KENOSHA – On Friday, March 20, Carthage Esports completed its Spring 2026 National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) regular season. Ultimately, six teams advanced to the postseason: Valorant [Varsity], Rocket League (RL) [Black and White], League of Legends (LoL), and Overwatch (OW) [Red and Black]. During Senior Week, the program finished 6-2 across all game titles, including RL as a whole and LoL, which had at least one senior per team.

Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage Valorant [Varsity] (5-1) vs. Bismarck State College Mystics (1-5) [Division VI – Midwest A]
Score: Carthage Varsity 2, Bismarck 0

On Monday, March 16, Carthage Valorant [Varsity] clashed with the Bismarck State College Mystics (1-5, 2-10) to wrap up its Spring 2026 NECC regular season. Up until this point, this Firebirds team has not competed in scheduled NECC competition since Week Four on Monday, Feb. 23. In Week Four, Carthage took down Lakeland University (2-4, 7-8), 2-1, after facing potential defeat in Map Three after being down 9-6 on Breeze. However, a coordinated attacking effort with excellent roam clears and smart spike coverage gave Carthage a late surge. As a result, the Firebirds won seven consecutive rounds to secure a 13-6 victory in Map Three, edging past a 1-1 tie.

After Week Four, the Firebirds received a Week Five forfeit win vs. Carroll University (0-6, 0-12). Then, they basked in a Week Six bye that coincided with the campus-wide spring break. As a result, Carthage Valorant [Varsity] was given a two-week break, during which they relaxed but stayed focused during practice sessions. In Week Seven, those practice sessions helped tremendously as the team achieved a 2-0 win vs. Bismarck State. However, it was no walk in the park as the Mystics aimed to play spoiler.

Carthage Valorant [Varsity] finished their Spring 2026 NECC regular season with a 5-1 Overall and 11-3 Map record. These metrics were enough to finish second place in the Division VI – Midwest A standings. Minot State Red (5-1, 11-3) claimed first place as they secured a Week One head-to-head victory over Carthage. In the Division VI – Midwest Playoffs, the Firebirds have obtained the No. 3 seed and are scheduled to face No. 6 Governors State University [GSU] in a Quarterfinal match on Monday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. CST.

The team's roster includes junior captain Sergio Musaitef (Gio), junior Aiden Hecht (Hecht), senior Mady Savage (Bunny), sophomore Ryan Rivera (Righreanden), freshman Charlie Post (Opt1mal), and freshman Thalia Sullivan (Jellyfish). 

Against Bismarck State College, the Firebirds competed on Split and Abyss. Split is a vertical, urban-themed map set in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is defined by its extreme verticality, narrow chokepoints, and the use of rope ascenders (ziplines) for rapid movement between high and low ground. Abyss is a vertical map featuring two bomb sites, a central lane with significant verticality, and jump shortcuts that require precise movement to navigate, making it ideal for both snipers and those who can utilize movement abilities.

Map One [Split / 13-11 Win]

Half One: Carthage opened on defense, but fell behind 8-4 at the half, as Bismarck controlled early momentum with a 2-0 start. The Mystics consistently punished Carthage's spacing, first with a B-site raid through B-Garage in Round One. In Round Two, Bismarck once again took advantage of the space Carthage's defense provided, but in A-site this time.  

For Round Three, Post [Skye] and Musaitef [Waylay] helped Carthage cut their deficit to one. Post killed two Mystic attackers in the heart of A-site, while Musaitef took out three in A Tower as he snuck behind them all. Rivera [Viper] nearly came away with a Round Four win, but was taken out by Bismarck's GDComplex [Kay/O] in a quick one-versus-one in B-site. Hecht [Breach] secured three crucial picks for the Firebirds to take Round Five as Bismarck became discombobulated on attack, as they wasted two ultimate abilities.

In the next couple of rounds, Bismarck jumped out to a 5-2 lead after utilizing high-ground in B-site once the spike was planted. It proved to cause Post issues as he attempted to clutch in consecutive one-versus-two situations. The Mystics' lead would increase to 7-2 before Carthage captured its third defensive round win. In Round 10, Musaitef picked off two Mystic attackers from A-Tower, while Rivera collected a kill while traveling underneath through A-Ramps. As the Firebirds swarmed to defuse the spike, Bismarck's Li Zhao Yu [Chamber] flanked Hecht and Musaitef from A-Sewers. Luckily, Sullivan [Brimstone] picked him off. To seal the round, Rivera killed Mag [Fade], who guarded the A-site entrance from A-Main. 

Then, Carthage took Round 11 as they made Bismarck play Hot Potato with the spike. First, Post took out Bismarck's initial spike holder, Mag in B-Alley. Then, Hecht eliminated Reign [Omen] from A-Tower as he jumped down to retrieve the spike. Before the team stalled GDComplex to win, Post took out Li Zhao Yu in B-Alley. To end the half, Round 12 was claimed by Bismarck as Skirtie [Raze] achieved a three-kill performance while cleaning out A-site.

Half Two: In the second half, Carthage found a way to achieve a 13-11 victory after being down 11-5 at one point. It started with a dramatic finish to Round 17 as Sullivan and Rivera found themselves in a two-versus-two situation. Rivera's kill on Reign in A-Sewer defined the round. Although Li Zhao Yu brought it to a one-versus-one after outgunning Rivera in A-Tower, Sullivan planted in A-site and wasted enough time with Brimstone's "Orbital Strike." Thus, it forced the spike to explode, which allowed Carthage to win. From here, the Firebirds won seven consecutive rounds. A few noteworthy wins came in Rounds 18, 20, 21, and 24.

