team. He serves as the teams "Lurker," posing as a heavy threat on the flank and disrupts the flow of the opposing teams pushes and defensive set ups. He can cause a lot of problems, so he will need to be dealt with quickly... if you can.
 
Brendan Carlisle – Junior
The veteran "Stump" is the last standing member of the original CS team back when the team started in 2021. Brendan played as an entry rifler and also became the "In Game Leader," calling the shots and directing the team each round. Brendan is consistently one of the top frags and is consistently able to keep the team in the game. Never emotional, strictly business.
 
Bryce Cheetham – Junior
Bryce is the second oldest member on the team and there's a good reason to keep the veteran around. Bryce serves as the teams "Awper" or sniper, providing long range support for team pushes or locking teams out of sight. Consider yourself unlucky if you see him, because he's already seen you and is one click away from making you spectate your teammate.
 
Tristin Torma - Junior
Tristin originally played Valorant for the Bulldogs, and even brought in an NECC Championship in the Spring of 2022. He's since converted to Counter Strike and playing as one of the teams riflers but is most notorious for his dominance on pistol and eco-rounds when the team needs to save. Can always count on the legendary "Nuke" to hit a pistol clip.
 
Derek Shott - Freshman
Derek was one of the new additions to the team and to Counter Strike this year. Originally recruited to play Apex, Derek fell in love with Counter Strike and earned a spot on the team. He serves as a rifler/support, but his largest contribution is keeping the teams' spirits high. He's bringing big energy to the team, hyping up his teammates and making sure everyone knows when he does something wild.

Regular Season Dominance: The Bulldogs showcased their prowess in the regular season, securing an impeccable 8-0 record and a remarkable 16-0 map count. They asserted their dominance with convincing victories over formidable opponents, including the University of Maryland, Concordia University, Boston University, Georgia Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, Northeastern University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. This outstanding performance earned them the coveted #1 seed in their pool and a remarkable #3 ranking out of 127 teams in Division 3.
 
Playoff Triumphs: As the playoffs commenced, the Bulldogs faced Ohio University in the initial rounds, emerging victorious with a 2-0 series win and an impressive round count of 26-10. They continued their momentum in subsequent match-ups, defeating Concordia University (Quebec) 2-0. The team showcased resilience during a challenging map two but preserved their undefeated map streak, securing a 13-11 victory and advancing to the finals.
 
The Championship Clash: In the finals, the Bulldogs squared off against Northeastern University, a team marked by roster changes and substitutions throughout the season. Coach Leretsis and Captain Winemiller strategically approached the match-up, addressing weaknesses and focusing on map picks. The Bulldogs dominated map one, pulling off a dominating 13-2 victory, setting the tone that they were here for business and taking home the title of champion. We saw dominance out of Junior Bryce Cheetham as he dropped 27 kills as the teams AWPer (sniper), keeping the Huskies pinned down and rarely able to take long ranges of sight. Tristin Toma dominated Northeastern during the pistol rounds, helping give the team a quick economy advantage for better weapons. Later in the map, Freshman Derek Shott clutched a 1v2, shutting down one of the key attempts the Huskies had to get back in the game. The Huskies did not back down without a fight, calling for a substitution heading into map two where they pulled off a 13-10 victory over the Bulldogs. Brendan Carlisle helped keep Adrian in the game going 23-17. The team even managed to stage a late round comeback, winning consecutive rounds, bringing the score to 10-11 but after a miscommunication the Huskies pulled out the victory. The Huskies had responded and snapped the streak.

Captain's Redemption: It all came down to map three and all eyes were on the Captain to lead the team back from the heart breaking map two. The challenge was accepted as Captain Winemiller had a tough map two, being borderline shutdown, but entered map three looking to make a statement and show why this team had been dominant all year, dropping 31 kills with two Aces, including a 1v3 clutch on offense. The Huskies could not find an answer as the Bulldogs ran through them, winning 13-5, earning the right to be called champions.

Champion's Glory: The Adrian College Counter Strike 2 team's journey culminated in an undefeated season, an almost-flawless map count, and the title of NACE Counter-Strike Open Plus Division 3 Champions. The team's ability to come together and capitalize on each other's strengths, and unwavering determination solidified their place in NACE history, marking a triumphant chapter for Adrian College's Counter-Strike program.

The Adrian College Esports team finishes 2023 with two championships to their name; Blockhouse MIAA Call of Duty Champions and NACE Counter Strike 2 Division 3 Champions. The team will be back in action next fall for the 2024 season. More information on the Adrian College Esports team will come in the New Year.