Lake Area Technical College Esports Team Competes for First-Ever National Title in Call of Duty
- Steve Jurrens
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Lake Area Technical College (LATC) Esports program is set to reach a new competitive high this Friday as its Call of Duty: Warzone 2v2 roster competes for the NJCAAE National Championship. The match, a best-of-five series against USC Sumter, is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
This appearance marks the program’s first national title contest since its inception five years ago, reflecting the rapid and successful growth of collegiate esports at the Watertown campus.
The LATC Warzone roster, which includes Jose Del Angel of Milbank, S.D., and Garrison Steele of Alden, Minn., secured its spot following a dominant season. The team finished the regular season with only a single loss before claiming the Region 13 Championship. Their momentum continued into the national semifinals, where they faced Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
After dropping the second match of the series, a determined message from Coach Bryce LeBlanc—“Win and move on or lose and go home”—helped rally Del Angel and Steele. The players responded with a decisive victory in the final match, securing their 2-1 series win and advancing to the finals. The full roster also includes Mason Anthony of Nicollet, Minn., who, due to technical issues, stepped back during the regional rounds, allowing Steele to step in alongside Del Angel to form the strong competitive duo that will start the championship match.
For the starting players, the national final is a career highlight. Del Angel emphasized the necessary approach for a win. “To be successful on Friday, I need to stay focused, communicate well, and play aggressively,” Del Angel said.
Steele, who will be competing in his final year, shared that his recent performance in the semifinals, which included ten eliminations, was significant. “Being in my final year here, earning a national title would mean a lot,” Steele added.
The championship appearance underscores the strength of the LATC Esports program, which has flourished from a small student club into a robust program. Today, over 30 students are competing in nine game titles across two collegiate leagues. This season has included participation in multiple in-person LAN events, such as the Midwest Clash in Chicago and a CCL playoff event hosted by Dakota State University.
Coach LeBlanc, who co-coaches the team alongside Levi Olson (both former collegiate esports players), summarized the program’s success this fall as its strongest season to date. “We had four regional qualifiers, one regional champion, three national qualifiers, and a national championship appearance,” LeBlanc noted. He attributes the team’s consistent success to practice, teamwork, and composure, maintaining the simple message: “Play with confidence, trust the plan, and compete.”
The coaches also expressed that the program is welcoming to students of all skill levels from various academic fields at Lake Area Tech, encouraging prospective students who enjoy gaming to consider joining the community.
Supporters are invited to cheer on the LATC Warzone team in person at the Esports Lab, which will open for viewing on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The national championship match will also be streamed live online beginning at 4:30 p.m. at www.twitch.tv/latcesports.