In Round 18, the Firebirds wiped out Bismarck in B-site as Post recorded three in-site kills on four HP, while Rivera flanked GDComplex from B-Tower, and Musaitef found Li Zhao Yu near B-site. For Round 20, Carthage achieved a flawless round after they went through Mid and into B-Tower. Post found Li Zhao Yu and Reign in B-Tower, Rivera cut off Mag and Skirtie in Mid, and Musaitef eliminated GDComplex in B-Alley. Another flawless performance was achieved because Rivera set up shop in Bismarck's spawn to take out GDComplex and Reign. All other members flushed out Bismarck's fragmented defense while the spike was planted in A-site. To end Map One, Post achieved a four-kill performance and locked Bismarck out of B-site.

Map Two [Abyss / 13-7 Win]

Half One: In their Abyss opening, Carthage played on the attacking side and built a 7-5 lead. This feat was accomplished thanks to an early 3-1 lead, highlighted by a Round One B-site push. Post [Sova] planted and later picked off Skirtie [Waylay] during a rotation. Hecht [Breach] added a key flank, while Musaitef [Cypher] caught Mag [Reyna] off-angle. Bismarck answered back, tying it 3-3 after Mag clutched a three-versus-one in Round Three, followed by Li Zhao Yu [Chamber] and Reign [Clove] leading back-to-back defensive wins with strong site control in Rounds Five and Six. 

Li roam cleared Rivera [Yoru] and Sullivan [Omen] in B-site. After Hecht's plant in Round Six, Reign had enough space to swing A-Bridge and eliminate Hecht [Breach] and Sullivan. This opened the door for Li to defuse. After this, Carthage traded Round's Seven and Eight with Bismarck. In Round Seven, Post got a plant off before Mag started their brutal killing spree. In A-Tower, Mag increased the defensive pressure, killing Musaitef, Post, and Rivera. However, Sullivan became a dominant closer as she danced around A-Bridge to cool off Mag and eliminate Li Zhao Yu, Bismarck's last line of defense.

Upon exiting the trade, Carthage won three straight rounds to go up 7-4, headlined by a three-kill performance from Rivera in Round 11. In addition, Sullivan consistently took out the last Bismarck defender in all three rounds. To end the half, Bismarck firmly controlled the B-site as Li Zhao Yu and Reign took advantage of its high ground. Hecht and Post were eliminated, forcing Rivera into an unfavorable one-versus-three, which the Mystics won. 

Half Two: After the role swap, both teams exchanged rounds 13 and 14, resulting in an 8-5 Firebirds lead. Then, Bismarck won two consecutive rounds to make it 8-7. Then, the half's turning point came when Carthage earned five consecutive round wins to achieve a 13-7 win. A few noteworthy performances happened in Rounds 17, 19, and 20. 

First, in Round 17, Post and Sullivan teamed up to stop Bismarck's attack in A-site. Sullivan claimed the lives of GDComplex and Reign as she moved north from A-Security. Meanwhile, Post secured three kills – two (Mag and Skirtie) – while watching A-Tower. Before he jumped down, Sullivan released a purple smoke cloud to provide cover for defusal. Once Post jumped from A-Tower, he eliminated Li Zhao Yu before he could stop Sullivan's spike defusal. In Round 19, Bismarck and Carthage engaged in a three-versus-three post-plant in A-site. Musaitef started with an A-Bridge flank to eliminate Skirtie. Then, Sullivan cleaned things up with two kills – Li Zhao Yu and Mag – while perched in A-Tower. 

Lastly, Round 20 presented another three-versus-three situation, but in B-site this time. To start, Post used Sova's ultimate "Hunter's Fury" to kill Mag with a powerful shock dart. Skirtie then traded him out to create a two-versus-two. However, the Mystics never accounted for Hecht, who wiped out GDComplex and Skirtie from B-Tower. Although Hecht did the heavy lifting, Sullivan blinded Skirtie to allow him to take control of Round 20. Overall, Carthage showcased stellar teamwork and never truly faltered in the face of adversity.  

Post Game – Timothy Fendrick (Hvstl) [Play-by-Play] interviewing Thalia Sullivan (Jellyfish)

Final Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season Player Stats – Carthage Valorant [Varsity]

• Ryan Rivera (Righreanden): 236 Kills / 178 Deaths [1.33 K/D], 52 Assists, Four Plants, Five Defuses
• Charlie Post (Opt1mal): 219 Kills / 167 Deaths [1.31 K/D], 73 Assists, 34 Plants, Nine Defuses 
• Sergio Musaitef (Gio): 176 Kills / 174 Deaths [1.01 K/D], 64 Assists,  Seven Plants, Seven Defuses 
• Aiden Hecht (Hecht): 156 Kills / 187 Deaths [0.83 K/D], 89 Assists, 20 Plants, Six Defuses 
• Thalia Sullivan (Jellyfish): 146 Kills / 139 Deaths [1.05 K/D], 81 Assists, 29 Plants, Four Defuses 
• Mady Savage (Bunny): 28 Kills / 28 Deaths [1.00 K/D], 12 Assists, Six Plants

A few notable Week Four performances include: Post (51 Kills / 26 Deaths – 1.96 K/D, 18 Assists, 10 Spike Plants), Rivera (36 Kills / 33 Deaths – 1.1 K/D, Three Assists), and Sullivan (27 Kills / 25 Deaths – 1.08 K/D, 16 Assists, Three Spike Plants).

No. 3 Carthage Valorant [Varsity] will return for an on-stream Division VI – Midwest Quarterfinal series vs. No. 6 Governors State University on Monday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. CST. The winner will advance to the semifinals to face either No. 2 Drury University (6-0, 12-4) or No. 7 University of North Dakota [UND] Black (3-3, 6-7).


Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage Valorant [Club] (3-4) vs. Southern Nazarene University [SNU] Thundercats (7-0) [Division IX – Group A]
Score: Southern Nazarene 2, Carthage Club 0

Similar to its varsity counterpart, Carthage Valorant [Club] competed in Week Seven action. The Club team encountered the undefeated Thundercats from Southern Nazarene University [SNU]. Despite a spirited Map One effort, 13-10 on Bind, the Firebirds fell short and could not rekindle their momentum in Map Two Haven (13-5 loss). Thus, the SNU Thundercats raked in a 2-0 victory.

Carthage Valorant [Club] finished their Spring 2026 NECC regular season with a 3-4 Overall and 7-8 Map record. Unfortunately, the Firebirds were eliminated from Division IX playoff contention due to their 2-0 loss against the Thundercats. Missouri State White (4-3, 8-7) jumped up to fourth place following Carthage Club's disheartening Week Seven loss. Lastly, a Week Four head-to-head win against the Firebirds also played a role in Missouri State's climb.

In Week Seven, the original starting lineup returned for Carthage Valorant [Club] that contained senior Tanner Lee (Flare), junior Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), freshman Owen Perry (Kor), and freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka ThePrimReaper).

Against SNU, the Firebirds competed on Bind and Haven. Bind is a unique map with key features, including two main sites, A and B, connected by a teleporter system. This allows players to travel between different parts of the map. This layout encourages varied strategies, from aggressive pushes through narrow corridors to long-range duels on open sites. Haven is a large, strategically complex map known for its unique three-bomb site layout, which forces both attacking and defending teams to manage significant space and anticipate cross-map rotations. Attackers must coordinate to pressure all three sites, while defenders are spread thin but can use their central position for rotations.

Map One [Bind / 13-10 Loss]

Half One: Carthage Valorant [Club] started Bind on defense, and secured a 7-5 halftime lead. Although the Firebirds had a lead, it was not easy to obtain. The SNU Thundercats battled fiercely throughout the first half, coming back from a 3-1 deficit and later a 6-4 deficit. Map One opened with Gilchrist [Fade] slaughtering three SNU defenders – Tsukki, OneEye, and Bandwagon – with a Ghost pistol. This lockdown performance in A-site allowed the Firebirds to start hot. It continued in Round Two as Prims [Iso] took down SNU's OakAssasin inside the Defender Sidespawn. To keep the pace going, Perry [Chamber] recorded a four-kill performance and wielded the Phantom AR to shut down SNU's A-site attack. Round Five included a flawless B-site defense headlined by two Classic pistol kills from Prims.

Once Round Seven approached, Carthage Club held a 4-2 lead. However, SNU would win Rounds Seven and Eight to force a 4-4 tie. In Round Seven, OneEye [Breach] became SNU's hero as he cooled off Gilchrist from a doorway. Gilchrist killed Jelly [Yoru] and OakAssassin [Clove], but did not see OneEye peek him from a doorway on the backend of A-site. In Rough Eight, Perry was stuck in a one-versus-three post-plant, where Bandwagon [Cypher] and OakAssassin defended A-site at full strength. After a few quick peeks, OakAssassin sniped Perry. While the 4-4 was broken, the Firebirds won three out of the last four rounds before roles swapped. Wade clutched a B-site one-versus-one post-plant in Round Nine, Gilchrist eliminated OneEye in A-Lamps to trigger a Round 10 win, and Perry's two Judge shotgun eliminations opened the door for Gilchrist to clean house in Round 12.

Half Two: In the second half, Carthage Club's attacking strategies became dormant after SNU took Round 16, marking a turning point within Map One. Before that, the Firebirds achieved a victory in Round 15. To break a 7-7 tie set by SNU in the opening rounds after a role swap, Gilchrist and Prims rotated into the B-site and planted. Here, Gilchrist picked off Tsukki [Waylay], watched B-Window for OakAssassin, and eventually eliminated him. From here, SNU won four straight rounds to force an 11-8 score. The combination of excellent composure and teamwork carried SNU past Carthage's attacks. To get the Firebirds within two, Lee [Brimstone], clutched a one-versus-two in B-Long in Round 20. However, the damage was done, and SNU escaped with a 13-10 win after winning two of the next three rounds.  

Map Two [Haven / 13-5 Loss]

On Haven, the Firebirds started on the attacking side. After a hard-fought first half, Carthage Club was down 7-5 to SNU. The opening couple of rounds belonged to SNU. In Round One, OakAssassin [Gekko] and Bandwagon [Killjoy] flanked Lee and Co. before they could rotate to C-site. Round Two included a three-kill performance from OakAssassin and finished the round with an elimination on Prims in A-Long. In Round Three, Gilchrist [Omen] provided the Firebirds their first round win as he quick peeked Tsukki [Omen] in B-Link to deny a spike defusal. Carthage's second win came in Round Five as Perry [Chamber] controlled the outskirts of C-site with a three-kill showing. Once Round Five ended, SNU won three straight rounds to force a 6-2 score.

Although SNU gained a significant advantage, the Firebirds kept fighting. The team's third round win came in Round Nine as Lee [Jett] planted in C-site with Gilchrist and Perry watching his flanks. However, Tsukki made things interesting as he gunned down Gilchrist and Perry. In a one-versus-one, Lee caught Tsukki off guard and threw a knife at him to win Round Nine. Afterwards, the Firebirds stacked a couple more wins in Rounds 10 and 11. In Round 10, Carthage systematically picked apart SNU's defense as Gilchrist cleared out C-Long, Lee cleared Mid, and Wade [Breach] found himself two eliminations near A-site. For Round 11, Gilchrist planted in a three-versus-four situation in A-site. While he guarded the plant, Wade secured three kills during the post-plant. To accomplish this, he rotated through A-Link and picked off the last SNU defender in A-Tower.

