LCCC Unveils Dedicated Space for Varsity Esports Team

When the Lorain County Community College student-athletes on the varsity esports team log in for this season’s competitions, they’ll be doing so from the team’s new venue.

The newly renovated space in the Patsie C. and Dolores Jenee Campana Center for Ideation and Invention Center opened in late September, just in time for the fall esports season. The room boasts 10 stations for computer games, 10 stations for Nintendo Switch games, and a dedicated space for commentating and video review. Previously, the team competed in a shared classroom in the Ewing Activities Center, often sharing desks across different games.

“The atmosphere in the new room is wildly different,” said esports team member Robert Rogers. “It feels really good to have an actual room with dedicated stations.”

The need for an esports space on campus evolved with the surging popularity of esports at LCCC, and across the world. The esports industry was valued at $1.7 billion worldwide in 2023 and is projected to grow to more than $9 billion in 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights.

“As we unveil this new esports room, we are not just providing a space for competition—we are building a platform for our students to develop skills that will prepare them for a rewarding future in an ever-evolving digital landscape,” LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D., said.

Varsity esports began at LCCC in 2021 with four students competing in Super Smash Brothers. The co-ed team now has 32 student-athletes competing in a variety of games. Current head coach Robert McClelland has been there since the beginning. McClelland served as tech support for the first seasons and became head coach in 2022.

The student-athletes compete within the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE) division, going head-to-head with students enrolled in two-year colleges across the country. More than 230 two-year colleges across the country field teams in the NJCAAE. Full-time students compete in either Tier 1 or Tier 2 competition. A third tier is reserved for anyone with a connection to the college, including alumni. Team members compete in various individual and team games.

LCCC students aren’t just competing in the division – they’re winning. Rogers made LCCC history when he took first place in the 2024 NJCAAE Mario Kart Tier 2 Championship. He also finished third in the 2024 NJCAAE Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tier 2 Championship. He will move to Tier 1 competition this fall season.

Rogers, 19 from Lorain, is studying psychology at LCCC. He joined the esports team in fall 2023.

“I was looking for a club, and I found out about the varsity team,” Rogers said. “I joined and it turned into a wild goose ride, competing in national brackets and making new friends.”

The impact of esports extends far beyond the game console, McClelland said.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of coaching esports is seeing the students embrace the deeper lessons the sport offers,” McClelland said. “Esports teaches resilience, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, all in real-time. Every match, every practice, presents an opportunity for growth—not just in terms of skill, but in character.”

And with the booming esports industry, experience in the competitions opens a new path of career options for students. After joining the team in 2022, Kylie Zeman, 20 from North Ridgeville, decided to shift her educational pathway for a future career in esports promotions. Zeman earned certificates and degrees in web development and plans to build on those skills to earn a bachelor’s degree in emerging media and technology through Kent State University.

Zeman, who competes in Valorant and Overwatch 2, said she hopes the esports team at LCCC will help others learn more about the sport and competitive gaming. The new space in the Campana Center is a great start, she said.

“It’s heartwarming and motivating to have a space to practice and call home,” Zeman said. “With the new space, it has been so much easier to work with teammates and cheer on each other.”

For more information about esports at LCCC, visit athletics.lorainccc.edu.