Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Season Recap – Overwatch Red

Kenosha — Carthage's Overwatch Red team showed incredible grit during the 2024-25 academic year.

They competed in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Division IV from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025. Additionally, the Firebirds competed in the Spring 2025 Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC). We will now highlight the accolades Overwatch Red achieved in the NECC and WEC.

Fall 2024 NECC Division IV

Carthage Overwatch Red entered the Fall 2024 season with excitement and determination. On Dec 7, 2023, they captured an NECC Midwest Championship against Purdue Steel in a thrilling 4-3 victory. Since then, Overwatch Red has remained a fantastic playoff contender.

This past fall, Carthage Red underwent a roster shakeup. Former Support player Em Schwerdtfeger [Nancakez] graduated after the 2023-24 season. Additionally, Will Stevens [Lunarsynergy], Carthage Red's Tank player, moved to Carthage Black. Carthage Red brought in freshman recruits Deacon Kirvan [FerociousPig] and Jenasia Johnson [DVAOnline] to replace them. Deacon became the starting Tank, while Jenasia was brought in to play a Support role. Jenasia would be paired with sophomore Joy Schultz [JumpyWizard]. Lastly, sophomore Mason Stenger [zXc] and senior Odin Rivera [Shinbone] retained their DPS roles on Overwatch Red's roster.

For Fall 2024 NECC action, Overwatch Red toppled their Division IV – West Central B stage opponents, securing an undefeated 7-0 regular season with a 21-4 Round record. Overwatch Red won 84% of its rounds within a best-of-five format. Carthage Red became dominant early on as their team compositions favored flexibility. The strong regular season assured Carthage a number-two seed in Division IV's West-Central playoffs.

On Nov 15, 2024, the Firebirds began their postseason with a commanding 3-0 win against Mizzou Club, advancing to the semifinal. In a rescheduled Nov 20, 2024, contest, Carthage faced a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the number-three Oklahoma Christian University Eagles. The Firebirds lost by one-tenth of a meter in the hybrid game mode, where attackers push a payload to a designated target while defenders try to halt the push. Despite their loss, Carthage Red placed third overall in their Division IV West-Central playoff run, defeating number-four Tiffin University 3-0 on Dec 6, 2024.

Spring 2025 NECC Division IV

Transitioning to Spring 2025 NECC competition, Carthage Red finished in third place in Division IV – West-Central B, with a 4-3 overall and 15-11 map record (+4 differential). The Firebirds' performance earned them the number-six seed in the West-Central playoffs. However, the run was short-lived as Carthage lost 3-1 against the University of British Columbia in the quarterfinals on March 28. Although Overwatch Red fell short of expectations, they qualified for NECC Nationals.

In Division IV Nationals, the team went 2-1, reaching the grand finals. On April 25, number-five Carthage Red was scheduled to play number-four MST Gold in the quarterfinals. However, MST Gold forfeited, moving Carthage to the Semifinals. On May 2, the Firebirds did not disappoint as they dominated number-one Anna Maria College in a 3-0 shutout. On May 7, Carthage Red competed in the grand finals against Grand Canyon University. After a hard-fought battle, Grand Canyon defeated Carthage Red 4-2.

Spring 2025 WEC Season

Outside of NECC, Overwatch Red participated in the Spring 2025 WEC season. Carthage finished the regular season with a 5-3 record, went 2-2 in a regional LAN, and recorded a 2-0 finish in a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). To qualify for WEC's State LAN, Carthage Red defeated Carthage Black on April 21. On May 4 at MSOE's campus, the Firebirds took part in the WEC State LAN. In the Semifinals, Carthage triumphed over UW-Whitewater, 3-0, in a highly competitive series. In the grand finals, Carthage faced the MSOE Raiders. Despite competing against the Raiders on their home soil, Carthage Red clinched the championship with a convincing 4-1 victory. Additionally, Joy "JumpyWizard" Schultz was awarded team MVP.
OW Title Win

Photo credit: Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC)

Photo credit: Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC)

Player Reflection - Mason "zXc" Stenger

When reflecting on the season, Sophomore Mason "zXc" Stenger said the NECC fall semester "Went how we expected, apart from coming in third. We had an idea that we were going to be a good team going into NECC's fall semester and showed that with our play [7-0 Reg, Division IV Semifinal appearance]."
While speaking about the WEC regular season, Mason stated, "It started pretty rough. With a meta not in our favor and one of the hardest schedules for the first half of the season, we weren't shocked how we started [1-3]. Going into the second half of the season, something clicked with the team. As a whole, we played more organized and with the same plan. Switching up small things in composition helped with comfortability towards the latter half of the season."

Thanks to their great second half, Carthage punched their ticket to the May 3-4 WEC State LAN, as mentioned before. "Going into State LAN after making it through LCQ [Win vs. Carthage Black on April 21], we didn't have the highest of expectations," said Mason. "We knew we were a strong team, but we didn't have the results showing we could beat any of the other top 4 [teams]. After our reverse sweep against UW-Stout, the team's energy flipped. Feeling the high of overcoming the hardest challenge…boosted our confidence, and I believe that win was the key point in what led us to win the state championship," Mason explained.

Lastly, Mason discussed NECC Nationals. "It took place right at the end of WEC [May 9], meaning we were at top form. Taking down the number-one seed in the Semifinals [Anna-Maria] helped boost our already rising morale," said Mason. "Sadly, we ended up losing, finishing second [Loss vs. GCU], but with knowledge on where we need to improve as a team to take that next step and push for a higher division next year."

Combined Records and Accolades – NECC and WEC

In summary, Carthage Red's 2024-25 academic year was filled with astonishing resilience and perseverance. Although roster changes were made, the team worked together to put on an excellent showcase for the Carthage faithful through the NECC and WEC.

Between Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, NECC action, Red finished with a combined record of 12-6. This included two playoff appearances, with a semifinal finish during the Fall 2024 Division IV playoffs.

In the WEC, Carthage Red obtained a combined 13-5 record. This record included a 5-3 regular season, a 2-2 record at Regional LAN, a 2-0 LCQ outing, and a 4-0 record at May's State LAN capped off with a championship victory over the MSOE Raiders. Together, Carthage Red finished the 2024-25 academic year with a 25-11 record across NECC and WEC competitions.

Carthage Esports will return for the 2025-26 academic year to kick off its fourth competitive season, starting in Fall 2025. Follow us on all social media platforms (@carthageesports) to stay updated. Follow our Twitch channel to get notifications when broadcasts go live

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