Despite their momentum, Carthage Club could not find consistency, and ultimately, SNU finished the half 7-5 before winning six straight attacking rounds. During this crucial run, SNU showed a lot of discipline and broke through Carthage Club's defense. 

Final Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season Player Stats – Carthage Valorant [Club]

• Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr): 260 Kills / 220 Deaths [1.18 K/D], 91 Assists, 41 Plants, Seven Defuses
• Tanner Lee (Flare): 255 Kills / 213 Deaths [1.20 K/D], 57 Assists, Nine Plants, Eight Defuses 
• Kaliek Wade (Akko): 233 Kills / 199 Deaths [1.17 K/D], 72 Assists, 12 Plants, Seven Defuses
• Owen Perry (Kor): 209 Kills / 202 Deaths [1.03 K/D], 67 Assists, 38 Plants, Seven Defuses 
• Jimmy Prims (Slurp): 111 Kills / 203 Deaths [0.55 K/D], 47 Assists, Nine Plants, Six Defuses
• TJ Buchmann (Blase): 25 Kills / 10 Deaths [2.50 K/D], 10 Assists, Six Plants, One Defuse
• Timothy Fendrick (Hvstl): Five Kills / 15 Deaths [0.33 K/D], Nine Assists, No Plants/Defuses

Carthage Valorant [Club] will ride off into the offseason and look to retool its roster for Fall 2026. Catch Buchmann, Gilchrist, Prims, Lee, and Wade compete in the Rocket League playoffs on their respective teams!
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage RL Red (1-6) vs. Cleveland State University [CSU] Vikings Green (2-5) [Division I – Group B]
Score: Carthage RL Red 4, CSU Green 0

Carthage RL Red, consisting of senior captain Alex Vaile (Vaile), freshman Owen Perry (Kor), and freshman Kyle Branski (xray), made history on Wednesday, March 18. The team that battled through six weeks of heartbreaking adversity earned its first NECC Division I victory. A victory that not only steered Branski, Perry, and Vaile away from a winless campaign, but etched them as the first-ever Carthage Esports program to win an NECC Division I regular season match, regardless of the Esport title.

This remarkable accomplishment was achieved during Senior Week. Alex Vaile '26, a Racine native and Case High School graduate, was celebrated for all his contributions to our program on Wednesday, March 18. Since Alex joined in the 2022-23 school year, he has always shown immense composure. No matter who his teammates were, he always guided them through thick and thin with excellent poise. In Alex's four-year run at Carthage, he has started on the highest Rocket League team, Red. 

This sentiment alone shows how dedicated Alex is to Carthage Esports. This school year (2025-26) alone, Alex has won three Local Area Networking (LAN) events – Red Cedar Rumble [10/18/25], WEC Rocket League Championship [12/7/25], and Midwest Battleground [3/8/26] – alongside his teammates Kyle Branski and Owen Perry. Overall, Alex has been the human embodiment of what it means to be a Carthage Firebird. We thank him for everything he has done.

RL Red finished with a 1-6 Overall and a 12-24 Game record. Unfortunately, RL Red was eliminated from Division I playoff contention. Despite this, the team gained valuable insights from their Division I run, giving them a clearer view of what their future in the NECC might hold. An interesting statistic is that RL Red were swept in only one series – Week One vs. St. Clair Saints Green. In addition, their sole victory came against the 2025 NECC Division III National Champion, Cleveland State University [CSU] Green. Not to mention, RL Red achieved a 4-0 sweep vs. CSU Green.

In Game One, RL Red cruised to a 4-1 victory. Within the opening minute, Vaile scored after Branski executed a great center. While in the air, Branski bounced the ball off CSU's backboard, where Orb aimed to clear the centered ball. However, it dropped directly in front of the net, and CSU player Ciprocate committed a squishy save (weak hit), and opened the door for Vaile to score (4:06). Within the next half minute, RL Red found themselves up 2-0 after another stellar passing play from Branski. Branski came from the right side wall and dangled the ball just above CSU's crossbar. In the meantime, he shoved CSU's Lobo away from the ball and left enough room for Perry to zoom in (3:39). 

Nearly 30 seconds later, CSU strung together an excellent counterattack as Ciprocate carried the ball from his team's goal to midfield, where Lobo demolished Vaile. Then, Orb finished the play off with a tear-dropper in RL Red's net (3:13). With a 2-1 lead, RL Red found ways to increase its lead. First, Branski hit a 50/50 ball off Ciprocate's car near the right side of CSU's net that fell in (1:53). Lastly, Branski scored his second goal with 30 seconds left after Perry gave him a jump ball and bumped Orb in the net.

Game Two prompted another 4-1 victory for RL Red. Within the opening 30 seconds, Perry flicked the ball past all CSU defenders near the left side of their net (4:32). Next, Branski did his best Stephen Curry impression with a high-arc shot at midfield that dropped into the top right corner of CSU's net (4:17). Inside the two minutes left mark, Branski scored a second goal after winning a 50/50 challenge against Lobo (1:51). On the ensuing kickoff, Ciprocate set up a quick pass off RL Red's left goal post, caught Perry in an awkward position, and Orb drove the ball downhill to score (1:45). Before Game Two ended, Branski hit another shot from midfield, this time on the left side. He confused Lobo and Orb, who both accidentally smacked the ball into their own net (0:09). 

Game Three was a 2-0 victory for RL Red. It featured a Perry double-tap on CSU's left goal post (3:37), and Vaile's fastbreak on Ciprocate and Lobo, where he juked both out from midfield to CSU's goal line (1:26). Lastly, Game Four ended with a 5-4 score. Although CSU attempted to come back from a 5-3 deficit with 30 seconds remaining, RL Red held firm and completed the sweep. Branski and Perry each scored two goals, while Vaile added one. 

