KENOSHA, Wis. — Adam Hollis (Hollister09), a junior studying computer science from Wheaton, Ill., is one of Carthage Overwatch Red's starting Support players. He helps stabilize the team during numerous team fights against other colleges across the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC).

For those unfamiliar, Overwatch is a free-to-play 5v5 team-based hero shooter in which players select a unique hero with special abilities and one of three roles: Tank, Damage or Support. Players work together 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.

The Support role, in particular, is considered "the backbone of a team composition." In Overwatch, the Tank dictates the frontline battle, while Damage (DPS) players are responsible for creating pressure by controlling flank routes and targeting high-value enemies.

Supports enable their Tank and DPS teammates to take aggressive angles and secure kills by healing them. Alongside the need to heal, Supports must manage the cooldowns of their powerful non-healing abilities, which can be used to negate incoming enemy abilities. Each team has two Support players, so they must work together to keep each other alive.

Once the Supports fall, a team composition begins to crumble because there is no longer healing available to the squad. Therefore, Hollis plays an important role on the Carthage Overwatch Red team.
In addition to serving as an Overwatch Red starter, Hollis is a member of the men's swimming and diving team and has received accolades, including a Most Improved Award following the 2025-26 season.

When asked how he balances swimming and diving alongside esports in a Carthage Overwatch documentary, Hollis replied, "I mainly prioritize swimming, but esports is also important to me as well. One, they are both at different times, and two, I'm able to work around schedules with both teams that accommodate me well and everyone on them to be successful."

Hollis' journey in esports commenced immediately upon his arrival at Carthage College as a freshman for the 2024-25 academic year. He was impressed by the size of the collegiate esports community. Observing his surroundings, Hollis became interested in exploring esports further and establishing connections with individuals within Carthage Esports.

Instead of trying out for a competitive team right away, Hollis aimed to ease into his tenure by focusing on stream production. In this role, he operates a main computer equipped with streaming software to broadcast Carthage Esports matches on Twitch. This helped Hollis gain a solid understanding of the behind-the-scenes operations of those broadcasts. It also gave him time to familiarize himself with the swimming and diving schedule and determine how he could balance it while possibly joining a competitive esports team.

"Over time, it became a nice time to hang out while working around them [coaches, players, production staff] in my freshman year. I had many opportunities to bond with each team over the stream production I had participated in, and getting to know each player."
— Hollis on his freshman year experience with Carthage Esports

Once his sophomore year began, Hollis became determined to try out for Carthage Esports' Overwatch Red team. At the conclusion of the 2024-25 school year, Overwatch Red had lost Support player Jenasia Johnson (DVA Online). Needless to say, the team was seeking a replacement.

With determination and hard work, Hollis made the Overwatch Red team. As a result, he joined then-junior captain Mason Stenger (zXc) and then-junior Joy Schultz (JumpyWizard), alongside then-sophomores Deacon Kirvan (FerociousPig) and Billy Flanagan (ChickenFries). Even before his tryout, Hollis had formed strong friendships with the roster, which only boosted his chances of making the top varsity team. This was an exciting moment for the dual-sport athlete, who had no prior esports team experience.

"Throughout my sophomore year, I participated in my first LAN [Minnesota Mankato Clash], along with other LANs [i.e., Spring 2026 WEC] that came along the drive-by as well. Each one helped me greatly by showcasing my capabilities, reliability and ability to collaborate with teammates. Balancing this with streaming the teams was also a great experience that deepened my behind-the-scenes knowledge."
— Hollis on his sophomore year experience with Carthage Esports

Within his Carthage Esports career so far, Hollis is a two-time conference and one-time national champion in the NECC. He won the Fall 2025 Division IV Central with a 4-2 win over Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Lightning, the Spring 2026 Division IV Central with a 4-0 sweep of Wright State Raiders, and the 2026 Division III Nationals with a 4-3 victory over Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) Pumas. In the WEC, Hollis is a one-time Regional LAN champion, earning a 3-2 victory over MSOE Varsity Crimson at the Spring 2026 Regional at Carthage.

"As I move into junior year, I'm looking forward to another great year with the people I've known and to getting to know the new recruits as well. Each team will bring new people to welcome to the family, which means new opportunities to build friendships over time."
— Hollis on what's to come entering his junior year with Carthage Esports

We are grateful for Adam Hollis' continued contributions to Carthage Esports, not only as a player but also as a core member of our Stream Team who is always willing to lend a helping hand. We wish him and Carthage Overwatch Red the best of luck as they gear up for the upcoming 2026-27 competitive year.

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 social media platforms to stay updated on content involving the upcoming Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 seasons. Follow our Twitch channel to be notified when broadcasts go live. Lastly, be on the lookout for recaps on the Carthage Athletics Esports page once the Fall 2026 season begins.