KENOSHA — Seven Carthage Esports teams qualified for the Fall 2025 NECC postseason. However, Overwatch 2 Red was the only team to win it all, capturing the Division IV Central championship against Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The taste of sweet victory wraps a perfect bow on the program's Fall 2025 NECC campaign. 
 

[NECC Playoffs Recap] – No. 1 Overwatch 2 Red [Division IV – Central A]

Carthage Overwatch 2 Red, including junior captain Mason Stenger (zXc), junior Joy Schultz (JumpyWizard), sophomore Billy Flanagan (ChickenFries), sophomore Deacon Kirvan (FerociousPig), and sophomore Adam Hollis (Hollister09), finished their Fall 2025 season on top. To preface, the Firebirds achieved 6-0 overall and 18-0 game records in their regular season campaign. As a result, the team finished first in Division IV – Central A. With this standing, Carthage Red claimed the No. 1 seed in Division IV - Central playoffs.

Overwatch 2 Game Explanation: Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play, 5v5, team-based hero shooter where players pick a unique hero with distinct abilities and roles (Tank, Damage, or Support) to complete specific objectives-based game modes (Control, Escort, Hybrid, Push, Flashpoint). The core gameplay involves a team-focused brawl, where cooperation and strategy are essential to win.

In the quarterfinals, Carthage OW2 Red took out No. 8 Stevenson University Mustangs, 3-0, on Thursday, Nov. 13. In Division IV – Central B, the Mustangs finished with a 3-3 overall record. In their best-of-five, Carthage claimed a 2-1 Control victory on Ilios, a 2-1 Hybrid victory on King's Row, and a 3-2 Escort win in Junkertown.

For the semifinals, Carthage OW2 Red defeated No. 5 Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), 3-1, on Friday, Nov. 21. The Firebirds previously faced SVSU in Week Five, winning 3-0 after earning a 2-0 Control win on Lijang Tower, 3-0 Flashpoint win on Suravasa, and 3-0 Escort win on Watchpoint Gibraltar. Backtracking to the semifinal, SVSU took one map off Carthage, fighting harder than in Week Five. Despite this, the same series outcome was transcribed. The Firebirds started with a 2-1 Control win on Ilios, followed by a 3-2 Flashpoint loss on Suravasa. With the series tied, Carthage did not hold back and persevered for a 2-1 Escort win on Watchpoint Gibraltar, and a Push victory on Esperança.  

Then, Carthage OW2 faced No. 2 Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in the championship on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The Firebirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead after dominant performances on Ilios Control (2-0) and Suravasa Flashpoint (3-0). However, MTSU made the series 2-1 after a great win on New Queen Street (Push), nearly achieving the full distance while guiding a robot through checkpoints. Although Carthage's early team composition plan failed, they aimed to shut down MTSU for good.

On Watchpoint Gibraltar (Escort), the Firebirds held MTSU to only one offensive point. A comfortable and faster team composition was utilized to help Carthage outgain MTSU in distance to win. In Map Five, both teams battled on Lijang Tower (Control). Throughout the map, the Firebirds remained potent, captured the objective, and won a great number of team fights. Flanagan and Stenger helped eliminate MTSU's players, granting Carthage OW2 Red its second Fall NECC championship within three seasons - dating back to Dec. 7, 2023, when Red took down Purdue Steel 4-3 and captured the Midwest title.

Post-Game Interview After Division IV Central Championship Victory – Mason Stenger [zXc]:

As their Fall 2025 NECC campaign blissfully ends, Carthage OW2 Red looks forward to off-stream NECC and WEC competitions in Spring 2026. Stay tuned for updates regarding these seasons, as we will be providing weekly recaps for Spring 2026.
 

[NECC Playoffs Recap] – No. 1 Rocket League Red [Division II – West-Central]

Transitioning to Carthage RL Red, they were the runner-up in Division II's West Central playoffs. The team's roster contains senior captain Alex Vaile (Vaile), Owen Perry (Kor), and Kyle Branski (xray). In regular season action, the Firebirds earned a 6-1 overall and 27-9 game record to finish first in Division II – West Central A. Furthermore, they were awarded the No. 1 seed in Division II – West Central playoffs. Additionally, Branski led the team with 40 goals on 33.6% shooting. Perry logged the most demolitions (54), and Vaile recorded the most saves (48). Both players also logged 33 goals each.