Post Game – Adam Hollis (Hollister09) [Producer] interviewing Alex Vaile (Vaile)

Season Comments (Alex Vaile): "Overall, I feel that we had quite a solid season, given that we know how difficult the matches were going to be in Division I. We would have liked to perform better, but this experience will be invaluable for xray and Kor as they continue into next season. This experience in Division I has already paid dividends in that we have built a mentality where we never give up in a series. Hopefully, we can continue the momentum we gained from winning that last NECC regular season match into the remainder of our MCRL season." 

Final Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season Player Stats – Carthage RL Red

• Kyle Branski (xray): 33 Goals, 20 Assists, 59 Saves, 105 Shots, 36 Demos, 31% Shooting 
• Owen Perry (Kor): 32 Goals, 18 Assists, 84 Saves, 120 Shots, 53 Demos, 27% Shooting  
• Alex Vaile (Vaile): 25 Goals, 26 Assists, 45 Saves, 91 Shots, 29 Demos, 27% Shooting   

Carthage RL Red (1-6, 12-24) will aim to support their counterparts, RL Black and White, as they venture into postseason action starting Wednesday, March 25. Stay tuned for social media updates regarding RL Red's NECC National qualification status, as the team may have enough points based on their Division II Grand Final appearance vs. Davenport Red in December 2025.
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage RL Black (7-0) vs. Missouri Valley College [MVC] Vikings (5-2) [Division III – Midwest B]
Score: Carthage RL Black 4, Missouri Valley 2

In addition to Carthage RL Red, Carthage RL Black appeared on stream during Senior Week to take on conference rival, the Missouri Valley College [MVC] Vikings. The trio of junior captain Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), junior Lucas Menzer (Joystik), and senior Tanner Lee (Flare) achieved a 4-2 victory on Wednesday, March 18. As a result, RL Black finished with an undefeated Spring 2026 NECC regular season.
This feat adds another notch to Lee's belt. Tanner Lee '26, a Joliet native and Joliet Catholic Academy High School graduate, was celebrated for all his contributions to our program on Wednesday, March 18. Since Tanner joined the 2022-23 school year, he has been an outstanding role model. In every season he has competed, Tanner has been a dedicated competitor, consistently giving his best across leagues such as the Midwest Collegiate Rocket League (MCRL), NECC, Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC), and the Wisconsin Collegiate Rocket League (WCRL). 

Throughout his time at Carthage Esports, Tanner has always been a starter on an RL team. His greatest achievement is being part of the Fall 2024 Carthage Red team that won the MCRL championship against UW-Platteville. His successful Spring 2026 campaign with Penn Gilchrist and Lucas Menzer will continue into next Wednesday, March 25, with a chance to bring home an NECC conference title and secure a National bid. Tanner has been an integral part of Carthage Esports since Fall 2022 and will leave behind an astonishing legacy when the dust settles. 

RL Black finished with a 7-0 Overall and a 28-10 Game record. These metrics were enough to secure first place in the Division III – Midwest B standings. Thus, RL Black was awarded the No. 2 seed. In Division III – Midwest A, Indiana Tech B (7-0, 28-6), took the No. 1 seed as they had a better Game Differential than RL Black. With the Division III Midwest Playoff bracket set, RL Black is scheduled to face No. 7 Lords Esports in the Quarterfinal on Wednesday, March 25, at 8:00 p.m. CST.

In Game One, RL Black won 2-1 in a neck-and-neck battle. To open the game, MVC player Squirrel stole the ball away from Menzer as he tried to ground pinch it near MVC's net. As a result, Squirrel had a fastbreak opportunity and cashed in for a goal (4:21). After a nearly two-minute defensive struggle, Lee hit paydirt with a double-tap off MVC's crossbar to tie the game 1-1 (2:36). Then, with 13 seconds left in regulation, Lee bounced the ball off MVC's right wall and Gilchrist twirled in the air to drop in the game-winning goal (0:11).

Next, RL Black earned a 3-1 Game Two victory. Within the opening seconds, Gilchrist broke free into MVC's half and air-dribbled the ball toward their crossbar to set up Lee, who scored shortly after (4:25). About 20 seconds later, MVC would stall out Carthage's defense long enough for Squirrel to bump Gilchrist and provide QBall an open lane to score (4:05). After this, RL Black continued to assert their offensive dominance and score two more times before Game Two ended. First, Gilchrist drilled a half-court punt with QBall in his face (2:54). Second, Menzer air-dribbled the ball from a midfield wall to MVC's net with authority (2:42). With 2:40 left and a 3-1 lead, the Firebirds focused on shutting down MVC's comeback efforts to achieve a 2-0 series lead. 

In Game Three, both teams engaged in a shootout. However, MVC pulled away for a 6-4 win. This included a 3-0 start – two goals from Levans and one from QBall. Between the 2:45 and 2:40 marks, Menzer and Lee each scored a goal to cut RL Black's deficit to 4-2 at the time. While RL Black fought hard, MVC scored consistently. With 2:20 left, MVC was up 5-2 before Gilchrist scored the Firebirds' third goal (2:18). Roughly a minute later, Gilchrist scored another goal to narrow the gap 5-4 (1:17). Despite the comeback efforts, MVC scored an insurance goal late to win 6-4.

RL Black then bounced back with a 2-1 Game Four victory. Similar to Game One, Carthage pulled ahead late. Although Levans air-dribbled the ball past Gilchrist and Lee for an opening kickoff goal (4:54), RL Black kept its composure. For three minutes, both teams were in another defensive slugfest. However, Gilchrist tied the game as he slid the ball off MVC's right goal post (1:53). Gilchrist would once again prove to be a vital component to RL Black as he scored the game-winning goal on a stellar backboard read (1:14).

