Spring 2025 Season Recap – Super Smash Bros Black

Kenosha – Carthage Super Smash Bros Ultimate (SSBU) Black put their best efforts forward despite a developmental season. The team welcomed three new freshmen and received leadership from a former Carthage SSBU Red player.

The Fall 2024 NECC roster consisted of Sophomore captain – Alex Chuluunbat (ParaMedix), freshman Caitlyn Kienast (PreciousSponge), freshman Shannon Pasters (MintMelee), and freshman Michael Ortin (Phoenix). During Spring 2025's WEC season, Carthage Black's roster included Alex Chuluunbat, Caitlyn Kienast, Shannon Pasters, sophomore Yazminn Lugo, and sophomore Jackson Bossart (MechanicalMerlyn) as a backup.

Alex Chuluunbat was on Carthage SSBU Red's roster during Fall 2023, but was shifted over to Black, taking on a leadership role as Carthage Esports welcomed new freshmen.

Respective players contributed to the team's performance across the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC). While Carthage Black competed in NECC last fall, they were streamed every other Tuesday, as Smash and League of Legends shared the same streaming day and time. The WEC competition was held in Spring 2025. We will now analyze how Carthage SSBU Black performed in both leagues.

Fall 2024 NECC Season – SSBU Crew Battles Format Explanation

Last fall, Carthage Black participated in SSBU crew battles. Crew battles are a team-based competition where two teams of players face off in a series of one-on-one matches. The losing player is eliminated, and the winning player remains in the game, potentially facing a new opponent from the opposing team. The battle continues until one entire team has been eliminated. In NECC, teams consist of four players, equating to a stock count of 12. Each player is given three stocks.

In Super Smash Bros, stocks are another word for 'lives' the player has. The objective is to be the team with the most stocks remaining when a set concludes. These crew battles fall under a best-of-three format, meaning there are three sets in a match. Each set will give the two competing teams 12 stocks each to work with. The set ends when one team loses their 12 stocks across four players. What makes this format compelling is that teams can decide the order in which players enter a battle. A strategic element makes these competitions thrilling to watch.

Fall 2024 NECC Season – SSBU Crew Season Results and Statistics

Carthage Black competed in the North B stage of NECC's SSBU Crew season. With a young roster, the Firebirds posted a 1-6 overall and 2-11 game record. Additionally, they recorded a negative 43 score differential. Unfortunately, Carthage SSBU Black missed the playoffs and placed sixth in North B. Their win against Marquette University on October 15, 2024, was a highlight. A 2-0 series win, headlined by Alex Chuluunbat's seven knockouts and Caitlyn Kienast's three knockouts in Set One. The two-tone setting totals propelled Carthage Black to have confidence in themselves to earn a win amid a developmental season.

According to recorded NECC statistics, Carthage SSBU Black posted 107 total knockouts and 149 total falls, with a negative 42 knockout-to-fall ratio. In comparison to other North B teams, Black had the third highest knockout total based on recorded statistics, and the most falls out of any team.

Sophomore Alex Chuluunbat recorded a team-leading 38 knockouts and 39 falls. Freshman Caitlyn Kienast impressed with 37 knockouts and 36 falls. Freshman Shannon Pasters accumulated 22 knockouts with 38 falls. Lastly, freshman Michael Ortin posted 10 knockouts and 36 falls. Despite fielding a brand-new roster, the Fall 2024 iteration of Carthage SSBU Black stuck together and finished a developmental season. This experience will help shape how the team can improve next season.

Spring 2025 WEC Season – SSBU Crew Season Results and Statistics

Carthage SSBU Black's WEC season started on February 12 and ended on April 13. In the regular season, they accumulated a 1-6 overall and a 3-10 game record. This result gave Carthage Black sixteenth place. Next, Black competed in the Southeast Regional LAN. In Round One, Carthage Black faced off Carthage Red in a best-of-three series. Although Black suffered a 2-0 loss, it became a friendly competition at LAN between Carthage's teams. In the third-place match, Carthage Black competed against MSOE. Despite their efforts, MSOE handed Carthage Black a 2-0 loss, ending their season.

According to recorded NECC statistics, Carthage SSBU Black posted 86 total knockouts and 113 total falls, with a negative 27 knockout-to-fall ratio. Sophomore Alex Chulunnbat earned a team-leading 31 knockouts with 28 falls. Sophomore Yazminn Lugo recorded 13 knockouts and 27 falls. Freshman Caitlyn Kienast accumulated 20 knockouts with 26 falls. Freshman Shannon Pasters posted 14 knockouts and 24 falls. Lastly, sophomore Jackson Bossart went even, having eight knockouts and eight falls.

Player Reflection: Alex Chuluunbat

What are your thoughts on the team's performance in NECC and WEC despite fielding a roster with new players? Additionally, where can the team's core go moving forward?

"I think we did the best we could with such new players. I'm proud of Shannon and Michael for giving it their all throughout the season. I felt like we should have focused our practice efforts more on just playing. You get better at fighting games by spending long hours identifying mistakes and trying to fix them. I understand that people have busy schedules during the school year, so I think next season we could structure our practices to better support this approach to improvement. I also believe we should attend more events when possible and conduct more in-depth VOD reviews."

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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Players Mentioned

Jackson Bossart: Sophomore

Alex Chuluunbat: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Shannon Pasters: Freshman

Caitlyn Kienast: Freshman

Michael Ortin: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jackson Bossart
: Sophomore

Alex Chuluunbat
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Shannon Pasters
: Freshman

Caitlyn Kienast
: Freshman

Michael Ortin
: Freshman