Since Carthage RL Red was in Division II, they had the luxury of double-elimination playoffs. This included an upper bracket and a lower bracket. In the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), only Divisions I and II offer double-elimination playoff brackets across all Varsity game titles (Ex, League of Legends, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch 2, Rainbow Six, Rocket League, Smash Bros, and Valorant).

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the upper-bracket quarterfinals, Carthage RL Red secured a 4-1 victory against No. 8 Huntingdon College. Game One was a 1-0 victory courtesy of Vaile's scoring. In Game Two, Perry led his team to a 4-3 overtime victory, scoring the game-winning shot. Game Three was a 2-0 win for Huntingdon as player Stinkybus went 100% from the field, scoring two goals. In Game Four, the Firebirds reclaimed momentum, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Branski and Vaile. Lastly, Carthage RL Read cemented their 4-1 victory after Perry scored another overtime goal. This time, it was in Game Five, thanks to an assist from Branski.

Next, on Thursday, Nov. 13, Carthage RL Red encountered No. 5 Grand Canyon University (GCU) Purple in the upper-bracket semifinals. This best-of-seven series tested the Firebirds' will to keep their upper-bracket run alive. At one point, they were down 3-0 against GCU Purple. However, Carthage found a way to complete a reverse-sweep, winning 4-3. Carthage allowed GCU Purple to score 13 goals within the first three games. In the next four games, the Firebirds limited them to just two goals. Within the next minute-and-a-half of Game Four, Perry exploded for two goals, while Vaile added one. Game Five was a 4-1 victory after leading 3-0 at one point. Game Six was a 2-0 shutout with Branski and Perry scoring goals off assists from Vaile. Game Seven showcased a 2-1 win for Carthage, keeping their upper bracket run alive.

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Carthage RL Red met their match in No. 2 Davenport University Red. The team fell 4-1 after an outstanding effort from the Panthers. Game One was a 3-2 Davenport victory after Para broke a 2-2 tie late in the contest to help his team. The Firebirds responded with a 2-1 Game Two win thanks to a Vaile goal after a roughly two-minute overtime. Game Three was a 0-0 stalemate until Davenport scored two goals within the last forty seconds, thanks to Exiled and Para. Game Four included a teetering scoreline between the Firebirds and Panthers. Byra and Exiled catapulted their team to a 3-1 lead with two quick goals. This trajectory led to a 3-2 win. Ending the series, Davenport basked in a 5-3 victory after pulling ahead late with two consecutive goals from Para.

Thanks to a double-elimination bracket, Carthage RL Red's playoff run continued. On Monday, Dec. 1, the Firebirds squared off against No. 3 Southeast Oklahoma (SE) in a lower bracket finals match. The series lasted all seven games, and the Firebirds came out with a 4-3 victory, advancing to the Division II – West Central championship game. The main takeaway was Carthage's ability to win Games Four and Five. At this point, the Firebirds were down 2-1 in the series. In Game Four, Branski totaled three goals – one of them appearing in a three-minute and 26-second overtime period. Branski kept pace, scoring two goals in Game Five and helping pitch a 2-0 shutout. This seismic shift allowed the Firebirds to gain confidence and secure a 4-3 Game Seven win after SE claimed a 3-0 Game Six win.

Lastly, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, Carthage RL Red locked arms with Davenport University Red once more. This time, to determine who would be crowned the Fall 2025 NECC Division II – West Central RL champion. Unfortunately, the Panthers had the Firebirds' number again. Despite tying 1-1 in the series' early stages, Davenport found ways to work around Carthage's dangerous and shot-heavy offense. Game One was a 5-3 win for the Panthers, headlined by a hat-trick performance from Byra. Perry scored two goals, while Branski scored one. Carthage won 2-1 in Game Two thanks to one goal each from Perry and Vaile. In Game Three, Davenport showed a punishing demeanor, winning 5-1 thanks to four goals from Exiled and one from Byra. In Games Four and Five, the Firebirds lost by one goal in each. This showed the Panthers were pushed to execute at the highest level and respected their opponent throughout. 

