Heartland Community Esports
captures National Championships
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[December 20, 2023]
Heartland
Community College Esports student athletes closed out the Fall 23
season with impressive performances, including both individual and
team National Championships.
Two returning Esports athletes gained another
championship title with impressive finishes at the National Junior
College Athletic Association Esports (NJCCAE) Fall tournament.
Jonathan “Jono” Edmonson posted a second consecutive National
Championship as a Heartland Hawk in NBA2k.
Luke Sherman joined Edmonson as a repeat champion, this time leading
the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Crew 3 v. 3 squad. SSBU Crew involves
a team of three players that compete against other squads of three.
Despite some early season adversity, Sherman and fellow teammates
Matthew “Bo” Larson and Alex Baccheschi finished as champions.
“We have had an amazing season with players across multiple games in
the postseason,” said Esports Head Coach Jarrod Rackauskas. “In two
short years, Heartland Community College has become a dominant
program in the NJCAAE and one of the best two-year esports programs.
This is only possible because we have amazing student leadership and
talent that works.”
Caleb Spicer finished in second place at nationals in
Street Fighter 6, while the Hawks solidified six third place
finishes at nationals in Madden NFL (Jackson Grabel), Super Smash
Bros Ultimate (Bo Larson), Mario Kart 8 (Kevin Gonzalez), Mario Kart
8 4 v. 4, Rocket League 3 v. 3 and Super Smash Bro Ultimate (Alex
Baccheschi).
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![](../images/122123PIX/Fall2023EsportsChamps_small.png)
Clockwise from upper left -
Jonathan “Jono” Edmonson, Luke Sherman, Matthew “Bo” Larson,
and
Alex Baccheschi
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/02/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png)
Jack Hooker also placed for the
Hawks in Street Fighter 6 in fourth place, while Luke Merian led
the League of Legends squad to a fourth-place finish.
Rounding out the national trophy winners for the Hawks were the
Call of Duty 2 v. 2 team and Caleb Larson in Super Smash Bros
Ultimate.
The future also looks bright for Hawks Esports as Tier 2 players
also captured a championship at that level with the Hawks team
winning in Fortnite Build (2 v. 2).
[Steve Fast
Assistant to the President, Public Information and Communication
Heartland Community College]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Dec/21/images/ads/current/xamis_sda_HFH_2023.png) |