The Sheldon High School esports team passed another level to end the 2024-25 season.

It’s only the third year of the program, and Sheldon already had qualified for two Iowa High School Esports Association state events — “Rocket League” in winter of 2023-24 and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” in the fall.

But Sheldon still was looking for a top-three finish at state going into the spring season for “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.”

After losing the season opener, Sheldon went on a winning streak that stretched all the way to the IAHSEA Spring Finals on May 21 in Marshalltown, including a spot in the championship against Estherville Lincoln Central.

While the winning streak came to an end as Sheldon lost, the runner-up finish in “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” is the highest in the program’s history.

“The guys were bummed that they lost the finals but were still in great spirits on the way home,” said Sheldon esports coach Toby Maggert. “We set the goal to come home with some hardware, and we met that goal. This is the highest a team sport has placed at state at Sheldon in a long time, and they are carrying that with pride.”

“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” is played on the Nintendo Switch and Sheldon had 13 players out for the spring season. Four players make up the varsity roster and four more are allowed for substitutes. Juniors Dawsin Merley and Ethan Vogelaar, sophomore Weston Smith and freshman Aaron Verburg made up Sheldon’s varsity “Mario Kart” roster.

The games are four versus four with all players scoring. In an eight-player race, points are awarded from first- to eighth-place. Ten points are awarded for first place, eight for second, six for third, five for fourth, four for fifth, three for sixth, two for seventh and one for eighth.

Teams play a best out of three cups and each cup is a series of four races. Whichever team has the most points at the end wins the cup.

All races are on courses of 150cc, the fastest courses, with normal rules for racing. Each player chooses their own kart combo, which consists of a character, the kart, the wheels and the glider. There are more than 8,000 combos to build from.

“The online community did the math and determined the best few combos, so you see the same five combos a lot,” Maggert said.

The start of the season got off on the wrong foot for Sheldon, which lost to Westwood 101-55 and 83-73.

Maggert said the team had a “double disadvantage” going into the match.

“First, we had connection issues and could only get three players to race online, so we were racing three versus four in the first six races,” he said. “We also had our team-voted MVP gone that day, so we were already handicapped in personnel. The last two races our tech guy figured out the issue, and we were able to have four guys, in and you can see the score was closer in that second game.

“It just goes to show that even at a handicap, our team was able to compete against another team that made it to state and won a match there as well.”

Sheldon bounced back with a 109-47 and 110-46 win over River Valley in the second week, which started a nine-match winning streak. For the rest of the regular season matches, only two cups were within 20 points of Sheldon’s total.

Sheldon earned the sixth seed in the postseason and faced WACO of Wayland in the state qualifier.

“We were the sixth seed, which I felt made us a bit of a sleeper team,” Maggert said. “I knew our only loss was at a huge disadvantage, so if not for that, we would have been a higher seed.”

Sheldon dominated WACO, winning 100-56 and 97-56 to advance to Marshalltown.

The Orabs almost did not make it out of the first round at state though. They faced third-seeded West Fork of Sheffield and trailed throughout the first cup before making a major comeback to force a 78-78 tie. Sheldon won the second cup 88-68 but lost the third cup 82-74.

“Since it is a best of three, we had to go back and replay the first cup again and that time we won 83-73,” Maggert said.

Sheldon faced second-seeded Woodward in the semifinals and won the first cup 82-74. It dropped the second cup 87-69 but pulled out an 84-72 victory to get to the championship match.

“Going into the last race, we were down by one but managed to take first and second place, which was enough points to lock up the victory,” Maggert said. “Honestly, we were underdogs all day. We hands down had the hardest competition of the day, and all of those teams came into the tournament undefeated.

“Our first match win had the guys almost relieved to know they had what it takes to compete at state, and after the second-round victory, they were on cloud nine.”

That set up the match against top-seed Estherville Lincoln Central and Sheldon won the first cup. It was the first cup loss of the entire year for ELC.