Final Fall 2025 NECC Playoff Statistics [Five Matches] – Carthage RL Red

• Owen Perry (Kor): 24 Goals, 12 Assists, 35 Saves, 100 Shots, 64 Demos, 24% Shooting
• Kyle Branski (xray): 17 Goals, 11 Assists, 43 Saves, 77 Shots, 29 Demos, 22% Shooting
• Alex Vaile (Vaile): 15 Goals, 16 Assists, 33 Saves, 82 Shots, 29 Demos, 18% Shooting

Season Comments [Alex Vaile]: "Overall, this season was so much fun, and I am grateful to have been on this team, surrounded by such amazing teammates. We accomplished a great amount of success with the Red Cedar Rumble, WEC Regional, and Championship LANs that we won. Although we did not win our other championship appearances, we kept a positive mindset. Our success would not be possible without Coach Timmy Connors, who always kept us in the right headspace and always had a game plan for us to improve during a series if needed. I believe we improved greatly as players throughout the semester, and I can only imagine that this will continue going forward."  

As their Fall 2025 NECC campaign concludes with a bitter end, Carthage RL Red looks forward to on-stream NECC and off-stream WEC competitions in Spring 2026. Stay tuned for updates regarding these seasons, as we will be providing weekly recaps for Spring 2026.
 

[NECC Playoffs Recap] – No. 1 Rocket League Black [Division IV – Midwest A]

Next, Carthage RL Black achieved a third-place podium in the Division IV – Midwest playoffs. Their roster includes junior captain Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), junior Lucas Menzer (Joystik), and senior Tanner Lee (Flare). In the regular season, the Firebirds finished with a 6-0 overall and 24-1 game record, claiming the top spot in Division IV – Midwest A. When playoff seeding was administered, Carthage RL Black earned the No. 1 seed.

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Carthage RL Black faced No. 8 Carthage RL White in the quarterfinals and secured a 4-2 victory. In Game One, Gilchrist helped Black secure a 1-0 win by scoring, while Lee accumulated three saves. Game Two ended in a dramatic 3-2 victory for White. Despite this, Lee contributed two goals off assists from Menzer, who also recorded three saves. In Game Three, Lee helped Black take a 2-1 victory after breaking a 1-1 stalemate in the latter stages. Gilchrist tallied two assists. Game Four was a 2-0 shutout win, highlighted by an early Menzer goal, a late Lee goal, and stellar defense – holding White to only two shots on net. White then took Game Five 4-2 after starting 3-0 in the early stages. Lastly, Game Six was a 6-3 Black win after scoring five unanswered goals once Menzer broke a 1-1 tie early. In all, Menzer scored three times, Gilchrist twice, and Lee once. 

In the semifinals, Carthage RL Black engaged in a hard-fought series vs. No. 4 Minnesota State Mavericks on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Unfortunately, the Firebirds lost 4-3. Game One ended 3-2 in favor of Carthage as Gilchrist scored a game-winning goal after a 45-second overtime period. The polar opposite happened in Game Two as the Mavericks forced a 5-0 win. Black was held to seven shots on net, while Minnesota State player Flow secured a hat-trick, and teammate Wubik scored twice. Game Three contained a 3-0 Carthage win thanks to a three-goal and two-save performance from Lee. Black kept their momentum, winning Game Four with a 5-2 scoreline. With a 2-2 tie midway through, each member scored a goal concurrently to build a comfortable lead. Despite their early series efforts, Minnesota State responded by taking Games Five (4-3), Six (5-3), and Seven (3-1). Carthage remained competitive in Games Five and Six. However, Game Seven was heavily controlled by Minnesota State.

Carthage RL Black's final stand was a third-place match against No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan. The result was a 4-1 Carthage win, fueled by the passion to reach the podium after a tough semifinal loss. Game One was a 2-0 win for Indiana, stifling the Firebirds early thanks to one goal each from players Drybbles and Farriex. In Game Two, Carthage turned the score on Indiana's head, grasping a 4-0 victory. Gilchrist scored twice while Lee and Menzer added one each. For Games Three and Four, the Firebirds posted 2-1 victories. Menzer scored the lone goals in Game Three, while Gilchrist and Menzer recorded one each in Game Four. In Game Five, Carthage slammed the door shut after a four-minute and 10-second overtime to clinch a 4-1 series win courtesy of Gilchrist. 

