KENOSHA, Wis. — Chris Vallee (Typhoon), a junior majoring in fine arts from Algonquin, Illinois, is a Rainbow Six Siege (R6) player for Carthage Esports. Vallee has competed in National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) matches, where strategic team compositions and disciplined movement are of the utmost importance.
For those unfamiliar, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is a five-on-five tactical shooter developed and published by Ubisoft on Dec. 1, 2015. Teams alternate between attacking and defending bomb sites. Rounds can be won by either planting or defusing the bomb or eliminating the opposing team. Success relies heavily on precise gunplay, environmental destruction and coordinated teamwork. There are 77 playable operators, with options for both offensive and defensive roles. These operators are also grouped according to their gameplay roles and team responsibilities.
Attacker subcategories include Entry Fraggers, Flex, Flank Watch, Hard Breachers, Vertical and Support.
Entry Fraggers prioritize speed and are deployed to secure early kills or disrupt the enemy's setup. Flex operators are versatile and can switch between supporting teammates and engaging directly, depending on the round's needs. Flank Watch operators monitor rear routes and trap areas to prevent defenders from sneaking behind the attacking team. Hard Breachers carry gadgets to break through reinforced walls and hatches, which are essential for creating primary entry points into the bomb site. Vertical operators utilize explosives, breaching hammers or under-barrel shotguns to demolish non-reinforced walls, floors and ceilings. Support operators enhance team strategies by gathering intel, denying defender utility and managing the defuser.
Defender subcategories include Anchors, Anti-Projectile, Deep Roamers, Shallow Roamers/Lurkers and Trap/Utility Denial.
Anchors stay on or near the objective site to hold down angles and prevent plants. Anti-Projectile operators prevent incoming grenades or reinforce layout structures during the prep phase. Deep Roamers hunt for early picks and waste the attacking side's time far away from the site. Shallow Roamers/Lurkers maintain map control in adjacent rooms near the site to ambush or delay pushes. Trap/Utility Denial operators place hazards or electronic blocks to slow movement and punish reckless rushing.
Long before beginning his Carthage Esports journey, Vallee competed in other sports during his high school career at Marian Catholic Central, including football and lacrosse. He played running back and outside linebacker under head coach Liam Kirwin while wearing No. 25. According to his Hudl profile, his athletic metrics included a 5.0-second 40-yard dash, a 19-inch vertical jump, a 4.42-second shuttle, a 200-pound bench press, a 255-pound squat and a 345-pound deadlift.
Following his 2024 graduation from Marian Catholic Central, Vallee committed to play NCAA Division III football for the Carthage College Firebirds. As an incoming freshman, he switched to defensive back and wore No. 40. However, his playing career was cut short after his first semester.
"I originally came to Carthage to play football. However, due to numerous injuries, I decided to step down from the sport and pursue another that I was already fond of, that being esports."
— Vallee on his decision to step away from Carthage football
Although one door closed, another subsequently opened for Vallee. Before the Spring 2025 NECC season, he was welcomed to the R6 team by former head coach Jaxon Hafenbreadl (JDHafen), then-sophomore Jalyn Green (Astro), former captain and then-freshman Samuel Bergamo (Scorp), along with former players Kael Brennan (KBSkater) and Gavin Wallace (Gravy). The team was assembled near the beginning of the season, making the development of team chemistry the primary objective.
"During the second semester of my freshman year, I was brought in as a new player for the Rainbow Six Siege team, with only a few weeks before our first match. Switching from controller to mouse and keyboard was very difficult given my limited time frame. However, I was ready to step up when the season finally began."
— Vallee on his determination to step up despite a challenging transition before the Spring 2025 NECC season
During the Spring 2025 NECC season, Carthage R6 finished 3-4 overall with a 7-9 map record and placed sixth in Division IV, Group B. As a result, the team missed out on postseason contention. Despite this, everyone involved made an effort to show up on game days and maintain an open-minded perspective while striving to improve, given the limited time Vallee and his teammates had to build chemistry during the season. In particular, Vallee served as a flex player and focused more on breaching and wall support.
Despite missing the playoffs in Spring 2025, Bergamo, Green and Vallee became the core of Carthage R6 heading into the Fall 2025 NECC season. After several key departures, including Hafenbreadl, it was time to refresh the roster and appoint a new head coach. Wesley Kutzke, a former NECC administrator and R6 broadcaster, became the team's head coach. Meanwhile, Rey Trejo (Paltry) joined as a junior, and Major Andrews (Major) became a last-minute addition as a sophomore.
Despite limited practice time before Fall 2025, each member committed to putting their best foot forward. Vallee's role under Kutzke expanded beyond playing utility and support operators. He also became available to play Entry Fraggers and other operators designed to rush bomb sites.
Under Kutzke's leadership and with contributions from all players, including Vallee, Carthage R6 finished the Fall 2025 regular season with a 4-3 overall record and an 8-6 map record. Those results placed the Firebirds fourth in Division IV's West Central B Stage and clinched a playoff berth.
Their most important win came on Nov. 5, 2025, against Arkansas Tech University (ATU) Green. Vallee and Co. were 3-3 at the time and held fourth place. Across both maps, Vallee finished with 15 kills, nine deaths and five assists, helping Carthage R6 defeat ATU Green 2-0.
Although Carthage R6 lost as the No. 8 seed to No. 1 University of Houston Red on Nov. 12, 2025, the result does not tell the full story of a team that improved significantly each week by listening to one another's callouts and working to build strong team chemistry.
After two seasons as a Carthage R6 player, Vallee has been honored with the Most Improved Player award twice, on May 14, 2025, and May 12, 2026. During the Spring 2025 season, he recorded 23 kills, 41 deaths (0.56 K/D) and 11 assists. He was tied for first in assists with Green (11) and ranked third in kills alongside Brennan (23).
In Fall 2025, Vallee recorded 95 kills, 95 deaths (1.00 K/D) and 39 assists. This time, he led the team in assists and recorded the third-highest K/D ratio behind Trejo (1.50) and Bergamo (1.47).
"My esports journey with Carthage has been a fun ride so far. The program has brought me together with amazing people, and I've made connections I wouldn't have made without esports. To me, it embodies the spirit of sticking together and encouraging each other through difficult times."
— Vallee on what Carthage Esports has meant to him
As he enters his junior year, Vallee hopes to continue his R6 career with Carthage Esports and consistently support his teammates through the highs and lows of competition. The Carthage Esports program is grateful for his contributions thus far.
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. The program extends its gratitude to those who consistently support Carthage Esports.
Follow @carthageesports on social media to stay updated on content involving the upcoming Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 seasons. Follow the Carthage Esports Twitch channel to be notified when broadcasts go live. Finally, be on the lookout for recaps on the Carthage Athletics Esports page once the Fall 2026 season begins.