“You could see in their faces that they had just considered for the first time that they might not win,” Maggert said. “After that, ELC came back strong and focused and raced two great cups. The last cup was even one of the sets we had gotten lots of practice on so I was hopeful we could take the win, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Estherville Lincoln Central took the next two cups to win the title with Sheldon in second place.

For Maggert, the runner-up in “Mario Kart” was a fitting end to a strong year of esports at Sheldon.

“We qualified for state in ‘Smash Bros.’ and had a winning record in all of our seasons,” he said. “We did not make state for ‘Rocket League’ but still walked off with a positive record. Ending the ‘Mario Kart’ season at 9-2 is awesome, and our only losses were to a state qualifier and state champ.

“I am putting a big W for this year for the esports team.”

This kind of season can vault a program forward. It’s still a young program at Sheldon, and Maggert continues to encourage his players to spread the word about esports.

“We take a group of kids that typically game for fun and teach them about structured and rigorous practice, how to research skills to self-improve, communicate effectively with peers in times of stress and build a positive environment in a context that kids are usually left to themselves,” he said. “I have seen tremendous personal and competitive growth from my students, and I would love to have even more students get that experience.”

Sheldon should be poised for another successful esports year in 2025-26 since it did not graduate any starters.

“On our varsity lineup, we didn’t have any seniors starting in ‘Smash Bros.’ or ‘Mario Kart,’ so we are bringing back a lot of talent,” Maggert said. “I am looking forward to seeing how they improve over the summer and are ready to keep climbing the ladder. They are all motivated to have at least as much success next year, and I believe they can do it.”

By The Chronicle staff

The Rochester High School trap shooting team enjoyed a successful trip to Olympia for the trap shooting state tournament, as the Warriors finished third as a team June 7.

Two Warriors took home state titles in their respective categories, with Morgan Summers placing first in the high gun novice female category and Hunter Roberts narrowly winning the high gun junior varsity male division by one point over Adna’s Benjamin Andrew.

Rochester’s Carson Wallis finished second in the male high gun novice event, with Adna’s Wyatt McAllister right behind him in third.

Rochester finished the spring trap shooting season in second place in the Class 1A Conference behind Sequim for the second time in three years, with Adna coming in fourth.

OMAHA, Neb. — The Oregon State Beavers’ remarkable postseason run added another thrilling — and dramatic — win Friday night at Charles Schwab Field.

(READ A FULL RECAP HERE)

Gavin Turley belted a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to deliver the Beavers a 4-3 walk-off win over the Louisville Cardinals in the opening round of the Men’s College World Series.

The win moved the Beavers into the winners’ bracket of the eight-team tournament, where they will face Coastal Carolina at 4 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2).

Check back later tonight with oregonlive.com/beavers for a full recap from the game. See below for a live updates recap:

Live updates recap

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH

Caraway steps to the plate with the game tied 3-3. … He grounds out to open the frame and Arquette hits next. He rips a one-out single to center and the Beavers have the winning run on base. … Turley steps to the plate. … The junior All-American crushes the first pitch he sees down the left field line for a double. Arquette sprints from second, rounds third and beats the relay throw with a head-first slide. Oregon State wins with a walk-off double. Incredible. (1 RUN, 2 HITS)

TOP OF THE NINTH

Kellan Oakes enters from the bullpen looking to close out the win for the Beavers, who lead 3-1. … Rose hammers the first pitch he sees on a line into left field and Turley attempts a head-first dive. He can’t make the play and the ball scoots past him all the way to the wall for a leadoff triple. The Cardinals have a runner in scoring position to open the frame. … Davis slaps an 0-1 pitch to second base. Singer is playing back in shallow right and Davis legs out the slow-roller for an RBI single. OSU’s lead is down to 3-2. … Tanner Shiver pinch runs for Davis. … He takes off on the second pitch to Alicea, but Weber throws a laser that beats him. One out. … Wait, the play will be challenged. … It’s confirmed after review. … Alicea slaps a ball to shortstop and Arquette fields the ball, but his throw sails wide and flies into the net protecting the stands down the first base line. Alicea sprints to second base. Weber trails the play down to first base, scoops up the errant throw, and tries to fire to second. But he can’t grip the ball, it flies behind him and he can’t locate it. In the mayhem, Alicea races all the way to third base, leaving the tying run 90 feet away from home plate. There are two errors on the play — one for Arquette and one for Weber. … Neighbors steps to the plate. … And the No. 9 hitter rips the first pitch he sees into center for an RBI single. And on that, the game is tied, 3-3. Louisville now has the go-ahead runner on first base. … Oakes stops the bleeding by striking out Moore on four pitches. … Then Klein taps an inning-ending grounder to Oakes. The game remains tied at 3-3. (2 RUNS, 3 HITS, 1 LOB)