Final Fall 2025 NECC Playoff Statistics [Three Matches] – Carthage RL Black

• Tanner Lee (Flare): 20 Goals, Eight Assists, 18 Saves, 54 Shots, 22 Demos, 37% Shooting
• Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr): 13 Goals, 18 Assists, 20 Saves, 59 Shots, 38 Demos, 22% Shooting
• Lucas Menzer (Joystik): 12 Goals, 11 Assists, 28 Saves, 60 Shots, 24 Demos, 20% Shooting

Season Comments [Tanner Lee]: "In NECC, we felt that we were placed roughly a division below our skill level. Despite this, we had fun and have been thankful for it. However, as a team, we had the end goal of winning a championship. Due to coasting through the regular season, we became complacent in the playoffs. Ultimately, this was a lesson learned and we will readjust our focus to be more consistent come Spring 2026."

As their Fall 2025 NECC campaign concludes with a bronze banner, Carthage RL Black looks forward to on-stream NECC and off-stream WEC competitions in Spring 2026. Stay tuned for updates regarding these seasons, as we will be providing weekly recaps for Spring 2026.
 

[NECC Playoffs Recap] – No. 2 League of Legends [Division VII – West B]

Transitioning to a different esports title, Carthage League of Legends was defeated in the Division VII – West quarterfinals. The team's roster consists of senior captain Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike), senior Gavin Johnson (Cahara), junior Christian Delgado (Bravo), sophomore Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato), sophomore Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22), sophomore Michael Pankratz (Fuhzzee), and freshman Ian Saner (Toothless).

League of Legends Game Explanation: League of Legends (LoL) is a popular 5v5 MOBA game where two teams of players control champions to destroy the enemy nexus (base), by earning gold and experience to gain power. Players choose unique champions with different abilities to accomplish these goals. Unique champions help defeat minions, enemy champions, and destroy towers to control the map and secure victory.

In regular-season competition, the Firebirds finished with a 6-0 overall and 12-3 map record and took first-place in Division VII – West B. As a result of their metrics, Carthage was awarded the No. 2 seed. On Thursday, Nov. 13, the University of Tulsa Hurricanes JV entered and came out with a shocking 2-0 upset win against Carthage.

Game One: Carthage League of Legends suffered defeat after a 42-minute round. As a team, they collected 13 eliminations, 33 deaths, and 26 assists. Essentially, the Hurricanes did not allow the Firebirds to control the match's pacing. They recorded 33 eliminations, 13 deaths, and 71 assists as a team. Pankratz and Zeller were not able to put up eliminations. However, they combined for 14 assists in an attempt to give their team a spark. Gavin Johnson finished 8/5/3 with a 277 Creep Score. Furthermore, Owen Johnson finished 4/6/4 with a 317 Creep Score. Lastly, Delgado went 1/8/5 while serving a support role.

Game Two: After a tough loss, the Firebirds wanted to keep this series going. However, Tulsa had other plans. In a roughly 51-minute bout, the Hurricanes came out on top after tallying 33 eliminations, 24 deaths, and 74 assists. For Carthage, the team finished with 24 eliminations, 33 deaths, and 44 assists. Once again, the Firebirds were engulfed by the Hurricanes – perplexed by their playstyle. Zeller finished with the best KDA, going 10/4/5 with a 336 Creep Score, doing everything he could to help his team. Gavin Johnson was limited to no eliminations, but conjured up eight assists. Pankratz finished 3/6/9 with a 280 Creep Score. Owen Johnson broke even, going 9/9 with six assists and a 409 Creep Score. Lastly, Rieckman finished 2/6/16 in her supporting role.

Final Fall 2025 NECC Playoff Statistics [One Match] – League of Legends

• Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato): 13 Kills / 15 Deaths (0.87 K/D), Nine Assists, 363 AVG Creep Score
• Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike): 10 Kills / 12 Deaths (0.83 K/D), 13 Assists, 286 AVG Creep Score
• Gavin Johnson (Cahara): 8 Kills / 13 Deaths (0.62 K/D), 11 Assists, 291 AVG Creep Score
• Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22): 2 Kills / 6 Deaths (0.33 K/D), 16 Assists, 35 AVG Creep Score
• Michael Pankratz (Fuhzzee): 3 Kills / 12 Deaths (0.25 K/D), 15 Assists, 239 AVG Creep Score
• Christian Delgado (Bravo): 1 Kill / 8 Deaths (0.13 K/D), Five Assists, 46 AVG Creep Score

Season Comments [Quentin Zeller]: "I thought our regular season was good, but had some cracks in our overall team play. Going into the playoffs, we felt good, but those cracks gave in, and we fell apart when it mattered."