MVC would then win Game Five with a 5-3 victory. Both teams were tied until two minutes remaining. Each team scored two goals – Menzer and Lee for Carthage and Squirrel for MVC. In particular, each team would show off its methodical prowess to embrace another shootout. However, MVC capitalized on RL Black overcommitting on defense, which resulted in Squirrel securing a hat-trick performance. MVC confidently shot the ball well with little pressure applied from RL Black. To make the score 5-3, Gilchrist scored on a buzzer-beater flick.

Lastly, in Game Six, RL Black achieved a 3-1 victory after a 3-0 start. At the 3:49 mark, Lee carried the ball above MVC's crossbar. Then, Gilchrist lightly tapped it on the crossbar. Lastly, Menzer raced toward MVC's net to pound in the first goal. Within two minutes, RL Black secured its second goal. This time, Lee was perched on the left side of MVC's net and would air-dribble the ball to Gilchrist, who was centered. With enough space, Gilchrist knocked down the shot (1:50). RL Black's last goal came off another backboard pass as Gilchrist set up Lee to score (1:37). Although Levans prevented a shutout, RL Black had already wrapped up a close series.

Post Game – Adam Hollis (Hollister09) [Producer] interviewing Tanner Lee (Flare)

Final Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season Player Stats – Carthage RL Black

• Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr): 36 Goals, 24 Assists, 41 Saves, 123 Shots, 54 Demos, 29% Shooting 
• Tanner Lee (Flare): 29 Goals, 26 Assists, 40 Saves, 115 Shots, 43 Demos, 25% Shooting
• Lucas Menzer (Joystik): 24 Goals, 21 Assists, 47 Saves, 92 Shots, 52 Demos, 26% Shooting

No. 2 Carthage RL Black will return for a Division III – Midwest Quarterfinal series vs. No. 7 Lords Esports (4-3, 20-16) on Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The winner will advance to the Semifinals to face either No. 3 University of Southern Indiana [USI] Red (5-2, 25-13) or No. 6 Central Methodist University [CMU] Eagles (5-2, 20-16).
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage RL White (6-1) vs. the University of Michigan Wolverines [JV] ( [Division IV – Central A]
Score: Carthage RL White 4, Michigan JV 0

Carthage RL White, including senior captain TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), and freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka ThePrimReaper), joined their counterparts – RL Red and Black – for a Senior Night stream on Wednesday, March 18. For RL White in particular, they took on the University of Michigan JV, a prominent rival to Carthage Esports. To kick off the festivities, RL White took home a 4-0 win over Michigan, which was highlighted by an outstanding performance from TJ Buchmann.

As RL White secured a high playoff seed, it adds to Buchmann's Esports legacy. TJ Buchmann '26, a Racine native and William Horlick High School graduate, was celebrated for all his contributions to our program on Wednesday, March 18. Since the 2023-24 school year, TJ has demonstrated what it means to be a leader. At Horlick Esports, he started on the program's Varsity RL team for four consecutive seasons, including a Winter 2023 Wisconsin High School Esports Association (WIHSEA) State Championship appearance. At Carthage Esports, he has been a starter each season (Grey – 2023, Black – 2024, White – 2025). 

Throughout his time here, TJ has given his full and unconditional effort to better himself and those around him. He thanks his father, Jason Buchmann, his mother, Melissa Buchmann, his Aunt Michelle, his best friend Andrew Czysz Jr, his RL brothers, and everyone else who has positively impacted his Esports career. Alongside his teammates Jimmy Prims and Kaliek Wade, TJ aims to cap off his legendary career with an NECC Division IV championship.

RL White finished with a 6-1 Overall and a 25-6 Game record. These metrics were enough to secure first place in the Division IV – Central A standings. Thus, RL White was awarded the No. 1 seed. With the Division IV Central Playoff bracket set, RL White is scheduled to face No. 8 Kansas State University JV (4-2, 18-14) in the Quarterfinal on Wednesday, March 25, at 8:00 p.m. CST.

Game One was a 4-1 RL White victory, headlined by a hat-trick performance by Buchmann. To start, Michigan's Bforbex tried to clear the ball away from the Wolverines' half, but committed an unfavorable left corner bounce. Then, Buchmann soared across midfield and placed a beautiful shot in Michigan's net (3:40). Shortly after, Bforbex retaliated with a fastbreak after RL White triple-committed (3:19). Buchmann scored his second goal at the 2:34 mark after Wade air-dribbled the ball down to him in front of Michigan's net (2:34). Then, on a defensive clear, Wade launched the ball from midfield into Michigan's net, which floated right past Bforbex (1:55). To end Game One, Prims lined up a right wall pass to Buchmann who once again, soared for the score (0:16).

For Game Two, RL White claimed a 2-0 victory, led by another great showing from Buchmann. After nearly three-and-a-half minutes, RL White broke a 0-0 margin as Wade executed another waterfall pass to Buchmann, who was quick to score (1:41). Less than 20 seconds later, the same tandem raided Michigan's net again. Wade centered the ball and lofted it directly to Buchmann, who flicked it over Wolverines player Cucoman (1:23). For the last bit of regulation, RL White held Michigan to zero goals.

Game Three ended with a dramatic 3-2 RL White win, with Buchmann scoring the winning goal in 48 seconds of overtime. To start, Michigan's Note Art set up a goal-line pass for his teammate Cucoman. Although Prims stalled the ball's momentum, there was enough time for Cucoman to drive the ball into the net (4:55). RL White responded by executing a triple play – Prims pass to Buchmann, Buchmann dribbled around the goal-line, and Wade came from behind to secure the goal (3:39). 