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH

Krieg opens the frame and smacks a liner to left, but it sails right at Rose. One out. … Reeder works a six-pitch walk and Dallas Macias steps to the plate as a pinch hitter for McEntire. …Macias flies out to left field. Two outs. … Reeder is picked off at first to end the inning. Wait, check that, Oregon State is challenging the call. … And it’s confirmed after video review. That’ll do it for the frame. OSU heads to the top of the ninth with a 3-1 lead. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 LOB)

TOP OF THE EIGHTH

The Cardinals trail 3-1. … Klein works a 3-2 count, then rips a line drive single to left. … Munroe follows by striking out looking for the first out of the frame. … King steps to the plate and Dorman struts to the mound for a chat with Queen. Kellan Oakes is warming up in the Beavers’ bullpen. … Dorman sticks with Queen. … And Queen delivers, enticing King into a fly ball to shallow right-center field. … Pike follows by striking out swinging to end the inning. (0 RUNS, 1 HIT, 1 LOB)

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH

The Beavers open the frame with a 3-1 lead. … Arquette flies out to center for the first out. … Turley follows with a single to right field, putting a runner on base with one out. … Weber steps to the plate. And the senior catcher rips a line drive to second base, but the ball sails directly at Neighbors for the second out. … Singer hits with two outs. He gets down 1-2, then rips a line drive single to right. Turley advances to third and the Beavers have runners on the corners with two outs. … Peterson follows with a pop-up near the Louisville dugout and Davis scrambles to the railing and makes a nifty catch for the final out. (0 RUNS, 2 HITS, 2 LOB)

TOP OF THE SEVENTH

Wyatt Queen replaces Segura to start the inning. Rose tests him immediately, laying a bunt down on the first pitch he sees. It heads to the third base side and Queen makes a beautiful barehanded play. One out. … Davis follows by drawing a walk. … Alicea steps to the plate and laces a line drive single to right field. Two on and one out for Louisville. … Neighbors slaps a ball to first and Krieg makes a diving stab. He looks toward second, then elects to chase the force out at first, and barley beats Neighbors, who tried a head-first slide. … Louisville is challenging the play. … After video review, the call is upheld. … Moore steps to the plate with runners on second and third and one out. … He strikes out on three pitches to end the inning and Queen works out of the jam. (0 RUNS, 1 HIT, 2 LOB)

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH

Weber leads off the frame with the Beavers clinging to a 2-1 lead. … He strikes out on four pitches. … Singer follows with a line drive single to left, bringing Peterson to the plate with one out. … He sends a grounder toward second base on a 3-2 pitch and Neighbors dives for the ball, but can’t make the stop. It’s a single and OSU has runners on first and second with one out. Forbes is up to 95 pitches. … Krieg works a six-pitch walk and the bases are loaded. Forbes has thrown 101 pitches and he won’t throw any more. Louisville goes to the bullpen, turning to left-handed reliever Justin West. … Reeder hits a double-play ball to shortstop, but Alicea boots the grounder. Singer scores from third, pushing the Beavers’ lead to 3-1, and they still have the bases loaded. .. Carson McEntire pinch-hits for Talt. He fouls off three two-strike pitches, but goes down swinging for the second out of the inning. … Caraway follows with a strikeout and Louisville escapes further damage. The Beavers only muster one run in the inning and take s 3-1 lead into the seventh. (1 RUN, 2 HITS, 1 ERROR, 3 LOB)