As their Fall 2025 NECC campaign ends in heartbreak, Carthage League of Legends looks forward to on-stream NECC and off-stream WEC competitions in Spring 2026. Stay tuned for updates regarding these seasons, as we will be providing weekly recaps for Spring 2026.
 

[NECC Playoffs Recap] – No. 7 Overwatch 2 Black [Division IX – Central A]

We will now analyze Carthage OW2 Black. Their Division IX Central playoff run was cut short in the quarterfinals, as they suffered a tough loss. The team's roster contains junior captain Ethan Anderson (Snowstorm), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), freshman Alek Miech (Stewie), freshman Chris Duffey (Lithecash), freshman Jessee Ryburn (Krypic), and freshman Jena Pillman (Jenny).

Overwatch 2 Game Explanation: Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play, 5v5, team-based hero shooter where players pick a unique hero with distinct abilities and roles (Tank, Damage, or Support) to complete specific objectives-based game modes (Control, Escort, Hybrid, Push, Flashpoint). The core gameplay involves a team-focused brawl, where cooperation and strategy are essential to win.

After competing in the Division IX – Central A stage, Carthage OW2 Black accumulated a 3-3 overall and 11-9 map record, finishing fourth-place. Thanks to a consistent performance in Week Seven vs. Northern Illinois University (NIU) Black, the Firebirds clinched a playoff berth. A 3-0 sweep spearheaded by Anderson, Miech, and Wade catapulted the team into rare air, considering their season-long roster changes and lost playing time due to taking forfeit wins against teams who did not show up to matches on time. These metrics awarded Carthage OW2 Black with the No. 7 seed.

On Friday, Nov. 14, Carthage OW2 Black faced No. 2 Evansville University Aces in the Division IX Central quarterfinals. Despite their efforts, Evansville came out on top, 3-1 against the Firebirds. First, the Aces claimed a hard-fought 2-1 Control win on Illios. Carthage and Evansville were tied 1-1 after two rounds. However, Evansville pushed forward in round three thanks to its excellent Damage (DPS) players – picking apart Carthage's backline to hold the main objective all the way to 100%. 

Next, both teams engaged in a highly competitive Hybrid game on King's Row. Carthage and Evansville scored all three possible points on attack by unlocking and guiding a payload through two checkpoints. After being given 42 seconds in overtime, the Firebirds only captured 72% of the points needed to unlock the payload. However, they stepped up on defense and prevented Evansville from capturing the point for roughly one minute, tying the series 1-1. For Maps Three and Four, Evansville punished Carthage by having stronger Tank and DPS output from its players. Evansville's Schmungus played as Roadhog and overwhelmed Carthage in Map Three Flashpoint on Suravasa, leading to a 3-0 win. Then, Map Four's Escort on Rialto came down to the Aces' ability to hold the Firebirds to only 94 meters traveled while guiding a payload, netting them zero points. All Evansville needed to do was soldier on and get past 94 meters to win the series.

Season Comments [Jessee Ryburn]: "The Overwatch 2 Black season went well, considering the roster changes. It was a focal point of our development as it helped us find our flow and strengths as a team. We look to keep it alive in the spring and have fun in both NECC and WEC competitions."

As their Fall 2025 NECC campaign concludes with a first-round exit after showing tremendous heart, Carthage OW2 Black looks forward to off-stream NECC and WEC competitions in Spring 2026. Stay tuned for updates regarding these seasons, as we will be providing weekly recaps for Spring 2026. Additionally, the team will aim to expand its roster.
 

[NECC Playoffs Recap] – No. 8 Rocket League White [Division IV – Midwest A]

Furthermore, Carthage RL White suffered a first-round exit in the Division IV – Midwest playoffs. Despite this occurrence, the players poured their hearts into their quarterfinal series and tried their best. The team's roster includes senior captain TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), and freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka ThePrimReaper). 

After competing in Division IV's Midwest A stage, the Firebirds achieved a 3-3 overall and 13-15 game record, finishing fourth-place. These metrics awarded Carthage RL White with the No. 8 seed. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Carthage RL White competed against No. 1 Carthage RL Black in a Division IV – Central quarterfinal match. Although White fought valiantly, Black overcame them and won 4-2.

