KENOSHA – Following a blissful holiday season, Carthage Esports started its NECC Placement matches on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Rocket League Red fought valiantly in a promotion tournament, securing multiple Game Five victories to become the first-ever Carthage Esports team to reach a Division I NECC standing.

In the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), Division I is the conference's highest level of Rocket League competition. Much like traditional varsity programs, esports continues to raise Carthage's state and national reputation.

Rocket League is a fast-paced, physics-based video game where three-player teams operate rocket-powered cars to hit a giant ball into the opponent's goal as many times as they can within five minutes.

Spring 2026 NECC Division I Promotion Tournament Explanation

Carthage RL Red, featuring senior captain Alex Vaile (Vaile) alongside freshmen Owen Perry (Kor) and Kyle Branski (xray), finished a gratifying Fall 2025 campaign last December that included Red Cedar Rumble and Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC) championships. With a nearly two-month break from competition, the Firebirds defrosted themselves and fueled their flame once more.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, the NECC staff announced details for a Division I Promotion Tournament. It awarded four teams with a spot in the next division, while the remaining teams stayed in Division II. The Firebirds earned this opportunity by becoming a runner-up to Davenport University Red in the Fall 2025 Division II – West Central Championship match on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.

The NECC implemented a group-based gauntlet format rather than a traditional single-elimination bracket. Teams were placed into initial group matches, and instead of being eliminated after one loss, teams moved into different group paths based on their results. If a team won consistently, they advanced more quickly, while losing teams went down to a secondary path that still offered a chance to recover and progress.

As the rounds continue, the groups narrow and the level of competition increases, gradually separating the strongest teams. By the final round, only teams that have consistently won key matches remain, and the winners of the final group matches earn promotion to Division I. This format rewards consistency and adaptability while avoiding early elimination from a single bad series. 

The teams that competed are listed below:

[No. 1] Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SE Oklahoma) 

• Fall 2025 Stats: 6-1 Overall, 24-8 Game Records / Second in Division II – West Central A Stage / No. 3 seed in West Central Playoffs (lower-bracket finals loss to Carthage, 4-3).

[No. 2] Cleveland State 

• Fall 2025 Stats: 4-3 Overall, 20-17 Game Records / Fourth in Division II – East B Stage / No. 8 seed in East Playoffs (4-2 record – championship loss to Charlotte Esports 4-1 after four consecutive lower-bracket wins)

[No. 3] Carthage Firebirds Red 

• Fall 2025 Stats: 6-1 Overall, 27-9 Game Records / First in Division II – West Central A Stage / No. 1 seed in West Central Playoffs (championship match loss vs Davenport).

[No. 4] Brewton-Parker Christian (BPC) University

• Inaugural NECC Rocket League season.
• Competed in Collegiate Rocket League (CRL), the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), and the Southeastern Esports League (SEL) within the last year.
• May 18, 2025: SEL LAN 4-2 championship win vs James Madison.

[No. 5] University of Florida Blue  

• Fall 2025 Stats: 4-3 Overall, 20-14 Game Records / Second in Division II – East A Stage / No. 3 seed in East Playoffs (upper-bracket finals loss to Charlotte Esports, 4-2)

[No. 6] Winthrop University 

• Fall 2025 Stats: 4-3 Overall, 19-15 Game Records / Fourth in Division II – East A Stage / No. 7 Seed in East Playoffs (lower-bracket semifinal loss vs. Cleveland, 4-2)

[No. 7] St. Clair Saints Gold 

• Fall 2025 Stats: 6-1 Overall, 24-7 Game Records / First in Division II – East B Stage / No. 2 Seed in East Playoffs (lower-bracket quarterfinal loss vs. Cleveland, 4-2)

[No. 8] Davenport University Red

• Fall 2025 Stats: 7-0 Overall, 28-5 Game Records / First in Division II – West Central B Stage / Division II West Central Champion.

With the tournament format established, attention now turns to Carthage Red's three matches. Despite the immense pressure on their shoulders, Branski, Perry, and Vaile aimed to grasp a Spring 2026 Division I promotion.

Round One: Carthage College Red vs Brewton-Parker Christian University

To begin their evening, No. 3 Carthage Red faced No. 4 Brewton-Parker Christian (BPC) University in Round One. The result was a 3-2 series win for the Barons. Before this tournament, these two never competed against each other in the NECC. 