TOP OF THE SIXTH

Neighbors opens the frame and draws a six-pitch walk, Whitney’s first of the night. The Cardinals have their leadoff man on in the sixth, trailing 2-0. … Whitney faces Moore and opens the at-bat with two balls, which will bring Weber and Caraway to the mound for a chat. … Moore smacks a single the other way into left field and the Cardinals have runners on first and second with no outs. …. Klein steps to the plate. He hits a dribbler to first base and Krieg makes the play, but the runners move to second and third. … That will bring OSU pitching coach Rich Dorman to the mound for a chat with Jake Munroe due up. … Dorman elects to go to the bullpen, replacing Whitney with right-hander Eric Segura. Whitney’s night ends after 82 pitches (52 strikes). He recorded nine strikeouts, allowed three hits and one walk, and did not allow a run — yet. Whitney’s on the hook for the pair of runners on base. … Munroe slaps a screamer at Arquette and the ball eats him up. But the official scorekeeper calls it a single. … Neighbors scores from third and the Cardinals trim OSU’s lead to 2-1. … King steps to the plate and Segura’s first pitch sails to the backstop, allowing Munroe to move to second. … King works a 3-0 count, then swings past three consecutive fastballs. That’s a big out for Segura to say the least. … Pike battles to a 2-2 count, then hits a pop-up in foul ground that Weber chases down. Segura wiggles out of the inning by allowing just one run. OSU leads 2-1. (1 RUN, 2 HITS, 2 LOB)

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH

Forbes plunks Reeder to open the fifth and there’s activity in the Louisville bullpen for the first time tonight. … Talt draws a pair of balls, smacks four consecutive pitches foul, then flies out to center for the first out of the inning. … Caraway steps to the plate. He swings through a 96 mph fastball on a 1-2 count for strike three. … Arquette sends a grounder toward the hole at second base and Neighbors makes a nice diving stop, but he can’t get the ball out of his glove and it goes down as an infield single. OSU has two on with two outs and Turley stepping to the plate. … Turley strikes out to end the inning. (0 RUNS, 1 HIT, 2 LOB)

TOP OF THE FIFTH

The Cardinals will bat facing a 2-0 deficit. Rose works a 3-1 count, then sends a fly ball to deep center. But it’s easily handled by Reeder for the first out. … Davis follows by sending a high pop-up to center field on the first pitch he sees. … Alicea grounds out to second base and it’s a quick, 1-2-3 inning for Whitey, who needs just eight pitches to retire the side. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 LOB)

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH

Caraway leads off in a scoreless game and rips the first pitch he sees into left field for a single. It’s the first hit of the night for the Beavers. … Arquette follows with a swinging bunt down the third base line and legs out an infield single. And there are two on with no outs for Turley. … Forbes fires a 95 mph fastball to the backstop for a wild pitch and Caraway and Arquette advance to second and third. Turley now hits with two runners in scoring position. …Turley slaps a grounder to second and Neighbors makes the throw to first for the first out of the inning. But Caraway scores easily and Arquette advances to third. Oregon State strikes first with an RBI groundout. … The Beavers don’t wait long to strike again. Weber follows Turley with a run-scoring single up the middle past a drawn-in Louisville infield. Arquette scores to give OSU a 2-0 lead. … Singer follows with a three-pitch strikeout. Two down in the frame. … Peterson rips a line drive single to right field for the fourth hit of the inning and Weber moves to second base. … That will draw a mound visit from the Louisville dugout. … Krieg stares at strike three and the inning is over, but not before the Beavers take a 2-0 lead. Forbes is up to 64 pitches. (2 RUNS, 4 HITS, 2 LOB)