With a little over a minute left, RL White got too jumpy on offense and triple-committed. Cucoman recognized the look and launched the ball from midfield all the way into RL White's net (1:13). With a 2-1 deficit, RL White responded by having Wade pass to Buchmann near the goal-line again (0:46). In overtime, Wade raced across Michigan's goal-line to force the ball in, but it popped out. In a flash, Buchmann was there to ensure RL White kept its sweep hopes alive (+0:48).

Lastly, RL White capped a 4-0 sweep with a 1-0 Game Four victory. After a five-minute defensive struggle, Carthage and Michigan engaged in their second overtime period. However, it lasted only 18 seconds as Prims set up a backboard center that Buchmann read immediately. Thus, he drove in the final goal to cement a sweep, but also a marvelous individual performance.

Post Game – Adam Hollis (Hollister09) [Producer] interviewing TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid)

Final Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season Player Stats – Carthage RL White

• Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17): 36 Goals, 26 Assists, 32 Saves, 96 Shots, 27 Demos, 38% Shooting
• TJ Buchmann (Blase): 33 Goals, 21 Assists, 26 Saves, 104 Shots, 41 Demos, 32% Shooting  
• Kaliek Wade (Akko): 30 Goals, 32 Assists, 43 Saves, 105 Shots, 47 Demos, 29% Shooting 

No. 1 Carthage RL White will return for a Division IV – Central Quarterfinal series vs. No. 8 Kansas State University JV (4-2, 18-14) on Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The winner will advance to the Semifinals to face either No. 4 University of Cumberland [UC] Patriots (5-1, 22-9) or No. 5 University of North Dakota [UND] Black (4-3, 21-15).
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage League of Legends (5-2) vs. Saginaw Valley State University [SVSU] Red (5-2) [Division VI – East B]
Score: Carthage LoL 2, SVSU Red 0

On Thursday, March 19, Carthage LoL officially punched its ticket to the playoffs after a monumental upset victory vs. Saginaw Valley State University [SVSU] Red (5-2, 10-7). This came after a Week Six loss vs. West Virginia University [WVU] Tech.

Before their Week Seven match, Gavin Johnson and Quentin Zeller were both celebrated for their contributions to our program. Johnson and Zeller have been teammates since Fall 2023 and have had an incredible run, highlighted by Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 NECC Division VII Championships. Johnson has been a critical piece to Carthage LoL's team composition since he first joined. As a Top Lane player, he has excelled in these responsibilities: Frontline, Split Push, Solo Survival, and Wave Management. He will always be remembered for bringing the competitive edge Carthage LoL needed to push them toward championship gold. 

Zeller has been involved with the program for a couple of years. On the LoL team, he's primarily a Mid Lane player responsible for these elements: 1v1 Matchups/Farming, Jungle Support, Map Control, and Wave Management. In addition to being a valuable LoL captain, Zeller has helped broadcast and produce several livestreams for Carthage Esports since the 2024-25 school year. He will always be remembered as a person with an infectious personality who always made a room light up with positive energy. As a captain, Zeller has been an ultimate role model of success who helped Carthage LoL secure consecutive NECC titles in the 2024-25 school year. We thank Gavin Johnson and Quentin Zeller for their tremendous contributions to Carthage Esports.  

Carthage LoL finished with a 5-2 Overall and a 10-5 Game record. These metrics were enough to secure third place in the Division VI – East B standings. A Week Seven head-to-head victory vs. SVSU helped push the Firebirds from fourth place to third place. Thus, Carthage LoL was awarded the No. 6 seed. With the Division VI East Playoff bracket set, the Firebirds are scheduled to face No. 3 Southern New Hampshire University [SNHU] Blue (6-1, 13-4) in the Quarterfinal on Thursday, March 26, at 8:00 p.m. CST.

Carthage LoL's roster contains senior captain Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike) [Mid Lane], senior Gavin Johnson (Cahara) [Top Lane], junior Christian Delgado (Bravo) [Support], sophomore Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato) [ADC/Bot Lane], sophomore Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22) [Support], and freshman Ian Saner (Toothless) [Jungle]. 

Game One (Carthage – 16 E / Two D / 41 A) vs. (SVSU – Two E / 17 D / One A) [30:49]

In Game One, Carthage dominated in a 16-2 victory, holding SVSU to just one assist while posting 41 assists as a team. The Firebirds also limited SVSU to only 46,422 gold in comparison to their 59,457 total. Owen Johnson led with a 6/0/5 performance and 299 CS, while Saner (5/0/9) and Gavin Johnson (3/0/4) remained deathless. In addition, Zeller contributed 1/2/10 to facilitate teamfights and aid in the assist total. Lastly, Rieckmann anchored the support role with 13 assists. These eye-popping statistics illustrate Carthage's near-flawless execution that emphasized efficiency and low risk.

Game Two (Carthage – 28 E / 11 D / 42 A) vs. (SVSU – 11 E / 28 D / 17 A) [29:02]

Carthage carried its momentum into Game Two as it secured a 28-11 victory behind a high-tempo approach. The Firebirds totaled 42 assists and controlled the map once more. The Firebirds finished with a 60,345 to 49,404 gold advantage. Owen Johnson continued his standout series with a 9/2/7 performance and 28,260 damage, while Gavin Johnson dominated the Top Lane with a 7/1/7 line and the most damage: 39,525. Saner remained highly efficient in the jungle (7/1/8), while Zeller added 3/4/7 in the Mid Lane. Lastly, Rieckmann recorded 13 more assists. A balanced damage output and coordinated engagements proved to overwhelm SVSU.

