MCC esports ranked 8th in state | Ludington Daily News
The esports team at Mason County Central School District has been improving since its creation last year. They have since received $10,000 in furniture from Anda Seat and they are now ranked 8th in Michigan for the video game Mario Kart. Timothy Danielson, one of the coaches, explained that they ended their regular season with […]
The esports team at Mason County Central School District has been improving since its creation last year. They have since received $10,000 in furniture from Anda Seat and they are now ranked 8th in Michigan for the video game Mario Kart.
Timothy Danielson, one of the coaches, explained that they ended their regular season with six wins and two losses, and are entering the playoffs with that record.
“Their first round playoff match is against Howell High School on Tuesday April 29 at MCC,” he said.
The team was said to be very good at not looking past the next match, staying focused on what is immediately facing them.
“But we all know that we have the number one ranked team in our bracket,” Danielson said.
There are 86 schools with Mario Kart teams in Michigan, he said. The playoffs field the top 32 teams in a single elimination format.
This means that MCC must never lose in order to take the highest honor which will be played at Oakland University where the final four teams will compete.
“I am really pleased at how the team really came together this season. They are asking for additional practices leading up to the playoffs and the team communication has been great,” Danielson said.
Jackson Rosenow and Colton Lange, two members among the team, have been very excited and are glad that the team is shaping up so quickly.
“I love the team dynamics and set-up now but I am also really looking forward to the team growing next year,” freshman Chloie Woods said.
The competitions at the high school, Danielson said, require no charge and are open to the public. They can be found in room C2 at 4 p.m.
“The team feeds on the energy from spectators. With the Mario Kart team racing in state playoffs in both the fall and spring seasons, we are really excited for the future of Spartan esports,” Danielson said.
UM-Flint esports: A breakout season and a run to the national championship
The University of Michigan-Flint Esports program is celebrating a landmark year, marked by deep playoff runs, a national championship appearance, and the program’s first Eastern College Athletic Conference title. The successes reflect both competitive excellence and a growing sense of community on campus. Under the leadership of program manager Luke Rimarcik, UM-Flint Esports underwent a […]
The University of Michigan-Flint Esports program is celebrating a landmark year, marked by deep playoff runs, a national championship appearance, and the program’s first Eastern College Athletic Conference title. The successes reflect both competitive excellence and a growing sense of community on campus.
Under the leadership of program manager Luke Rimarcik, UM-Flint Esports underwent a transformation focused on competitive growth and team cohesion. Rimarcik emphasized a shift from isolated efforts to a unified, driven environment where teams regularly scrimmaged, reviewed gameplay footage, and pushed each other to improve. “In the past, we’d only seen a couple of teams take things seriously,” Rimarcik explained. “This year, we set a new standard. The results speak for themselves, with Valorant and Rocket League making headlines for their playoff runs.”
Trevon Johnson, a sophomore computer science major from Taylor, participates in a Rocket League practice match in the esports lab.
Rocket League Maize: ECAC Champions
The Rocket League Maize team, comprised entirely of first-year students, had a historic season, going undefeated in the regular season and securing the university’s first ECAC playoff championship.
Jacob Cummings, a first-year computer science major from Owosso, credited the team’s success to “resilience and adaptability,” noting the team’s ability to exploit opponents’ weaknesses and rally in high-pressure moments. A defining point came in the semifinals when the team overcame a two-goal deficit to win a pivotal game, setting the stage for its championship run. “The playoff experience was amazing. Game 6 of our semifinals was the moment I knew we could win it all. We were down 3-2 in the series and fighting for our chance to stay in it. After we went down early, we rallied back from a two-goal deficit and won that game and the next one.”
For Cummings and his team members, they couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments this season. “It feels incredible to bring home a trophy for the university, especially as an all-first-year team,” Cummings said.
Keyshaun Jones, a first-year pre-nursing student from Fenton, highlighted the team’s communication and consistency as keys to success. “We kept our communication up and constantly worked on what we could do better during the game and practice,” he said. Jones was “ecstatic,” and winning as a rookie made the moment even more special. “As a first-year student, I never expected my teammates and I to travel such a distance. Seeing the effort we all put into securing this championship felt amazing,” he said.
