Hello,
My name is Eric Trent. I am a volunteer coach for Bethel University's esports program.

Esports was introduced to Bethel University's campus in the Fall 2020 semester. For those who may be unfamiliar, esports is a competitive team sport for various video game titles. The games played are team-based. Just like any other sport, esports requires teamwork, chemistry, accountability, stamina, and endurance. Within our program are teams that each specialize in one game. Some of those games from over the years include Overwatch, League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Valorant. Team sizes vary, but each active team has roughly 4-6 players who play a critical role in making our teams successful.

Throughout our team's history, we have had the privilege to participate in several competitive conferences: Great Lakes Eastern Conference (GLEC), Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), and New England Collegiate Conference (NECC). Bethel's esports program has seen many seasons of success due to talented recruits and staff who develop new players into reliable teammates. The teams have come out on top of multiple conference championships. Bethel's Overwatch team has won three NECC championships. The Rocket League team also won an NECC championship in 2023. During the Spring 2024 season, Bethel was voted the best overall esports program to attend the GLEC playoffs. That postseason led to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team placing 2nd in the GLEC conference. The following year, the Smash Bros. team won their division in ECAC playoffs during the Spring 2025 season.

I joined the esports team during the Spring 2023 season. I played Super Smash Bros Ultimate (SSBU) during my time on the team. I was an introverted kid with no familiar faces on campus, and I only had casual experience with the game. I started off on the JV roster. I was quickly surrounded by a supportive team that sought nothing but our growth as a team and as individual players. They poured into me in ways that other communities that I've been involved in never have. So much so that my coaches, my team captain, and my teammates were stunned at how quickly I was improving at the game, fundamentally and technically. After one season and a summer vacation of grinding and going to weekly tournaments, I found myself on the varsity lineup. I cannot take any credit for that; it ultimately goes to my team and God, who have shaped me into a player who can perform and contribute valuably to a team. I was a part of the Spring 2024 roster that made it to the GLEC championship during playoffs. It was my senior year, and to be a part of something so monumental for our team and our program was an honor and a moment I will never forget. I have since moved into a coaching role for the SSBU team. As an introvert who usually lets others lead, coaching the team over the past two years has been a unique opportunity to improve my leadership skills while maintaining my friendships and connections within the community.

Bethel Esports has seen significant success in its short history. Since 2020, we've made several playoff appearances and won championships. However, our success goes far beyond the video games we compete in - this program has been monumental for so many students' growth and development in their faith, in their personal journey, and into their next steps in life.

The Bethel University administration has decided to conclude the esports program at the end of the school year. This has been saddening news to everyone who has been involved with the team in some way. Despite the decision made, our team recognizes the value this program brings to Bethel University's campus. This program has provided students with so much more than most would realize a video game team would. To demonstrate this, I spoke with a few members of our team and an affiliate of our program, and would like to share some testimonials regarding what Bethel's esports program has done for students.

Gus Pogue, a senior graduating this season and captain of this season's esports team, has this to say regarding what he will take away from his time in the program for the outside world: "The program has helped prepare me for life outside the team by showing me you only get out what you put in. Dedication to a craft will produce results only if given the time and energy, which is true in the real world."
Nick Graber, a sophomore and member of the Rocket League team, shared with me how essential this community has been for him:  "My time here at Bethel has been anti-social. I didn't fit in outside of the esports team. Whether I was at the lab or at LAN, I felt like I was at home and felt the most peace."
Imanol "Mani" Chavez, a former team captain of the Smash Bros. team and graduate of the class of 2024, shared this regarding his experience with Bethel's esports program: "…the most beautiful aspect of the esports team was its inclusiveness to everyone, whether they participated on the team or not. No other team on campus, to my knowledge, allowed anyone and everyone to participate with the program, whether it be streaming and commentating or even using the equipment and playing games outside of training and matches. The positive vibes from the team were contagious, and other teams/clubs from other universities were taking notes and applying it to their own program, such as the Notre Dame Smash Bros club."
Ryan Koontz is a junior on the Smash Bros roster who joined the Smash team this school year (he has been on other teams throughout his time at Bethel, too). He revealed to me the impact this program has on him regarding his life on campus: "For me, I always look forward to esports at the end of the day. Whether it's game day or just practice, I know I get to go spend time with my friends— my brothers— and experience fellowship as we pursue this skill we all share and seek to improve it. It truly is the best part of my day."
Kendall Clark, Team Manager and Graphic Design Intern for Bethel's esports program, offers a perspective from a unique position as someone who has not played on any of the teams, but has been heavily involved in the program's function: "This program isn't just 'video games'. It's a family. I feel like I am a better person and a better follower of Christ because I was able to be a part of this program. It was even part of the reason I began praying again after taking a step away from my faith. To lose this program is to lose a valuable outlet, tool, and community for Bethel's students."

It has been clearly voiced by the students involved in Bethel Esports that this is a program filled with value, success stories, growth at individual and group levels, and so much more. It is more than worth the resources needed to keep it running on this campus. It has blessed the lives of the students, coaches, and their families in so many ways. Many people in the Bethel esports family, including myself, believe in this program and its future success if Bethel were to find a way to continue supporting it.  Through the power of God, along with the love and support from family, friends, and the Bethel community, I believe we can reverse the decision to sunset the esports program. As affirmed by the students currently and formerly involved in this program, this team is a family that needs each other.  This is a special community of players with a shared passion for competition, self-improvement, and growth, regardless of the season of life they find themselves in.

We cannot do this without you. I humbly ask that you do the following:

1. Sign this petition in support of the continuation of the Bethel Esports team.
2. Share this petition within your sphere(s) of influence.

Doing these two things for the Bethel Esports program will mean the world to this group. We have accomplished so much and have grown in deep, meaningful ways. Let us continue to provide this safe space and change lives on Bethel's campus for current and future students.
 
Thank you so much for your support.
Eric Trent, Coach for Bethel's SSBU Team