HARRISBURG, PA – Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is pleased to congratulate our Rocket League varsity esports team, The Storm, on their recent second-place ranking at Boost on the Beach. The triumph followed a grueling qualifying run where The Storm emerged with a 5-0 undefeated record before entering the bracket portion of the tournament as the first seed.
Hosted at The Hangout in Myrtle Beach on March 8, 9, and 10, 2024, Boost on the Beach is an invitation-only collegiate tournament where participating teams must already have proven their mettle. The 2024 match-up is the second consecutive year for this invigorating two-day event co-hosted by Shenandoah University, Syracuse University, and Coastal Carolina University.
As university esports teams descended upon Myrtle Beach to see who reigned triumphant, The Storm found itself among 12 other seasoned varsity Rocket League teams. Competing universities included Clemson University, George Mason University, Maryville University, Michigan State University, NC State, Northeastern University, Ole Miss, Syracuse University, UNC Charlotte, University of South Carolina, and West Virginia University.
As first seed, The Storm continued their dominance and made their way to the grand finals, eventually going up against West Virginia University for the championship trophy. The Storm ultimately placed second, but in no way did their efforts fall short. The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), of which HU is a member, boasts more than 240 member schools representing 5,000-plus student-athletes.
The student competition team included Dan “Polar” Rees, Henri “nex” Krueger, and Tristan “tcorrell” Correll. The faculty members in attendance were HU’s Director of Esports, Mike Navarro, and Esports Rocket League Head Coach Nick Sutton. Coach Sutton said:
“This was the second-ever Boost on the Beach, and all previous attending teams received an invite. With HU getting an invite and performing this well, we anticipate sending student teams to this event annually.”
Mike Navarro joined Coach Sutton in celebrating this well-earned win:
“We went into the Boost on the Beach event on a hot streak with the addition of Polar in January, and I think we performed very well. We were able to beat West Virginia during the group stage, but they got their revenge in the final, and they earned it. I think we gained a lot of respect from the collegiate Rocket Leaguecommunity after this performance, and I’m excited to see how Coach Sutton and the team continue to develop.”
As a leading private, STEM-focused university in Central Pennsylvania, the fast-growing esports market has become a significant component of the Harrisburg University degree program catalog.
The Bachelor of Science in Esports Management, Production, and Performance program is one of a very few programs of its kind in the United States. Students receive hands-on experience at the collegiate level, preparing them not just for competitive play, but also a valuable career in event and venue management, interactive media, and digital entrepreneurship. HU will also launch an all-new BS in Game Design degree program in time for the 2024–2025 academic year.
In September 2024, The Storm will host the HUE Invitational – the annual Harrisburg University Esports competition. Teams will converge in Harrisburg to see who takes home the title of HUE Invitational Champion.
ABOUT HU STORM
The Storm is the varsity esports team at Harrisburg University, competing in Rocket League, League of Legends, and Valorant. The Storm is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). HU Storm competitors pursue degrees in today’s hottest fields, including esports, IT, and computer sciences, while competing under the guidance of a world-class coaching staff in our state-of the-art practice space. With support from HU, The Storm stands at the forefront of helping students achieve the professional knowledge needed to succeed in the esports industry. For more information about The Storm, visit their official Harrisburg University webpage, follow the team on Twitter/X.com and Instagram, get team and event updates on Facebook, see videos from past competitions on YouTube, and watch live gameplay on The Storm’s official Twitch channel.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717-901-5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
