KENOSHA, Wis. - Joy Schultz (JumpyWizard), a senior studying Environmental Science and Biology from Chicago, Ill, is one of Carthage Overwatch Red's starting Support players, who stabilize the team during numerous team fights against other colleges across the National Collegiate Conference (NECC) and Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC).

For those unfamiliar, Overwatch is a free-to-play 5v5 team-based hero shooter where players select a unique hero with special abilities and roles (Tank, Damage, or Support) to achieve objectives across game modes such as Control, Escort, Flashpoint, Hybrid, and Push. The gameplay emphasizes team cooperation and strategic planning to succeed in a team-oriented combat environment.

For the Support role in particular, this player is considered "The Backbone of a Team Composition." In Overwatch, the Tank dictates the frontline battle, while Damage (DPS) players are advised to create pressure by controlling flank routes and targeting high-value enemies. 

Then, Supports enable their Tank and DPS to take aggressive angles and secure kills by healing them. Alongside the necessity to heal, Supports must execute great cooldown management of their powerful, non-healing abilities, as they can be used to negate incoming enemy abilities. Each team gets two Support players, which means they should work together to keep each other alive. Once the Supports fall, a team composition begins to crumble because there is no more healing distributed amongst the squad. Therefore, Schultz plays an important role on the Carthage Overwatch Red team.

Schultz started her esports journey in middle and high school. Schultz openly competed in her friend's Overwatch Draft Leagues. These leagues were open divisions, meaning anyone could compete regardless of whether they were in middle or high school. Schultz attended Zion Benton Township High School in Chicago, Ill. Within these open divisions, Schultz competed on a few teams on an on-and-off basis, gaining roughly a year of competitive Overwatch experience before arriving at Carthage in August 2023.

Schultz chose Carthage as her college because of its proximity to her hometown and ultimately joined the Carthage Esports program to build new friendships and fuel her drive for competitive Overwatch.

"A lot of my other [Open Division] teams had been very unlucky, but when I came to Carthage, I joined a team that wanted to improve and were willing to change their play style to secure wins. My freshman year was both good and bad; I had a great first semester, then a bit of a harder time in the second semester. By Sophomore year, we settled into a team composition that has led us to where we are today. A composition defined by a Spring 2025 WEC State LAN win, NECC Division III Conference and National Champions, and other small wins."
 – Schultz on joining Carthage Overwatch Red

Since the 2023-24 competitive year, Joy Schultz has achieved various accolades alongside her teammates: Senior Mason Stenger (zXc) and juniors Billy Flanagan (ChickenFries), Adam Hollis (Hollister09), and Deacon Kirvan (FerociousPig).

In the NECC, Schultz is a three-time conference and one-time national champion – Fall 2023 Midwest (4-3 comeback win vs. Purdue Boilermakers Steel), Fall 2025 Division IV Central (4-2 win vs Middle Tennessee State University [MTSU] Lightning), Spring 2026 Division IV Central (4-0 sweep vs. Wright State Raiders), and 2026 Division III Nationals (4-3 win vs. Paradise Valley Community College [PVCC] Pumas).

In the WEC, Schultz has been a State and Regional LAN champion once and has earned the title of State MVP once – Spring 2025 State at MSOE (4-1 win vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering [MSOE] Raiders; Won Tournament MVP), Spring 2026 Regional at Carthage (3-2 win vs. MSOE Varsity Crimson).

Lastly, Schultz was awarded Overwatch's Most Improved Player during the 2025-26 Carthage Esports Banquet on May 12.

"I couldn't have asked for a better team, and everyone who I have met through this [Carthage Esports] program has only added good vibes to my life. If I could do it all over again, I would not do it any differently." 
– Schultz on what the Carthage Esports Program means to her

Heading into her senior year at Carthage College, Schultz aims to make one final run alongside Overwatch Red and further cement her legacy as an incredible teammate, forming one-fifth of their flexible and versatile team composition that adapts to every competitive situation.


Carthage Esports is currently in the offseason and will resume regularly scheduled livestreams in late September and early October to kick off the Fall 2026 season and the 2026-27 competitive year. We extend our gratitude to those who consistently support the Carthage Esports program. 

Follow @carthageesports on all socials to stay updated on content involving the upcoming Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 seasons. Follow our Twitch channel to be informed when broadcasts go live. Lastly, be on the lookout for recaps on the Carthage Athletics – Esports page once the Fall 2026 season begins.


 

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