Valorant Blue: From Roster Changes to National Contenders
The Valorant Blue squad overcame early-season roster changes and role swaps to find rhythm, eventually securing a spot in the National Esports Collegiate Conference national finals. Their journey included a dominant, undefeated run at the Ferris State LAN event. It resulted in UM-Flint’s first LAN trophy since 2022 and a critical win over the University of Oklahoma to advance in the national bracket.
First-year computer science major Tyrone Zheng from Commerce Township, who stepped into the in-game leader role, described the season as “long and tiring, but very exciting and fun.” The team’s ability to adapt and support each other was key to their late-season surge. “We finally have the winning formula and what it takes to win,” Zheng said. He also emphasized that the supportive environment at UM-Flint encourages new players to “be yourself and be involved.”
Helping the team reach new heights and make a deep run in the NECC playoffs was one of the more rewarding accomplishments for Zheng this season. “It feels great to win, obviously, it means a little extra to me personally because I know how much work and time everyone on the team has put both into the game and time outside the game,” he said.
The team competed against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington earlier this month for a shot at the national title, coming up just short in a hard-fought match.
Valorant Blue poses with their trophy from the Ferris State LAN event. From left to right: Samuel Williams, Jake Wohlfert, Zheng, Christian Sullivan, Ja’Tae Fordham.
A Community Built for Success
UM-Flint’s state-of-the-art esports facility and select targeted scholarships have played a crucial role in attracting and developing top talent. The facility offers a space for both casual and competitive play, fostering camaraderie and team spirit. “Being able to yell and give your teammates fist bumps after every round adds so much value to the environment,” Rimarcik said. For Cummings, having a space to hang out with his team and unwind has been one of the highlights since joining. “Everyone in the program is so friendly and respectful toward each other. The lab is the best place on campus to go and relax and not be afraid to be yourself,” he said.
Rimarcik also highlighted the program’s inclusive atmosphere and commitment to student well-being. “I take it upon myself to connect with all the teams and try to get feedback on what they need. I see myself as the ‘dad’ of the program – always present, always supportive. We also aim to livestream daily during the season, Monday through Friday. We always try to change which teams we showcase each week, so we give every team a chance to be in the spotlight to show off their skills to the fans,” he said.
The community and camaraderie among the teams have created an environment that Zheng said made his first year at UM-Flint memorable. “It has actually made my first school year really enjoyable. I’m always looking forward to next week’s match or practice. Being in the Esports program has brought a lot of enjoyable memories and friends.”
With multiple teams making playoff runs, including League of Legends Blue, Overwatch Maize, Rocket League Blue, Fortnite, Super Smash Bros Blue and Valorant Maize, Rimarcik sees a bright future ahead. He is confident that the program’s upward trajectory will continue, driven by a culture of learning from setbacks and striving for excellence. “Some of these players have never competed on a team before. Helping them learn and grow is what makes this program special,” he said.
Rimarcik is particularly proud of the program’s progress and the recognition it’s starting to receive. “It’s nice to start making headlines to show prospective students and other organizations that the University of Michigan-Flint is making quite a few headlines for itself. Especially since we are the only varsity esports program among the three U-M campuses, it feels good to show and talk about all this new success within the program.”
Current or prospective students interested in joining the program can contact Rimarcik at [email protected]. The team can be followed on its Instagram page or watched stream games on its Twitch channel.
Jack in the Box created its latest Munchie Meal in collaboration with Grammy-winning artist, streamer and podcaster T-Pain, and the T-Pain Munchie Meal is a new late-night option to fuel gaming sessions, creative sparks and more. “Late nights are when I’m at my most creative—whether I’m in the studio or gaming with my crew,” said […]
Jack in the Box created its latest Munchie Meal in collaboration with Grammy-winning artist, streamer and podcaster T-Pain, and the T-Pain Munchie Meal is a new late-night option to fuel gaming sessions, creative sparks and more. “Late nights are when I’m at my most creative—whether I’m in the studio or gaming with my crew,” said T-Pain, “Jack has always been the spot for those sessions. This Munchie Meal hits every craving when I’m up all night chasing wins.” With T-Pain Munchie Meal, there’s a choice between a Burg-R-Tater Melt or Chick-N-Tater Melt, a taco, medium seasoned curly fries, a small drink, a stuffed cookie and a collectible T-Pain air freshener.
