Members of the Simpson College esports team were informed via email that Director of Esports Hubert Whan Tong and Assistant Esports Director Seth Larson were fired.

This change comes from Simpson moving towards a new staffing model for the esports program.

According to Director of Athletics Marty Bell, the college felt esports should align with the three varsity programs who report to the athletics department but do not fall under the NCAA designation: shooting sports, dance and cheer.

These programs have part-time head coaches, and one program has one full-time head coach due to the risk level of the program. The new staffing model for esports will be similar.

“We feel this change will allow us to move forward with our Esports program and still provide a quality experience for our participants while recognizing the need to be fiscally prudent to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the college for our students,” said Bell.

Between the salaries of the staff and the operating budget, the program costs just over $115,000 a year. All existing scholarships awarded for participating in esports will be honored, but it is unclear at this time if there will be esports scholarships in the future.

Whan Tong, former Director of Esports, worries about the future of the program, which had its largest roster of over 40 students in the 2024-25 academic year. He believes they will struggle to meet the membership guidelines of the National Association of Collegiate Esports and the Midwest Esports Conference.

Each conference requires a dedicated esports staff member who can commit to supervising practices, overnight travel, competitions and the academic progress of their students. Violations of these requirements could result in the program being terminated from the conference.

Esports have won four national championship titles in the National Association of Collegiate Esports conference, three regional championship titles in the Midwest Esports Conference, the Midwest Esports Conference Unified Program award and the Unified Social Impact award since the start of the program in 2021.

“I have faith that the next person will do the best they can with the resources they are given. In the last four years, it was an honor to be Simpson’s esports director,” said Whan Tong. “I was incredibly privileged to have worked with so many talented students, coaches and most of all my assistant director.”

Joe Degen, a member of the Super Smash Bros. team, is concerned with the change and upset at the college for how their decision will impact the program, which is well-respected among other schools in the Midwest.

“The esports program that Hubert and Seth helped create was the main factor in me picking Simpson over other schools l was considering, like Wartburg, Coe, and Central,” said Degen. “I guarantee that if you ask any of the directors of those programs, they can tell you how their program was either inspired by Simpson’s program or could tell you how important someone like Hubert was to the establishment of competitive college esports in Iowa.”

Degen is proud to be a part of esports and praised Whan Tong and Larson’s dedication and commitment to creating such a successful program. He finds it hard to see where the program will go from here.

Simpson will begin searching for a new leader to run the program in the fall.  

Editor’s Note: The Simpsonian staff is off for the summer but is committed to writing about important campus updates when possible.

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Acer led the Philippine personal computer market in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from research firm GfK. The technology company captured a 35.7% share of the total PC market, 34.2% of the consumer notebook segment, and 40.6% of the gaming laptop segment.

Acer attributed the results to its marketing strategy, which includes partnerships with brand ambassadors such as Filipino pop group SB19. The company said the collaboration has helped strengthen its local presence and connect with younger customers.

“Our partnership with SB19 works because we share the same values and energy. Also, the group’s strong social media presence and its ability to create engaging content have allowed us to reach and connect with our customers,” said Sue Ong-Lim, managing director at Acer Philippines.

OLEAN — The eSports stadium at SUNY Jamestown Community College’s Cattaraugus County Campus continues to be a hub for regional high school and middle school competitions.

Five schools in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties and more than 50 students ranging from sixth grade to seniors participated in the CA BOCES spring tournament at JCC’s downtown Olean location. Since 2023 it was the fifth time BOCES has held a tournament on the campus.

“We have used the campus and space multiple times and have always been very happy with the venue,” said Karen Insley, CA BOCES program manager who oversees student programming. “As usual, Jonathan (Kowal, JCC athletic and recruitment coordinator) was a fantastic host. The Magnano Room and the eSports arena are a perfect fit for our group.”

Members of the Randoph eSports team compete at Jamestown Community College in Olean. (SUNY JCC)

Teams from Andover, Bolivar-Richburg, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Olean and Randolph enjoyed the day at JCC playing Rocket League, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros. games.

Randolph earned the season-long Rocket League crown, finishing unbeaten in matches.

“The students love being able to show off their talents and skills in a competitive environment,” said Andrew Garvey, coach of Randolph. “They are always so excited when we get to bring home a trophy or banner to display in the school. They see it happen so often for traditional sports, so it’s so nice for them to be recognized in a similar fashion.”

While some other area schools opt to play in remote leagues against teams from around the country, the CA BOCES league doesn’t require a hefty entry fee and allows students to compete locally, and face-to-face in fall and spring tournaments at JCC.

“My students love the face-to-face competition,” said Malibu Peelman, Bolivar-Richburg coach. “They love having an event for eSports, and for my older students they enjoy learning of the possibilities of further education at JCC.”

JCC’s sprawling eSports stadium, with its capacity to host 60 or more students, is a perfect place for a regional gaming tournament. The stadium opened in 2022 and is home to the college’s National Junior College Athletics Association Esports team. It includes an arena for official competitions and a mezzanine for viewing, a meeting room with computers for practice, an activity area with console games, and a reception area.

CA BOCES plans to hold its next big tournament, this December, at JCC.

Garvey said the stadium is “great facility with lots of equipment and rooms to fit students,” while Peelman added that the space “allows for focus in the students’ gaming interest.”

