We believe this is a great opportunity for students who may or may not have considered college athletics to have the collegiate athletics experience. Gaming crosses all demographics and allows students to participate in a team while they pursue their future careers.
Milwaukee Area Technical College is launching an esports program slated to compete against other state schools in the Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC).
Esports, short for electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming where players and teams compete in leagues across various game titles. Esports encompasses a wide variety of genres, with some of the most popular being Rocket League, Valorant, Super Smash Bros and Overwatch 2.
MATC will soft launch its varsity esports program this Spring, starting with tryouts within the existing student body to form teams for a shortened competitive season later this month. The program aims to field teams in the four titles mentioned above, with the flexibility to expand based on student interest. This initial phase will help establish a strong foundation, allowing students to engage in competitive play while shaping the program’s future direction.
“In the Fall, the MATC program may compete under the aegis of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which supervises all of the Stormers’ other sports, in addition to the WEC,” said Travis Mrozek, the college’s Assistant Athletic Director.
“We believe this is a great opportunity for students who may or may not have considered college athletics to have the collegiate athletics experience,” said MATC Athletic Director Randy Casey. “Gaming crosses all demographics and allows students to participate in a team while they pursue their future careers.”
Many colleges and universities have programs to develop gaming skills and offer scholarships to skilled players for teams. MATC is the only two-year college in the state to offer an associate degree in Computer Simulation and Gaming.
“Gaming has broad appeal to students and the community,” said Erich Zeimantz, MATC’s Director of Student Life. “Offering a two-year college option to compete at the college level opens new pathways for students.”
Recruiting Players
MATC is actively recruiting esports players to join its newly launched varsity program. Are you exceptionally skilled at a video game? Have you dreamt of being part of a competitive esports team? Tryouts are happening soon. Interested students can email stormerses@matc.edu.
Expanding Athletics Programs
Adding esports is part of the Stormers' effort to elevate their athletic program in response to student demand. This expansion also supports MATC’s recruitment efforts, which has increased three consecutive years due to many initiatives. In 2018, the college moved its men’s and women's basketball teams from NJCAA Division III to Division II. Now all of the college’s sports teams compete in Division II.
In 2023, the Stormers men’s basketball team won the college’s first national championship, and in 2024, the women’s volleyball team reached the national tournament for the first time in school history.
And, in January 2025, the college announced its intent to lease a new athletic training and event facility in Deer District co-developed and co-owned by J. Jeffers & Company and the Milwaukee Bucks. Construction is slated to begin summer 2025.
About MATC: As Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 180 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.