This gamer-approved meal follows the debut of Jack’s CEO Minigames in Fortnite earlier this year and launches alongside a new custom map, Jack Zone Wars.
BGaming enhances LatAm presence with Betcris partnership – Casino & games
Rapidly expanding content provider signs content agreement with leading operator Betcris. Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has signed a new partnership with major Latin American operator Betcris. The deal will see all of BGaming’s innovative gaming content integrated onto Betcris’s online casino platform. The deal will further enhance BGaming’s position as one of the leading game […]
Rapidly expanding content provider signs content agreement with leading operator Betcris.
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has signeda new partnership with major Latin American operator Betcris. The deal will see all of BGaming’s innovative gaming content integrated onto Betcris’s online casino platform.
The deal will further enhance BGaming’s position as one of the leading game providers in the Latin American market. Betcris is a pioneer within the region, owning over 100 walk-in shops and providing its online casino platform worldwide.
The operator, best known for its sports betting service, has been in business since 2006, demonstrating a clear understanding of the demands of Latin American players. Betcris customers will now have instant access to BGaming’s dynamic slot portfolio, which includes titles like Wild Cash X9990, Wild West Trueways, Alien Fruits and more.
Following the certification of its games for the Brazilian market in January, BGaming has established strategic partnerships with key LatAm operators such as Pixbet, PlayGreen and Timeless Tech.
Olga Levshina, chief commercial officer at BGaming, said: “Latin America is a major focus for BGaming in 2025 and, by partnering with industry-leading operators like Betcris, we can cement our position as one of the most creative content providers in the region.
Betcris is one of the most respected names in Latin America, and this partnership is a statement of intent for our ambitions on the continent.”
Diana Navarro, casino coordinator at Betcris, said:“At Betcris, we are always looking to partner with the best new names in the region. BGaming is a developer that has been on our radar for some time and it has already made waves within LatAm. We can’t wait to join them on their journey and see how our players react to their titles”.
FLOKI And New To The Street Announce Media Partnership To Reach 219M+ Households
Miami, Florida, May 29th, 2025/GamingWire/–In a major visibility push, FLOKI has signed a sweeping media partnership with New to The Street, a leading multi-platform financial media brand. The three-month campaign will spotlight FLOKI’s fast-growing ecosystem, including its flagship MMORPG game Valhalla, and its broader mission to bring real-world utility to crypto. The media rollout includes […]
Miami, Florida, May 29th, 2025/GamingWire/–In a major visibility push, FLOKI has signed a sweeping media partnership with New to The Street, a leading multi-platform financial media brand.
The three-month campaign will spotlight FLOKI’s fast-growing ecosystem, including its flagship MMORPG game Valhalla, and its broader mission to bring real-world utility to crypto.
The media rollout includes biographical interview segments airing nationwide on Fox Business and Bloomberg TV, commercial placements during business hours, high-frequency digital billboard displays in Times Square, and live investor events.
“FLOKI is one of the most innovative and community-driven platforms in crypto today,” said New to The Street Founder Vince Caruso. “This campaign ensures they get the national stage and financial audience they deserve.”
From Times Square to Bloomberg: What’s in the Campaign
FLOKI leadership will appear in two in-depth TV interviews each month, airing as sponsored content across Fox Business and Bloomberg TV, reaching over 219 million U.S. households.
FLOKI ads will light up the iconic Reuters 42nd Street Billboard 20 times per hour, four weeks a month. The initial ad campaign will spotlight Valhalla, FLOKI’s much-anticipated blockchain game, launching on mainnet June 30, 2025.
Over 100+ thirty-second commercials will run monthly across major financial networks like CNBC, FOX Business, and Bloomberg, with another 50 ads on Bloomberg kicking off in month two. Three press releases per month, NYSE interview recaps, and targeted pitches to ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates will amplify FLOKI’s reach beyond crypto circles.