Theresa Pfeil from Hinsdale Central School attended the spring tournament to see what it was all about and for guidance in growing the eSports program at the school. The Olean team, meanwhile, visited the JCC arena for the first time this spring to play.

Kowal said that in addition to BOCES affiliated schools, many from around the region and beyond have visited the stadium to play and observe what JCC has created.

“We’ve had visitors in the past just come to see what it was, how to build something, and then went on their way back to their school,” Kowal said.

Though Randolph has had an informal gaming club for 12 years, many area schools are new to eSports. CA BOCES started its eSports league for schools three years ago, with a half dozen or more competing at different times.

Visit JCCJayhawks.com for more information about JCC eSports.

The ongoing Group’s work earned it the Great Place to Work (GPTW) seal last week. The certification – a global reference in people management and organizational climate – recognizes the company for promoting a positive environment, with development, well-being and inclusion initiatives. The GPTW survey assesses employee perceptions in five pillars – credibility, respect, impartiality, pride and camaraderie.

“We believe that growing responsibly requires investing in people, providing an environment of genuine care with opportunities for constant development,” says Sophia Serak, the group’s People Director. “Since the beginning of the group’s companies, taking care of people has always been an essential part of our culture. In recent months, we have focused even more efforts on strengthening our values, keeping up with the accelerated pace of our growth without ever losing sight of the human aspect. The arrival of the GPTW seal confirms that we are on the right path,” says the executive.

Among the most recent advances are the strategic hires that further strengthen the company’s leadership and governance, such as the arrival of Hugo Baungartner, who took on the role of executive director of Institutional Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Esportes Gaming Brasil, with the aim of supporting the brand’s expansion and strengthening institutional connections. The arrival of Hugo and other leaders is part of a more structured and rigorous selection process that is aligned with the group’s culture and strategic objectives.

In addition to forming new teams, the company consistently invests in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of its team, offering a complete benefits structure.

Highlights include the health and dental plan, which also covers up to two dependents up to 18 years of age; free access to two monthly sessions with a psychologist and nutritionist; and encouragement to practice physical activities through Wellhub, which is extended to family members. In addition, employees have access to discounts at pharmacies and on their energy bills, among other support in their daily lives. All of this reinforces the company’s commitment to valuing and caring for the people who make its growth happen.

Engagement, ethics and development

To strengthen engagement and connection between teams, the Group promoted, throughout the first half of the year, actions that value diversity and collaborative work. Highlights include the discussion group on International Women’s Day and the São João Festival, which took place to further integrate the teams.

In June, the company also launched the Responsible Gaming Program: Learning to Protect, aimed at training on Responsible Gaming. The initiative was attended by the Brazilian Company for Supporting Compulsive Gamblers (EBAC) and the Institute for Supporting Gamblers (IAA). The project reinforces the company’s commitment to ongoing development and responsibility in the sector in which it operates.

In the area of compliance, in addition to hiring the new compliance manager Ana Carolina Maçães, the company launched the Ethics Channel and also launched its Code of Ethics and Conduct in June. To complement these actions, the launch of the Support Channel, aimed at providing emotional support to employees, is scheduled for this month. Operating 24 hours a day and being attended by trained psychologists, the channel will be an important tool for support and active listening, in line with NR-1.

These initiatives reinforce the group’s mission: “To offer exceptional experiences, combining fun, safety and excellence in service. We grow by investing in the development of our team, driven by energy, intelligence and integrity to generate lasting value for our customers,” concludes the executive.

Esportes Gaming Brasil

Esportes Gaming Brasil is one of the leading groups in the betting sector in the country, with 100% national operations and an official license granted by the Ministry of Finance, through SPA/MF. The authorization covers its two brands: Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, which operate throughout Brazil.

A leader in innovation and a defender of market regulation, the group’s pillars are its commitment to responsible gaming and continuous investment in control technologies and user well-being.

With hundreds of jobs created, its operations go beyond betting: it supports projects in the areas of sports and culture, such as the Corinthians, Ceará, Ferroviária and Náutico clubs, in addition to high-profile initiatives such as ‘Galo da Madrugada’, ‘Carnaval do Recife e Olinda’ and the Parintins Festival.

Onabet, in turn, expands the group’s digital reach with creative campaigns and partnerships with influencers, strengthening the connection with the public on online platforms.

Source: GMB

The Westbury High School esports team recently placed third at the Empire State Scholastic Esports Federation (ESSEF) championship and invitational, hosted at Syracuse University’s gaming and esports center.

“This event was an incredible opportunity for our scholars to showcase their talents and represent Westbury on the state level,” said Westbury High School esports club advisor Michael Fodera. “Esports continues to provide a dynamic platform that fosters healthy competition, collaboration, critical thinking, and hard work.”

The Westbury High School esports competitors participated in several weeks of regular season play, after which they qualified for the championship. The scholars then competed in the semifinals for Super Smash Bros. in the 3v3 team division, earning medals as they captured third place.

“Team members Olson Benjamin, Edwin Mendoza Ceron, Matthew Flores, David Franco, and Jahsiah Santana demonstrated remarkable skill, teamwork, and perseverance throughout the tournament,” said Fodera.

ESSEF is the largest middle and high school esports league in New York. The organization was founded by educators to foster the growth of scholastic esports throughout the state.