Coker Esports Program joins NACE, inks first signee
The Coker College Esports program announced on Mar. 6 that they have become members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE).
The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) is a nonprofit membership association organized by and on behalf of member institutions. Together, members are developing the structure and tools needed to advance collegiate esports in the varsity space. They are collaborating to lay the groundwork in areas such as: Eligibility, Path to Graduation, and Competition & Scholarships. NACE is the only association of varsity esports programs at colleges and universities across the U.S.
Michael Ponton, signs his letter of intent becoming the first student-athlete in Coker’s new Esports program. Photo Contributed
NACE officially formed on July 28, 2016 at the first Collegiate Esports Summit held in Kansas City, MO. At that time only seven colleges and universities had varsity esports programs. Since then a rapidly growing number of institutions have launched varsity programming, with a current count of 63 institutions. As of January 2017, over 94 percent of all varsity esports programs in the U.S. are members of NACE with an ever increasing number of schools exploring esports.
“I am very excited to be joining NACE and getting the opportunity to work together with all chapters,” said Coker Director of Esports Joseph Rudy. “NACE is providing structure to the collegiate Esports scene that is desperately needed as the scene is rapidly expanding.”
The Coker College Esports team will begin competing in the 2018-19 school year and becomes the 24th varsity sport at Coker. The Cobras will be competing in competitions held by uLoL, Tespa, CSL, and more. The Navy and Gold is currently putting together an Esports team for League of Legends, Overwatch, and Hearthstone.
The Esports program also recently inked its first signee: Michael Ponton.
Before even stepping into the Coker Esports Arena, Ponton’s name is in the history books of Coker Athletics as the Navy and Gold’s first esports student-athlete.
“I am very excited to have Michael joining us at Coker. He is both an excellent student and an excellent player,” says Coker’s Director of Esports, Joseph Rudy.
Ponton is from Bluffton, S.C., where he attends May River High School. He is a member of the esports team and JROTC competitive rifle shooting team for the Sharks. Ponton was a captain of the May River High School esports team, which advanced to the playoffs twice in the High School Esports League. As a Cobra, Ponton will compete in Overwatch at the damage per second (DPS)/flex position.
He is the son of Vicki and Roderick Ponton, and plans to major in computer science at Coker.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of history at Coker College,” says Ponton. “I’m extremely grateful for this wonderful opportunity Coker has provided me. I’m looking forward to growing academically and personally as part of a team.”