In Game One, White was limited to five shots on net and forced to save the ball seven times: Prims four times, Buchmann twice, and Wade once. Due to Black's stellar defense, White's offense was shafted. Game Two ended with a 3-2 White win after a dramatic overtime finish. Before reaching overtime, Buchmann and Wade each scored once. The team forced only six shots on net, but sought excellent quality. After a one-minute overtime period, Prims slammed in the game-winning goal off an assist by Wade. 

Game Three was a 2-1 win for Black after denying White's offensive momentum seen in Game Two. Prims recorded the lone goal, while Buchmann was limited to zero shots on net. In Game Four, White was shut out 2-0. Once again, Black showed vigorous offensive tendencies, forcing 12 shots on net. Consequently, Wade had to save the ball seven times.

Carthage White, on match point, locked in and took Game Five 4-2 after going up 3-0 in the early stages. Wade secured two goals, while Buchmann forced one in. To cushion their lead, Buchmann found the net again off an assist by Prims. Although Gilchrist scored two himself for Black, it was too late for them to come back. Lastly, in Game Six, Black came roaring back, ending the series with a 6-3 victory. This included five unanswered goals allowed by White's defense. What started as a 1-1 tie spiraled into a 6-1 lead for Black. Wade scored an early and late goal, while Prims found the net before time expired.

Final Fall 2025 NECC Playoff Statistics [One Match] – Carthage RL White

• Kaliek Wade (Akko): Five Goals, Three Assists, 16 Saves, 12 Shots, Seven Demos, 42% Shooting
• TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid): Three Goals, One Assist, Four Saves, Nine Shots, Eight Demos, 33% Shooting
• Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17): Three Goals, Four Assists, Seven Saves, Nine Shots, Five Demos, 33% Shooting

Season Comments [TJ Buchmann]: "While our NECC season didn't go as we planned we took a lot from it. We played very strong teams all season and had to find ways to overcome a lot of obstacles. We had a rough stretch of games leading into playoffs and going against our second team [Carthage Black] didn't make it much easier. However, our teamwork and chemistry really started to shine. It will be exciting for us to make a leap to be competitive again next semester and find our way to a conference championship win and nationals."

As their Fall 2025 NECC campaign concludes with a first-round exit after showing tremendous heart, Carthage RL White looks forward to on-stream NECC and off-stream WEC competitions in Spring 2026. Stay tuned for updates regarding these seasons, as we will be providing weekly recaps for Spring 2026.
 

[NECC Playoffs Recap] – No. 8 Rainbow Six Siege [Division IV – West Central B]

Ending our recap, we have Carthage Rainbow Six Siege, an esports title that had not made a playoff appearance since 2023. Although its run was short-lived thanks to a quarterfinal loss, there were several positives to take away from Fall 2025's season. The team's roster includes sophomore captain Samuel Bergamo (Scorp), sophomore Chris Vallee (Typhoon), sophomore Major Andrews (AirMajor), junior Rey Trejo (Paltry), and junior Jalyn Green (Astro).

Rainbow Six Siege Game Explanation: Rainbow Six Siege is a five-versus-five tactical shooter where teams alternate between attacking and defending bomb sites. Rounds can be won either by planting/defusing the bomb or eliminating the opposing team. Success relies heavily on precise gunplay, environmental destruction, and coordinated teamwork.

In the regular season, Carthage Rainbow Six Siege accumulated a 4-3 overall and 8-6 map record. As a result, the Firebirds finished fourth in the Division IV – West Central B stage and were awarded the No. 8 seed in the Division IV West Central playoffs. In the quarterfinals, Carthage engaged in a battle with No. 1 University of Houston Red. Despite their best efforts, Houston claimed a 2-0 series win.

Map One (Clubhouse / 7-4 Loss): For the fourth time this season, Carthage R6 competed on Clubhouse, a map that encourages rotation and mobility. Furthermore, the layout offers a variety of pathways and access points including; stairs, hatches, and the central staircase. Key areas include the basement objective sites (Arsenal/Church) and two main sites on the second floor (CCTV/Cash and Master Bedroom/Gym). 