TOP OF THE FOURTH

Moore steps to the plate and Whitney will face the batting order for the second time. … Moore sits down on three strikes, including a borderline final pitch that he watches. Whitney is up to seven Ks. … Make that eight, as Klein swings through a 3-2 pitch. … Munroe works a 2-2 count, then sends a grounder through the hole to right field. Singer gives chase but can’t track it down and we have our first hit of the night. … King follows with a single through the hole to left and Louisville has back-to-back hits and a runner in scoring position for the first time in the game. Pike steps to the plate. … He swings through a 92 mph fastball on a 2-2 pitch and the threat is over. Whitney is up to 62 pitches after a 23-pitch frame. (0 RUNS, 2 HITS, 2 LOB)

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD

Jacob Krieg steps to the plate to open a scoreless third. The man they call “Bonk” works a 3-2 count on Forbes, then takes a ball of the wrist/hand. He struts to first after the hit by pitch and is the first base runner of the game. … But he doesn’t stay there long. Canon Reeder slaps a grounder to second and the Cardinals turn a 4-6-3 double play. Two outs. … Easton Talt works a 2-2 count, then stares at an off-speed offering for strike three. Three up, three down for Forbes, who has thrown 44 pitches (27 for strikes). After three innings, the teams have combined to produce just one base runner and he was erased on a double play. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 LOB)

TOP OF THE THIRD

Davis leads off for the Cardinals. … Louisville is finding it impossible to lay off Whitney’s two-strike off-speed pitches and Davis — who offers a check swing on a 72 mph pitch in the dirt — is no exception. He’s strikeout victim No. 6 on the night. … Alex Alicea manages to put a ball in play, but it’s hit harmlessly to Singer at second base and he makes the play. Two outs. … Kamau Neighbors hits a liner the other way to left and Turley seems to lose the ball in the sun. But is somehow lands in his glove to end the inning. It’s another 1-2-3 for Whitney, who has thrown 39 pitches, including 27 strikes. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 LOB)

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND

Wilson Weber leads off for the Beavers in a scoreless game. … He stares at a 96 mph on the inside corner for strike three. … AJ Singer works a 2-2 count, then sends a pop-up into foul territory near first base that is caught by Tague Davis. Two outs. … Tyce Peterson follows by striking out swinging and it’s another 1-2-3 frame. These hard-throwing right-handers are 6 for 6 today. Forbes has thrown 29 pitches, including 18 strikes. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 LOB)

TOP OF THE SECOND

Whitney opens his second frame with a familiar result: A strikeout. This time he fans Eddie King Jr. with a 72 mph off-speed pitch. … Garret Pike steps to the plate and continues the trend, striking out on a 1-2 off-speed offering from Whitney. … The Beavers’ right-hander is absolutely dealing in his World Series debut. … And it’s another strikeout as Zion Rose fans on — what else — another 72 mph off-speed pitch. Whitney is mixing his pitches as well as I’ve seen all season. He’s thrown 19 and 19 have been strikes. Five of the six batters he’s faced have gone down via strikeout. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 LOB)

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST

After a scoreless top half of the first, Trent Caraway will leadoff for the Beavers. … Patrick Forbes deals a 96 mph fastball to open the frame. Caraway goes down swinging on a 1-2 fastball and three of the four outs today have been Ks. … Make that four of five outs, as Aiva Arquette swings through a 1-2 pitch for the second out of the inning. … Gavin Turley grounds out to shortstop to end the inning. It’s a 1-2-3 frame for Forbes, who throws 15 pitches, including nine strikes. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 OUTS)

TOP OF THE FIRST

Dax Whitney fires a 93 mph fastball to Louisville leadoff hitter Lucas Moore and we’re underway in Omaha. … Whitney strikes Moore out swinging on a 3-2 fastball. … Make that back-to-back strikeouts for Whitney, who fans Matt Klein with a 2-2 curveball. … And Jake Munroe follows by hitting a pop fly to left field it’s a 1-2-3 first inning for Whitney. He threw 14 pitches, including nine strikes, in the inning. (0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 0 LOB)

