SUNY Students Represent Local Campuses in Esports Tournament

SUNY Students Represent Local Campuses in Esports Tournament

The State University of New York has launched a system-wide esports tournament and students from SUNY Delhi and SUNY Oneonta will compete in the games.

Each college has formed teams that will square off against teams from other SUNY campuses in the SUNY Chancellor Esports Challenge Co-Sponsored by Extreme Networks. At stake is a $20,000 prize pool slated for COVID-19 relief efforts through the #SUNYTogether fund.

“SUNY Oneonta’s gaming community is strong,” said Director of Student Activities, Bill Harcleroad. “We’re excited for our students to participate in the first SUNY-wide esports competition and hopefully come away victorious.”

Nearly 40 colleges have signed up for the three-week competition, which began on April 27.

“This challenge is a great way to stay connected and build community during COVID-19,” said Director of the Center for Student Leadership & Engagement, Lawrence Mannolini. “Our student teams are eager to represent SUNY Delhi for a good cause.”

Two teams from each school are allowed to participate in each section of the competition. The top prize for each game is $2,000, which will be donated to the student emergency fund at the winners’ respective school as part of the #SUNYTogether relief effort. There will also be a $5,000 grand prize given to the college with the best overall score. Players will also be eligible for other prizes from Extreme Networks and Mtn Dew Amp Game Fuel.

“Sports are a great unifier - be it on or off the field. In times where we aren’t able to come together in stadiums, fields, and arenas to cheer our favorite athletes, esports competition is an ideal way to keep students engaged with each other,” said Norman Rice, chief operating officer of Extreme Networks. “By linking the competition to COVID-19 relief efforts, the SUNY Chancellor Esports Challenge will bring students together for much-needed fun and fundraising. We are proud to support this first-of-its-kind event to connect and inspire students representing all of SUNY’s 64 campuses.”

Extreme Networks is the Official Wi-Fi Solutions Provider of the NFL, delivering high-density Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi analytics solutions to 25 NFL teams, and during the past seven Super Bowls. This year marks the seventh season of the Extreme-NFL partnership. Extreme solutions are deployed in professional sports stadiums around the world, and at more than 17,000 schools and 4,500 college campuses worldwide, powering digital education initiatives and enabling competitive esports programs, including at SUNY Canton.

About the #SUNYTogether Campaign

Established to bolster the SUNY system’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, #SUNYTogether is a multi-faceted fundraising effort that aligns with Governor Cuomo’s broader “New York Loves” philanthropic campaign. In addition to raising money for student emergency funds, #SUNYTogether also provides funding for medical research, personal protective equipment, and student scholarships.