All content will be posted across New to The Street’s 2.47 million YouTube subscribers and social platforms. FLOKI will join meet-and-greet events with brokers, host intimate retail investor gatherings in New York City, and take part in virtual sessions with family offices and accredited investors.
“I’m very excited about this partnership and sharing how FLOKI is making blockchain better than they found it,” said Pedro Vidal, the Community Relations Officer for FLOKI spokesperson. “This campaign will expand our efforts in revealing the levels of enhanced utility that is witnessed within our ecosystem. I’m dually proud and excited!”
About Floki
Floki is the people’s cryptocurrency and utility token of the Floki Ecosystem. Floki aims to become the world’s most known and most used cryptocurrency and intends to achieve this ambitious goal through a focus on utility, philanthropy, community, and marketing.
Floki currently has 550,000+ holders and a strong brand recognized by billions of people worldwide due to its strategic marketing partnerships.
Website: https://floki.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealFlokiInu
About TokenFi
TokenFi is an innovative platform for crypto and asset tokenization, enabling users to launch or tokenize assets effortlessly. TokenFi is committed to revolutionizing the trillion-dollar tokenization industry by offering a user-friendly interface that requires no coding expertise.
Website: https://tokenfi.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tokenfi
About Valhalla
Valhalla is a blockchain-based MMORPG inspired by Norse mythology, offering players the chance to discover, tame, and battle with creatures called Veras. The game features a player-driven economy and a hexagonal battlefield designed for dynamic combat. Learn more at https://valhalla.game/
Users can play the game now, and it will be officially launched on Mainnet on June 30, 2025. Valhalla was developed by FLOKI.
Collaborative Toy Video Games : Hot Wheels Victory Lap
The Hot Wheels Victory Lap video game is arriving as a Dave & Buster’s exclusive thanks to the brand’s partnership with Mattel and Hot Wheels to offer guests an immersive gaming experience. The game consists of putting players behind the wheel of their favorite toy car where they’ll need to race against their opponents on […]
The Hot Wheels Victory Lap video game is arriving as a Dave & Buster’s exclusive thanks to the brand’s partnership with Mattel and Hot Wheels to offer guests an immersive gaming experience.
The game consists of putting players behind the wheel of their favorite toy car where they’ll need to race against their opponents on a toy-like course. The brand-new game is expected to be a hit amongst kids and adults alike, and is arriving June 2, 2025 alongside the Dave & Buster’s Hot Wheels menu. This includes the Turbocharged Chicken Sliders, Turbo Bites, Spotlight Punch Flight and the Hot Wheels Refresher.
The Hot Wheels Victory Lap video game is great for pairs, but suited for individual players as well to maximize fun for all participants.
ARC esports team advances to 2025 National PlayVS Cup Championship
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Three of the country’s best high school Street Fighter 6 players are heading to compete on the biggest stage. Thursday night, the Academy of Richmond County’s esports team, Musketeer Strike, comprised of William Banks, Isaiah Jackson, and Caleb Walls, advanced to the 2025 National PlayVS Cup Championship. Musketeer Strike took down […]
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Three of the country’s best high school Street Fighter 6 players are heading to compete on the biggest stage.
Thursday night, the Academy of Richmond County’s esports team, Musketeer Strike, comprised of William Banks, Isaiah Jackson, and Caleb Walls, advanced to the 2025 National PlayVS Cup Championship.
Musketeer Strike took down San Marcos High School out of California (3-2) in a best-of-five semifinal match.
The thrilling victory places ARC among the top two high school Street Fighter 6 teams in the nation.
On June 4th, the team will compete in the National PlayVS Cup Championship against the Science Academy of South Texas.
Not only are bragging rights at stake, but major scholarship money is on the table.
First place will receive $4,500, and second place will receive $3,000 in scholarship funds.
Musketeer Strike previously won the 2025 PlayVS Eastern Region Championship for Street Fighter 6, and Thursday’s victory cements the program’s position as one of the country’s premier high school esports programs.
STEPHEN A. CALLS OUT LEBRON for Giannis and NBA eras comments 
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