Catch up on the Beavers’ march to the MCWS with these stories:

• A ‘wall of memories’: Beavers reach the Men’s College World Series, one Polaroid at a time

• A lineup gamble, a coaching handoff and superb defense: 3 things that fueled the Beavers’ College World Series berth

• ‘Omaha is in the Beaver blood’: Oregon State bashes Florida State, punches ticket to College World Series

• Oregon State falls to Florida State, setting up do-or-die Game 3 in Corvallis Super Regional: ‘We’re ready to play’

• Beavers rally for walk-off win vs. Florida State, moving 1 improbable step closer to College World Series

• ‘People are pretty scared of me right now’: Trent Caraway goes from slump to scorching hot

•From spinal screws to acai bowls: James DeCremer completes Beavers’ improbable journey to super regionals

• Oregon State bashes way to pair of wins in record-setting double-header, sets up winner-take-all final vs. USC in Corvallis Regional

• Dax Whitney’s masterpiece helps Oregon State baseball stay alive in Corvallis Regional

• Beavers stunned by Saint Mary’s in Corvallis Regional, vow to fight back and ‘do something special’

• Wilson Weber, who has one of the most respected voices inside the Beavers’ locker room, has become the “heart” of the Oregon State baseball team

• ‘Gritty grays’ to ‘creamsicles’: A look at the secret behind who picks OSU baseball uniforms

• Slump-busting finish: As OSU readies for regionals, a pair of key players rediscover mojo

• ‘Leaving a legacy:’ Gavin Turley is the Oregon State baseball Home Run King

• ‘Big league stuff: Whitney poised to be next Oregon State star

• ‘Cancel your flight’: Unexpected call lands OSU baseball its new second baseman

• A look at the Cardinals

Probable starters

OSU RHP Dax Whitney (6-3, 3.66) vs. Louisville RHP Patrick Forbes (4-2, 4.36)

OSU’s starting lineup

1. Trent Caraway, 3B

2. Aiva Arquette, SS

3. Gavin Turley, LF

4. Wilson Weber, C

5. AJ Singer, 2B

6. Tyce Peterson, DH

7. Jacob Krieg, 1B

8. Canon Reeder, CF

9. Easton Talt, RF

Louisville’s starting lineup

1. Lucas Moore, CF

2. Matt Klein, C

3. Jake Munroe, 3B

4. Eddie King, Jr, DH

5. Garret Pike, RF

6. Zion Rose, LF

7. Tague Davis, 1B

8. Alex Alicea, SS

9. Kamau Neighbors, SS

— Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | @freemanjoe.bsky.social

JC “Naisou” Rezabek’s journey into the world of esports didn’t begin with a mic or a gaming chair. It began in a quiet, structured classroom, where he worked one-on-one with children and young adults with autism and learning disabilities.

JC “Naisou” Rezabek stands out in esports — not just for his voice, but for his story.

I’ve known JC since 2009, back when we were both younger, and it’s both moving and inspiring to see how his path—while seemingly unconventional—has led him to a place where he shines so clearly.

JC proudly represents the Philippines on a global stage and sees it as a privilege and a responsibility.

As a special education (SPED) teacher in the Philippines, JC’s daily life was one of nuance and compassion. He would pore over medical histories, integrate input from behavioral and speech therapists, and craft individualized education plans. His youngest students were just three years old; his oldest, over 21.

Apart from being a professional Esports broadcaster, JC is also a special education (SPED) teacher.

But in the quiet in-betweens—after the school day ended and the gym sessions were done—he began dabbling in streaming games online.

“There wasn’t much of a bridge,” he said honestly about the shift from education to esports. “The pandemic hit, the place I worked at closed, and SPED isn’t something that easily transitions to online teaching. So I decided to go full force into what was hot—streaming.”

Streaming eventually opened a door JC hadn’t anticipated: casting. He had always loved gaming, from his early years in Japan to competing in Counter-Strike and discovering World of Warcraft and League of Legends. One of his TikTok clips—where he commentated over his own gameplay—got the attention of an industry friend who encouraged him to audition for a real casting gig.

