ORU's Esports Team is Succeeding in the World of Competitive Gaming
ORU’s esports Team. Seated: Sylvester Cannon, Team Captain Simeon Karne
(from left to right) Jonathan Nettleton, Coach Nicholas Triplett
Varsity Rocket League Rockets to Victory, Opening the Season Undefeated
Tulsa, OK — Oral Roberts University’s (ORU) esports Varsity Rocket League team has opened the fall 2023 season undefeated, winning its first two matches 3-0. As a member of the NACE Starleague, ORU competes in the largest collegiate esports league in North America. The NACE Starleague facilitates competition and broadcasts matches for more than 18,000 students from nearly 800 colleges and universities across 15 titles, with an outstanding $280,000 in scholarships as of the 2023-2024 academic year. Since the opening of ORU's E-Rena, a gaming and competition space that was dedicated in 2022, esports at the University have added scholarship opportunities and expanded its roster.
In a recent interview, ORU’s esports Coach, Nicholas Triplett, and team captain Simeon Karne discussed their passion for gaming, the challenges they face as student-athletes, and their next-level visions for esports at ORU.
Q. How did you become involved with competitive gaming?
Nicholas: I grew up playing video games and was passionate about it. I accepted the position of Student Experience Coordinator at ORU a couple of months ago. The opportunity to coach the esports team was presented to me, and I gladly accepted, given my lifelong love for gaming.
Simeon: I started gaming during the COVID lockdown, and I made friends online who introduced me to competitive gaming. I was drawn to the idea of potentially earning money through esports. While I initially played for fun, my interest grew, and I started taking it more seriously. My goal is to play for an official team in international tournaments.
Q. Does the team travel to live events or tournaments?
Nicholas: It’s something we're exploring for the future, especially as we progress to higher-level tournaments. We also have plans to host esports tournaments that local high schools can participate in, creating opportunities for younger gamers.
Q. What makes the esports athlete an “athlete”?
Nicholas: We are absolutely athletes. We have strategies and plays, just like any other sport. We communicate in real-time during the game, calling out plays and coordinating moves. It's a unique challenge that requires precision, coordination, and quick thinking. It's a highly strategic and competitive endeavor. There's prize money, competition, and every dynamic you'd find in traditional sports. We train hard, we compete, and we aim to be the best.
Q. What beliefs or values define the culture of ORU esports?
Nicholas: While we’re still building the team and culture, our values include encouragement, support, and camaraderie. We're committed to fostering a sense of family within the team. While we play competitively, we also seek to be a positive representation in the gaming community through our actions and sportsmanship, both on and off the screen. Beyond that, we're building a community that extends beyond our university, welcoming anyone interested in gaming to join us.
Simeon: We genuinely enjoy spending time together, both playing games and sharing life. We're supportive of each other, we start and end our games with prayers, and our team meetings often involve discussions about academic challenges and achievements. We prioritize our training, often spending more time together as a team than on other social activities. We treat our matches with the same respect and intensity as traditional sports. Our faith is also integrated into our daily lives, and we hope it shines through our actions as we represent our university.
Q: Are there scholarships available for the esports program?
Simeon: Yes. This year, the ORU esports team secured scholarships for all players. It's a significant step in recognizing the dedication and potential within esports.
Q: After college, are there opportunities to compete in a professional league?
Nicholas: While we're still in the early stages of our esports program, the goal is to provide opportunities for students to explore potential careers in professional gaming. In the future, we want our students to move on to the next level of competition.
Q. What is your vision for the team's growth?
Nicholas: We aim to create an inclusive esports community within ORU. Our dream is to have an arena-like setup where students can watch our matches, similar to traditional sports. We want to bridge the gap between gamers and non-gamers, providing a space for students to connect and support our team.
Q. Where can ORU fans tune in to watch you compete?
Simeon: We've recently started streaming our matches on Twitch [https://www.twitch.tv/oruesports/] and plan to expand to YouTube soon. This allows the ORU community to watch and support us. Streaming opens up the possibility of attracting a broader audience, potentially extending beyond the university.
For more information about ORU’s esports program, please contact ORU’s esports Coach,
Nicholas Triplett, at esports@oru.edu. 
ABOUT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 151 nations (from 2019 to 2023) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the most diverse colleges in America, # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.