Esports finds success in Rocket League tournament

By Andrew Nowel, Sports Reporter

Canisius Esports has built success from team sports such as Rocket League and Valorant, but the program also has an individual sport of FIFA. As the season concludes, Rocket League took to the semi-finals in Hudson Valley, NY while two members of the FIFA squad qualified for top-16 in the playoffs.

Rocket League began the year with only one returning player, the junior captain Gavin Charlap. Joining the team in their freshmen year, Nolan Chambers and Lukas Panicali were welcomed with open arms. “The team was very welcoming, and even though I wasn’t the greatest, they worked with me and never let me get discouraged,” said Chambers on Tuesday.

The three struggled during the fall semester, but Charlap told Esports senior president Anthony Tripi to give them time. With a little bit of practice and chemistry that began to build in January, the Griffs turned it around and went into the MAAC playoffs as the seventh seed.

“They started to turn it around and they were winning matches statistically, by their seeding, they shouldn’t be winning,” explained Tripi on Tuesday.

The team went into the playoffs with high hopes, which translated to early success, defeating the second seed Manhattan Jaspers. The Griffs would fall to the Siena Saints 3–1 in the semifinals in Hudson Valley, but the experience was still positive.

Tripi is very pleased with the direction the program is headed, especially with success from the younger players on the team. “As an outgoing senior, it’s heartwarming to see two freshmen going to that and get the seed of competition really planted in them,” said Tripi. “That gives me hope that they come back and they want to win more and more every year.”

Senior Maji David-Maji, or MJ, led the charge for the past two semesters in FIFA competition. MJ had success during the fall, making it to the round of 16 in the playoffs and continued to have success this spring. He was able to bring in junior Mmesoma Anamege, or Meso, and the two competed well with MJ, only losing one match after going undefeated last semester. Meso on the other hand only lost two matches, placing both of them in the top-16 as they headed into the playoffs.

“Competing at a high level taught me how to stay composed under pressure,” MJ said Thursday. “FIFA is about more than just mechanics; it’s about patience, reading your opponent, and staying locked in mentally. Playing against top-level competition has helped me grow in terms of discipline and adaptability.”

The experience of Esports for MJ has helped him to grow not only as a FIFA player, but as a person as well.

“My experience with Esports at Canisius has been both competitive and community-driven,” said MJ. “It’s a unique environment where passion meets preparation, and that’s something I’ve really connected with. Being surrounded by teammates who are just as locked in and dedicated helps push you to sharpen your skills daily.”

Photo courtesy of @GriffsEsports