“I look back at that audition and cringe,” he laughed, “but they took a chance on me.” That leap of faith landed him on the professional stage with MPL Philippines, and later, at M6—the international grand finals event that had been a long-term goal. “It took me three years to get there,” he said. “And it felt so rewarding.”

But behind the bright lights and roaring fans, JC admits, is a craft few outsiders understand. “People think we just show up and cast. But it’s a whole world: history, stats, narratives, knowing your co-casters, listening actively while being live. It’s more than talking—it’s storytelling, pressure, emotion, and precision.”

At its core, he believes esports is far more than “just video games.”

“It’s a celebration of digital excellence,” he explained. “It fuses technology, media, and human performance. Gamers become athletes. Fans become communities. It’s a cultural movement.”

And casting? That’s a responsibility he takes seriously. “A great caster isn’t just knowledgeable. They’re self-assured. They’re storytellers. They understand the ecosystem, the stakes, the emotion. And most importantly, they’re great listeners.”

His versatility shines in voice-over work too—from audiobooks and YouTube channels to meditation apps. And while his public persona reflects confidence, style, and charisma, JC shares he’s an introvert at heart. “After events, I need my downtime. Alone time helps me reset.”

That contrast—between the bold energy on screen and the reflective man off-cam—makes his story even more compelling. He attributes his growth to a blend of experiences: moving to the Philippines alone at 21, putting himself through college, and surviving professional failures with resilience. “Esports didn’t change me,” he said. “It refined me.”

Today, JC proudly represents the Philippines on a global stage. He sees it as a privilege and a responsibility. “People look to Filipino talents as the standard. That means something. And I love that we bring our culture into every broadcast.”

As for what’s next, his dreams are grounded. “A healthy body and mind, a job I love, and someday a partner to share it with—that’s the dream.”His advice to others? Take the risk. “My whole life has been about stepping out of my comfort zone. If it works out, you win. If it doesn’t, you learn. No risk, no story.”

In the ever-evolving world of esports, JC “Naisou” Rezabek has become a powerful presence—not just because of his voice, but because of his story. And it’s only just getting started.

What began as a spontaneous coffee meeting between two strangers in 2021 has evolved into an expanding esports education program now serving dozens of families across San Diego County.

Unified Esports League (UESL), developed by Matthew Iske and Tony Rubino, offers inclusive programming where individuals with disabilities engage in technology, art and gaming while building critical life and social skills. After 18 months of planning and development, UESL officially launched in 2023 as a vendor through the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC).

“Our primary focus is on social and emotional skills and helping people to get out of their room and engage with their peers and pursue goals through their passion for gaming and technology,” said Iske, UESL’s founder and CEO.

Iske, a teacher and non-profit leader, met Rubino in 2021. Rubino, a longtime advocate and coach for individuals with disabilities, approached Iske with a simple proposition:

“You don’t know me, and I don’t know you, but we’re going to have coffee.” That meeting led to the early ideas that would form UESL.

Over the next year and a half, the two traveled, collaborated, and designed a curriculum that blends esports with wellness and community engagement.

Rubino, who has worked with the special needs community in Poway for 27 years, believes that sports and teamwork play a vital role in growth.

“I have learned to understand the challenges that they face as they go into adulthood,” Rubino said. “I found that sports was a great way to bring a community together and teach them what being on a team is all about, how to win, how to lose and pursue something that they enjoy — and that has translated into a lot of great things.”

Today, UESL supports roughly 40 families per site through rotating sessions of 12 to 18 participants. Clients range in age from 8 to 40, and each location blends individuals of different ages to foster support and mentorship.

“Isolation really is a challenge, so the more things we can do to create a network and have these young people get together — if we can create a safe environment, which we do — then it’s a total win,” Rubino said.

UESL participants engage in gaming, creative technology, physical wellness breaks and debriefing sessions designed to promote healthy tech habits and peer connection. Some even use driving simulators to prepare for their driver’s license. Others use tools like Procreate to pursue digital art. One student designed the team’s jersey logo in just 20 minutes.