In Game One, BPC dominated, winning 6-1 after scoring three unanswered goals within the first three minutes. To prevent a shutout, Vaile scored off a pass from Perry. Later on, BPC players Cass and Mylk scored three goals each, while Antix complemented with three assists. BPC controlled possession throughout the match, limiting Carthage's offensive chances.

Despite a Game One loss, Carthage Red adjusted to earn a 3-1 Game Two victory. Following an early Mylk goal, Branski – assisted by Perry – tied the game 1-1. About a minute later, Vaile secured a 2-1 lead after a Branski assist. Before Game Two ended, Vaile added a second goal to solidify the victory. Perry became the unsung hero after assisting his team twice.

Game Three presented a defensive battle for the first two-and-a-half minutes. Neither team scored as both defenses held firm. However, Antix broke the glass ceiling and scored BPC's first goal on a solo play. Then, Mylk scored an insurance goal, all but confirming a 2-0 Game Three win. On defense, BPC shut down all three Carthage players from piercing through its net.

Then, Carthage readjusted its mentality for Game Four. The team secured a 2-1 win, effectively forcing a 2-2 series tie. Unlike Game Three, the Firebirds came out swinging offensively. Within the first 49 seconds, Branski hit paydirt after an excellent pass from Vaile. For nearly three minutes, BPC attempted to tie the score. Despite this, Carthage fought hard and cleared the ball away to create space for Perry to drill in a clutch shot. The Firebirds were up 2-0 before Antix cut his team's deficit to one with less than a minute left. As the clock wound down, Carthage and BPC were destined for a Game Five showdown.

Within nine seconds of Game Five, Vaile scored a kickoff goal to provide an early 1-0 cushion for the team. However, BPC ensured it would be their only defensive lapse. After Vaile's early goal, BPC responded with three goals in two minutes. Mylk topped out with two consecutive goals, while Antix scored the team's last goal. Despite forcing nine shots on net, the Firebirds fell short 3-1 as BPC played their hearts out on defense and found offensive consistency in a time of need.
 

Round Two: Carthage College Red vs SE Oklahoma

After this 3-2 series loss, Carthage Red embarked on a different path toward Division I promotion. Next, the Firebirds braved the Savage Storm in SE Oklahoma. In Spring 2025, SE Oklahoma won the Division II Conference and National Championship. Led by the CrimsonChin and Deejay, SE Oklahoma has always given Carthage Red an exhilarating fight.

Game One was a rocky start for the Firebirds, who lost 2-1. In the first two minutes and 19 seconds, both teams held firm defensively. However, Deejay broke the ice and replied to Carthage with a goal assisted by the CrimsonChin. Less than 20 seconds later, Perry capitalized offensively to force a 1-1 tie. Then, SE Oklahoma pulled ahead thanks to another brilliant play between the CrimsonChin and Deejay.

Game Two prompted a second consecutive win for SE Oklahoma (2-1). In the opening 42 seconds, BJ connected with the Deejay to give the Savage Storm a 1-0 lead. About 30 seconds later, Perry delivered an equalizer for the Firebirds off an assist from Vaile. Then, the CrimsonChin struck gold, providing his team with a 2-1 lead. In Game Two's late stages, SE Oklahoma faced significant offensive pressure from Carthage. However, the CrimsonChin and Deejay combined for seven total saves, shutting down the possibility of overtime.

Down 0-2, Carthage was on the brink of elimination. However, they embodied an adaptable spirit, no matter the circumstances. After the CrimsonChin connected with Deejay for an early goal, Perry defiantly scored four goals on eight shots. Vaile also secured one goal. The Firebirds executed well on assists as Perry and Vaile each recorded one, while Branski had two. Carthage forced 16 shots on net to pressure SE Oklahoma's defense.

For Games Four and Five, Carthage kept SE Oklahoma from scoring a single goal. Game Four was a 1-0 Firebirds victory, with Branski finding Perry before time expired. It was a back-and-forth defensive slugfest, with each team clearing the ball from their respective halves. Game Five was a 2-0 victory, with Perry scoring two goals.

After this remarkable turnaround, the Firebirds had one final obstacle to overcome – a rematch against BPC to determine who would be promoted to Division I. Up to this point, BPC had lost 3-1 to Cleveland State in a Round Three promotion match. However, because BPC had beaten Carthage in Round One, they still had a second chance to qualify in Round Four. The Firebirds' Round One loss altered their path, so they had to defeat SE Oklahoma in Round Two to reach a Round Four promotion match.