After starting on defense, Carthage kept pace with the Cougars, forcing a 3-3 tie at the role swap half. The Firebirds' persistent effort began with a Round One victory after successfully defending the Arsenal/Church bomb sites in the Clubhouse Basement. With 50 seconds left, Bergamo was taken out and both teams squared off in a high-pressure four-versus-four situation. Among the chaos, Green and Trejo held firm in Church, and concurrently eliminated two Cougar players. In a four-versus-two situation with 20 seconds left, Andrews remained confident and claimed the final two eliminations. After a few back-and-forth rounds, Carthage found themselves in a 2-2 tie. Round Five became the team's Map One highlight. In a one-versus-two post plant, Trejo was clutch by denying a second-floor Gym plant from Houston, and turning the corner on their last player.

Switching to attack, Carthage were prevented from taking every other round. The Cougars were disciplined on defense and forced the Firebirds to think twice about their strategies. After Houston pushed the score 5-3, Carthage took a tactical timeout to reconfigure their approach. However, Houston made it three-straight round wins. To extend the map by a round, Bergamo and Co. took Round 10 by efficiently roam clearing Houston, and allowed Green to plant in the second-floor Gym under a favorable five-versus-one for Carthage. Houston claimed a Map One victory by clipping the Firebirds' wings as they tried to plant in second-floor CCTV.

Map Two (Border / 7-2 Loss): After a tough Clubhouse loss, Border was lined up for Carthage, a map they played on four times in the regular season. Border is characterized by its numerous soft, destructible floors and walls. It encourages vertical gameplay, requiring defenders to be on high alert for attacks and flanks from above or below.
Carthage started on attack and were overwhelmed by Houston's defense. Consequently, the team was down 2-0 and used a tactical timeout to reset themselves. When the Firebirds exited their timeout window, they were still punished by the Cougars' defense, going down 4-0 at one point. It was a combination of miscues from Carthage and Houston's ability to waste time, creating "ghost pressure" with head and rotation holes in the second-floor Armory Lockers bomb site. Round Five became Carthage's Map Two highlight. Vallee secured a four-kill performance, include two crucial picks while guarding the defuser planted in first-floor Bathroom by Andrews. 

Vallee was perched above Bathroom in second-floor Offices, peeking through an open hatch. Round Six was another great win for Carthage. To make the score 4-2, Bergamo was engaged in a one-versus-two situation in first-floor Server Room. Bergamo eliminated a Vigil player roaming from first-floor Customs Inspection and blew up the Aruni player in Workshop with a perfectly placed grenade.

Although Carthage made the game interesting with a 4-2 half, the Firebirds could not win a single defensive round, dropping Map Two by a 7-2 scoreline. Houston remained disciplined and handled their business. With a loss suffered, it put a dagger in the hearts of Carthage. However, they performed well given it was a No. 8 vs No. 1 seed NECC Quarterfinal matchup.

Final Fall 2025 NECC Playoff Statistics [One Match] – Rainbow Six Siege

• Rey Trejo (Paltry)                         20 Kills / 15 Deaths [1.33 K/D], Five Assists 
• Samuel Bergamo (Scorp)             15 Kills / 16 Deaths [0.94 K/D], Two Assists
• Chris Vallee (Typhoon)                11 Kills / 15 Deaths [0.73 K/D], Five Assists
• Major Andrews (AirMajor)         Eight Kills / 17 Deaths [0.47 K/D], Four Assists
• Jalyn Green (Astro)                       Fve Kills / 16 Deaths [0.31 K/D], Three Assists

Season Comments [Samuel Bergamo]: "We saw the team grow in our communication and team cohesion. It started rough, but once we started playing together frequentlyl, we found a nice rhythm in our roles. There was still room for improvement, but it was significantly shown when pushing for a playoff spot."

As their Fall 2025 NECC campaign concluded with a first-round exit, Carthage R6 proved that they can overcome growing pains and make a playoff run. During Spring 2026, the team will look to evaluate its roster to identify if other players are needed to fill roster holes.


Carthage Esports will return on the week of Jan. 26, 2026, for NECC Placement matches across all offered game titles. Twitch broadcasts could return as soon as Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, with Valorant. Then, on Wednesday, Jan 28, Rocket League. Finally, Thursday, Jan. 29, for League of Legends. After Placements, viewers can expect to see Valorant (Mondays), Rocket League (Wednesdays), and League of Legends (Thursdays) streamed weekly for regular-season and applicable playoff live-streams throughout the Spring 2026 NECC season.

Follow us on all social media platforms (@carthageesports) to stay updated. Follow our Twitch channel (https://twitch.tv/carthageesports) to get notifications when broadcasts go live.