Ten colleges and universities across the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference region competed in a series of competitions, including "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate," "Overwatch 2," "Rocket League," "League of Legends" and "Valorant."

Quinnipiac eSports delivered exemplary performances, securing their fourth consecutive MAAC title for the "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" and their second consecutive title for "Rocket League." Among these victories, Quinnipiac eSports was honored to be named MAAC eSports program of the year, demonstrating the team's dedication and excellence in collegiate esports.

eSports President Tom Bufalini ’25 credits this success to the hard work and resilience of the team.

“Our past success garnered a lot of attention from incoming and transfer students,” said Bufalini. “With that, we got a lot of strong players that came to Quinnipiac, making our teams even better than before. Our teams also do their best to practice every week, whether that be through scrimmages with other teams or going to local tournaments. I couldn't ask for a better group of people, not only are they great teammates, but also great friends."

Leading the team toward this milestone holds a profound meaning for Bufalini as it reflects his strong leadership and appreciation for his teammates.

“These victories mean a lot to me,” he said. “This is my second year being president of eSports and it has been such an honor. I love seeing all my teammates succeed and what success we had. I do whatever it takes to make sure my teammates will perform at their best ability and I'm glad to see it pay off.”

In addition to his personal appreciation, Bufalini highlights the significance of this accomplishment in increasing the visibility and recognition of eSports. Bufalini remains motivated and encouraged in the growth and legacy of the program at Quinnipiac and beyond. 

“Winning that award not only means a lot to the current players but also to the alumni who have fought so hard to make eSports be as big as it is today,” said Bufalini. “It's also great to see us recognized by the MAAC alongside our other big MAAC teams, like basketball and tennis. It was difficult to showcase at first, but us gamers can prove our worth too.” 

For students looking to try something new and become a part of a fun and collaborative team, Bufalini encourages fellow Bobcats to get involved with eSports.

“If you're interested in joining eSports, whether you know you want to or not, I say do it," he said. "Being part of the eSports team is so much fun, you get to meet so many people with similar interests and embark on many exciting adventures across the country to play in various competitions. You also get to enhance your communication and teamwork skills, which will be very important in the future for jobs.”