Division I Promotion Match: Carthage College Red vs Brewton-Parker Christian University

In their first NECC competition, BPC made an immediate impact. Earlier, they defeated Carthage 3-2 in the tournament's opening round. The question was, could they tame Kenosha's finest once more? 

In Game One, Carthage claimed a 2-1 comeback win after escaping a 1-0 deficit. BPC's Mylk scored within the opening 35 seconds. To keep the Firebirds dormant, Mylk defended the Barons' net with all his might for two minutes. However, Vaile and Branski got crafty and broke through. With a 1-1 tie, the team fought tooth and nail to obtain a second goal. It came near the end as Perry lined up a shot for Vaile.

BPC retaliated with a 4-3 Game Two victory after coming back from a 3-1 deficit. Within the opening minute, Mylk and Vaile traded goals. Around the three-minute mark, the Firebirds struck lightning twice as Branski and Vaile each scored once. However, Mylk became an irresistible thorn in Carthage's back and scored three unanswered goals.

With a 1-1 series tie, Carthage aimed to break it and set the tone in Game Three. In the first minute and 20 seconds, the Firebirds pierced through BPC's net twice as Perry and Vaile scored. Roughly 15 seconds later, BPC's Antix set up Mylk with a great pass to cut their deficit by one. To keep their lead, Carthage controlled the game's pace on defense to secure a 2-1 victory.

As Carthage was determined to end the series in four games, BPC was not going down without a fight. The Barons adjusted their game plan and accumulated a 2-0 lead within two minutes. The early synergy between sharpshooting and complementary passing gave BPC an advantage. Players Antix and Cass each scored once. To prevent a shutout, Vaile scored off an assist from Perry. Once again, BPC maintained control and won 3-1 to force a Game Five. 

In its most monumental NECC match, Carthage thrived under pressure. Game Five showcased an explosive 6-2 win for the Firebirds. Two minutes after a stalemate, Mylk and Branski traded goals. Roughly a minute later, Cass provided BPC with a 2-1 lead. Once again, Carthage's never-say-die attitude was reawakened. This time, the team scored five unanswered goals – two consecutive from Branski and Perry each, and a cherry on top from Vaile.

In the end, Carthage Red proved its worth in the NECC. They achieved a Division I standing ahead of the Spring 2026 NECC regular season. Now, in Division I, they will face professional NECC teams. Heading into the Spring 2026 season, Carthage Red remains motivated to prove all the doubters wrong.

Coach Comments: Timmy Connors

Timmy Connors offered insight on his team's Division I Promotion Tournament performance and what the immediate future holds.

Q: What are your takeaways from the team's defiant performance after overcoming the odds in a high-stakes, Division I Promotion Tournament?

A: "Carthage Red is full of diamonds that will never crack under pressure. This team loves to make a series harder than it needs to be, for better or worse. However, when you give them a winner-takes-all game to qualify for Division I against a projected top 20 team in the country [Brewton-Parker Christian], they will bring it to you. A combination of grit, passion, and poise is what led us to the result we achieved."

Q: What makes this Division I promotion monumental?

A: "There are a couple of 'monumental' things about this [NECC] Division I promotion. From my understanding, this is the first-ever Carthage [Esports] team to achieve the highest division in their respective competition. Along with this, I expect to see a massive jump in talent from the whole team [Branski, Perry, and Vaile] as we will be playing the best of the best every single week in Spring 2026. For those unfamiliar, the best College RL teams are not just the best 'college students,' but professional players. Some have reached the absolute pinnacle. Carthage is undoubtedly the underdog, and that is exactly where we want to be."


Q: Where do you think this team can go in Spring 2026's NECC Competitive Season?

A: "I expect this semester to be tough for sure. We have to be honest with ourselves and understand that we can not beat ourselves up if we do not secure a top-six placement in such a stacked division. With that being said, we love pulling off a good upset. I expect this team to be a dark horse, gradually gaining more week-to-week experience against the top teams. When the Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) tournaments come around again, we will be a team to watch out for."

"My goals for this semester are to see Carthage RL Red in the top 25 power ranking, achieve top two, possibly win the March 6 - 8 Midwest Battleground LAN, and achieve a new placement-high in the CRL tournaments. These goals are hard but quite achievable, with the practice routine we will have every week, along with the passion of our two scrappy freshmen – Kor and xray, and the poise in leadership of our senior Vaile. Overall, I am excited for this upcoming semester!" 