Post Game – Gavin Johnson (Cahara) and Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike) Provide a Senior Night Recap

Final Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season Player Stats – Carthage League of Legends

• Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato): 95 Kills / 51 Deaths [1.86 K/D], 107 Assists [3.96 KDA]
• Gavin Johnson (Cahara): 81 Kills / 38 Deaths [2.13 K/D], 91 Assists [4.53 KDA]
• Ian Saner (Toothless): 68 Kills / 43 Deaths [1.58 K/D], 125 Assists [4.49 KDA]
• Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike): 53 Kills / 43 Deaths [1.23 K/D], 128 Assists [4.21 KDA]
• Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22): 15 Kills / 36 Deaths / 113 Assists [3.56 KDA]
• Christian Delgado (Bravo): Nine Kills / 24 Deaths / 44 Assists [2.21 KDA]

No. 6 Carthage LoL will return for an on-stream Division VI – East Quarterfinal series vs. No. 3 SNHU (6-1, 13-4) on Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The winner will advance to the Semifinals to face either No. 2 Kettering University (7-0, 14-1) or No. 7 Clark University Red (4-3, 9-8). 
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage Overwatch Red (7-0) vs. Robert Morris University [RMU] Academy Red (1-5) [Division III – Central A]
Score: Carthage OW Red 3, RMU Red 0

Carthage OW Red, featuring junior captain Mason Stenger (zXc), junior Joy Schultz (JumpyWizard), sophomore Billy Flanagan (ChickenFries), sophomore Deacon Kirvan (FerociousPig), and sophomore Adam Hollis (Hollister09), competed against Robert Morris University [RMU] Academy Red (1-6, 4-10) in Week Seven on Friday, March 20. The result was a 3-0 sweep.

Throughout the series, Carthage OW Red competed against RMU Academy Red across the following game modes: Control (Busan), Midtown (Hybrid), and Aatlus (Flashpoint). In the Control game mode, the Firebirds secured a 2-0 victory. In Hybrid, the team achieved a 3-1 win. To wrap up the series, Carthage swept RMU Academy Red in Flashpoint.

Player Comments (Adam Hollis): "It was a great win to end the regular season. It shows our mark of where we stand, and it will continue to keep our energy high heading into the postseason."

Carthage OW Red finished with a 7-0 Overall and a 21-0 Map record. These metrics were enough to secure first place in the Division III – Central A standings. As a result, Carthage OW Red was awarded the No. 1 seed. Based on Division III Central A and B standings, the Firebirds are scheduled to face No. 8 Oklahoma City University Blue (4-3, 12-12) in the Quarterfinal on Friday, March 27. The winner will face either No. 4 Missouri State Bears (5-2, 17-9) or No. 5 Northern Illinois University [NIU] (5-2, 15-8) in the Semifinals.
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Seven Recap – Carthage Overwatch Black (4-3) vs. North Park Vikings (6-1) [Division VIII – East B]
Score: North Park 3, Carthage OW Black 1

Carthage OW Black, featuring junior captain Ethan Anderson (Snowstorm), freshman Chris Duffey (Lithecash), freshman Alek Miech (Stewie), freshman Jena Pillman (Jenny), and freshman Jesse Ryburn (Kryptic), faced off against CCIW rival North Park University (6-1, 18-8) in Week Seven on Friday, March 20. The result was a 3-1 Carthage OW Black loss. 

Within the best-of-five series, Carthage OW Black fought North Park in the following game modes: Control (Lijang Tower), Push (Esperança), Escort (Shambali Monastery), and Flashpoint (New Junk City). North Park won Control 2-0 and Push. To break a 2-0 deficit, the Firebirds earned a hard-fought 3-2 Escort win. However, small mistakes on Flashpoint prevented Carthage OW Black from forcing Game Five. North Park won 3-2 by the skin of its teeth.    

Player Comments (Ethan Anderson): "The whole series was close except the first map. North Park had great strategy and teamwork. They played good team compositions and played faster than us for the most part. We tried out a new team comp on the third and fourth maps, which worked well, but we need more practice on it. For Map Five, we struggled to counter North Park's excellent team composition. However, we still kept it close, losing 3-2 in Flashpoint on New Junk City. Heading into the playoffs, we face No. 1 Edinboro University, which, upon first glance, has a significantly higher rank average than we do. To win, we will have to be incredibly disciplined and work together as a cohesive unit."

Player Comments (Jesse Ryburn): "Our battle with North Park was tough, as a few small mistakes prevented us from forcing a Game Five. One of them was not using our ultimate abilities in crunch time during Push on Esperança. We had them beat, but we let it slip away in the last moments. Also, on Flashpoint, small mistakes prevented us from holding the points longer. With the playoffs coming up, we aim to keep a positive mindset against whoever we face. Lastly, we want to rekindle the energy we had during the Fall 2025 season in an attempt to make a valiant stand."

Carthage OW Black finished with a 4-3 Overall and a 13-9 Map record. These metrics were enough to secure fourth place in the Division VIII – East B standings. As a result, Carthage OW Black was awarded the No. 8 seed. With the Division VIII East Playoff bracket set, the Firebirds are scheduled to face No. 1 Edinboro University (6-1, 20-5) on Friday, March 27, at 6:00 p.m. CST. The winner will face either No. 4 North Park University (6-1, 18-8) or No. 5 Wilkes University Blue (5-2, 18-12) in the Semifinals.


With six teams advancing, Carthage Esports now turns its focus to a loaded postseason slate. Our livestreams will return for the Quarterfinals, starting with Valorant tonight, Rocket League on Wednesday, March 25, and League of Legends on Thursday, March 26. Follow @carthageesports on all social media platforms, and follow our Twitch channel to be notified when broadcasts go live.