By PCC Sports Information Desk
Special to the Tribune
The Pratt Community College Esports team is adding a Rocket League team to the program’s list of games. The team currently has two Overwatch 2 teams, Valorant and Fortnite teams. This will be the first time since 2022 that the program has fielded an entire 3v3 Rocket League team. Esports, short for electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming at a professional level, often played individually or in teams. It has gained prominence in recent years and is now a multi-billion-dollar industry with a large global fan base. Many colleges around the country now offer Esports scholarships and instructional programs for their students.
“I was approached back in September by one of the recruiters I work with in Brazil about the potential of adding a Rocket League team in the spring as he had three top-level players looking for an opportunity to play in America,” said head Esports coach Charles Keefer. “We had a Rocket League team compete in one tournament during my first semester as a coach, but quickly disbanded due to a lack of interest by players. I am excited to rebuild this roster with talented players.”
The first member of the roster is Silva, known to the Rocket League world as “back,” who has been playing for over two years. In November 2024, Silva achieved the top 49 of the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) South American (SAM) open qualifier three as a substitute and coach. The team won $300 in prize money and finished 33 in the 3v3 SAM Offseason Open. Silva has also played in several 1v1 tournaments and finished 97 and 49 in two South American tournaments. His peak rank is Grand Champion 2 (1640), and he is currently ranked Grand Champion 1 (1489) in 3v3.
The second roster member is Silveria, known as “Novaboost” on Rocket League. Vitor has over 600 hours of gameplay and has peaked at Grand Champion 2 in 3v3. In addition, Silveria has competitive experience in Overwatch 2, peaking in the Top 500 as a support player, and is currently ranked Diamond 2 in Marvel Rivals, a rank he reached in one day. Playing at Pratt Community College will be his first competitive experience in Rocket League.