With the promotion secured, Carthage Red didn't just survive the gauntlet – they changed the program's ceiling. Spring 2026 NECC will prove to be a tough, but welcoming challenge for Branski, Perry, and Vaile. For readers unfamiliar with Carthage Red's Fall 2025 season, a retrospective of its achievements is sublined below.
 

Fall 2025 Retrospective – NECC

During the Fall 2025 semester, Branski, Perry, and Vaile entered Division II of the NECC with high expectations and delivered a standout campaign.

In Division II – West Central A regular-season action, Carthage Red posted a 6-1 overall record and 27-9 game record, defeating six opponents, including SE Oklahoma (6-1, 24-8) and Grand Canyon University Purple (5-2, 23-11). The University of California, Santa Barbara (4-3, 20-18) handed Carthage its sole loss. Branski accumulated 40 goals on 33.6% shooting, Perry led with 54 demolitions, and Vaile anchored the defense with 48 saves. Further analysis of the team's regular season can be viewed here.

As the No. 1 seed in the West Central Playoffs, Carthage Red advanced through a double-elimination bracket with wins over Huntingdon College, Grand Canyon University Purple, and SE Oklahoma before falling twice to Davenport University, finishing the Fall 2025 NECC season as the Division II West Central A runner-up. Further analysis of the team's playoff run can be found here.
 

Fall 2025 Retrospective – WEC

Alongside its NECC campaign, Carthage Red also captured a Fall 2025 Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC) Championship. The Firebirds finished the regular season 5-1 with a 17-8 game record. As a result, the Firebirds finished sixth place and clinched the Southeast Regional LAN as a No. 4 seed. Statistically, Perry and Vaile tied for 25 goals each, Branski recorded 24, and the team combined for 110 total demolitions.

At the regional LAN, hosted by Carthage on Nov. 15, the Firebirds went undefeated, posting a 4-0 match record to advance to the WEC Championship LAN. They continued that momentum on Dec. 6 at UW-Stout, finishing the championship group stage unbeaten and earning the No. 1 overall seed.

On Championship Sunday, Carthage swept UW-Eau Claire in the quarterfinals, swept UW-Stout in the semifinals, and beat Waukesha County Technical College [WCTC] Blue, 4-2 in the finals to claim the Fall 2025 WEC Rocket League Championship. For a more detailed recap of the season, click here.
 

Fall 2025 Retrospective – Red Cedar Rumble

In addition to showcasing their skills in the NECC and WEC, Carthage Red participated in the Red Cedar Rumble tournament. 

First, the Red Cedar Rumble featured an impressive eight-team showcase with Rocket League talent across the Big Ten and the UW system. On Oct. 18, all teams competed in UW-Stout's state-of-the-art Esports Arena, which was made possible by a $1 million donation from the university's foundation and alumni association. 

The tournament used a group-stage-to-playoffs format, with two groups of four teams playing round-robin, best-of-three matches. From there, teams advanced into a seeded playoff bracket, where upper and lower-bracket matches were best-of-five, and the semifinals and championship were best-of-seven.

Carthage Red competed in Group A alongside the Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers, and UW-River Falls. The Firebirds concluded with a 3-0 overall record with multiple series sweeps. In the playoffs, Carthage continued its dominance with victories against the MSOE Raiders (First Round: 4-1), the Michigan State Spartans (Semifinal: 4-1), and UW-Stout's Blue Devils (Championship: 4-1). In the end, Branski, Perry, and Vaile claimed the gold in a first-of-its-kind tournament. For more in-depth analysis on the Red Cedar Rumble, click here.


Carthage Esports will return to weekly livestreams during Week One of the Spring 2026 NECC season, beginning Monday, Feb. 2, with Valorant. Rocket League follows on Wednesday, Feb. 4, and League of Legends returns on Thursday, Feb. 5

Weekly broadcasts will continue throughout the Spring 2026 NECC season, with Valorant on Mondays, Rocket League on Wednesdays, and League of Legends on Thursdays, including regular-season matches and applicable playoff coverage. Keep your eyes peeled for weekly recaps written by Andrew Czysz Jr.

Follow @carthageesports on all social platforms for updates, and follow the Carthage Esports Twitch channel here to receive notifications when broadcasts are live.