“They all have so much potential in so many ways,” Iske said. “Being able to be there and help them make progress has made a huge impact on me personally.”

The goal, Iske explained, is not just to play games but to use gaming as a tool for  growth.

“When people think of video games, they think of hot Cheetos and somebody slumped over in a chair,” he said. “It’s one thing to be playing eight hours on end alone in your room, and it’s another thing to be playing in a room where you have an education plan and you’re engaging with your peers and your coach.”

Iske and Rubino shared the story of one of their participants, Thomas, who said he found a sense of belonging, confidence and happiness through the program.

“He told us that he’s the happiest he’s ever been in his life due to an environment where he can do something he enjoys and engage with his peers,” Iske said.

Rubino echoed that impact.

“That’s something you don’t forget,” he said.

Some families even choose to make UESL their child’s only source of screen time, allowing them to engage with technology in a structured, social way while remaining focused on other areas throughout the day.

As the program continues to grow, Iske and Rubino say the mission remains the same: to build inclusive spaces where passion for gaming and technology drives connection, confidence and personal development.

“When you put people in a peer group where everybody enjoys the same thing and experience that passion together, good things are going to happen,” Iske said.
For information about the Unified Esports League visit www.unifiedesl.com.

Photo by Shutterstock/YES Market Media

Bragg Gaming Group has announced a content development agreement with Hard Rock Digital, signaling a major step in its goal for U.S. market expansion. The deal enables the creation of exclusive online casino titles for Hard Rock Bet Casino, adding to the brand’s catalog of proprietary content that also includes games from developers such as Playtech, Red Tiger, and Games Global.

Exclusive Content Strategy Aims to Differentiate Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet will launch these Bragg’s exclusive titles in New Jersey and continue to add them to other legal iGaming states as they expand their footprint. Bragg’s SVP Commercial for U.S. & Canada, Garrick Morris, noted that the partnership reflects Bragg’s strategic focus on the U.S., calling it “our fastest-growing market this year.”

With a game catalog already boasting over 2,900 titles, Hard Rock Bet is doubling down on differentiation. The new exclusive titles from Bragg will be developed specifically to cut through the noise and provide players with engaging, premium experiences that they can’t find anywhere else. Rich Criado, VP of Casino at Hard Rock Digital, emphasized this vision:

“These upcoming games are designed to stand out among the over 2,900 titles already available… and we can’t wait to bring them to our players.”

Bragg’s role in this initiative includes leveraging its deep game development expertise, fueled by internal studios such as Atomic Slot Lab, Wild Streak Gaming, and Indigo Magic. The exclusive titles will be delivered via Bragg’s HUB content platform and remote game server (RGS) technology. This seamless integration means that Hard Rock Bet can manage its content through a unified back-office system, maximizing operational efficiency while elevating the player experience with unique offerings.

Bragg is best known for developing and distributing high-performing slot titles, which include both modern video slots and traditional classic slots.

Bragg’s U.S. Growth Trajectory and Strategic Vision

This partnership aligns with Bragg’s broader strategic goals of becoming a leading content and technology provider in regulated online casino markets, particularly in North America. The company has steadily built a reputation through its modular PAM technology, award-winning player engagement tools like Fuze™, and a growing footprint across more than 30 regulated markets worldwide.

While the initial phase of the agreement targets New Jersey, Bragg sees broader potential for expansion as Hard Rock Bet enters additional markets. The deal also underscores the importance of exclusive partnerships in a crowded online gaming environment, where differentiation is essential for sustained user engagement and revenue growth.

Looking ahead, the companies anticipate that this initiative will drive significant revenue growth for both parties, while showcasing Bragg’s capabilities in creating bespoke content that aligns with operator goals. As competition in the U.S. iGaming space intensifies, strategic partnerships like this one between Bragg and Hard Rock Digital are setting the tone for what’s next in online casino innovation.