McKendree Enters the Game with First Esports Team
Nov. 2, 2026 | Maggee Bleyer
Three years ago, during her first days at McKendree University, third-year psychology major Anna Rose Sheehan set out to make friends and find registered student organizations (RSOs) that fit her personality and interests. Having grown up playing video games with her parents, Sheehan hoped to find a community of students who shared her love of gaming.
During her search, Sheehan struck gold when she discovered Bearcat Gaming, a student-run club for video game enthusiasts. Joining the club was a natural choice, and three years later, her passion for gaming has led her to become the student captain of McKendree's first-ever Bearcat Esports team.
“Ever since I joined [Bearcat Gaming], it’s just been a really tight-knit, close community of people that you can genuinely just get along with,” Sheehan said.
Three years since joining the club, Sheehan’s passion for gaming has led her to make her mark in McKendree’s history as the student captain of the university’s first-ever Bearcat Esports team.
Sheehan’s journey into competitive gaming reflects a broader shift across colleges and universities nationwide, where esports has become an increasingly popular collegiate activity. Esports, or organized competitive video gaming, gives students opportunities to compete against other players and teams.
At McKendree, the journey toward establishing an esports team began with Bearcat Gaming. Head Coach Clayton Harris originally started the student-run club to gauge interest in bringing competitive gaming to McKendree. Now, with support from Rent One/RNR Tire Express, the founding sponsor of McKendree’s esports program, that vision has become a reality as Bearcat Esports begins its inaugural academic year.
“Thanks to Rent One/RNR Tire Express, we now have the opportunity to open an exciting chapter with Bearcat Esports at McKendree University,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Stephen Kull. “With their support, we are able to join colleges and universities nationwide by giving students the chance to expand on their skills and grow in the competitive gaming space.”
The program is active in the fall and spring and includes nearly 10 students. The team competes against other schools in Overwatch, an action game where two teams compete head-to-head. As the program progresses, Harris hopes to introduce Marvel Rivals, another team-based video game, in the spring season.
Harris emphasizes that winning games like Overwatch and Marvel Rivals requires teamwork, an essential skill students learn in esports.
“One of the biggest benefits that students can gain by participating in esports is that team-building experience,” Harris said. “You get a lot of time working as a team in esports.”
In addition to building teamwork skills, Harris said students also have the opportunity to grow individually on the Bearcat Esports team.
“With esports, it’s a lot less of a physical trial, but more of a mental trial,” Harris said. “How good are you at strategizing? How good are you at making a plan and adapting quickly? How good are you at reacting to things in real time? A lot of these tests are offered when competing in video games.”
Located in the Active Learning Center, the Rent One/RNR Tire Express gaming lounge comes to life during bi-weekly esports practices, with a match each week. Harris monitors students’ computers during competitions, offering support and guidance as needed, while Sheehan takes notes on areas the team can improve for upcoming games. With the fall season underway, Bearcat Esports has already bested schools such as Northern Illinois University and Purdue University, marking an upward trajectory as the team inches closer to playing in tournaments.
As Bearcat Esports' first year takes off, Sheehan reflects on how joining a video game-focused club has given her and her peers the chance to become part of campus history.
“It’s a lot of excitement, being part of McKendree’s first esports team,” Sheehan said. “We come into every match, shaking with excitement, because, wow, we’re actually going about this. We’re actually having these matches. We’re actually doing something on this campus that’s never been done before.”
From an idea for a club where students’ love for video games can shine to a collegiate esports team, Harris looks forward to what this historic chapter of Bearcat Esports will bring.
“The main thing that I wanted this program to achieve is a community experience,” Harris said. “I wanted to give teams an opportunity to come together, where normally they wouldn’t have the opportunity or avenue to do so, but because we can offer a wide variety of opportunities at McKendree, we can give them this experience.”
INTERESTED IN BEARCAT ESPORTS?
On Saturday, Nov. 7, Bearcat Esports invites you to spend the day in the life of a member during McKendree’s Preview Day. Register now to experience the Bearcat Esports excitement firsthand!
Preview Day gives prospective students a chance to visit the McKendree campus and learn more about the Bearcat experience. Contact the Admission Office to schedule your Preview Day visit.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Learn more about joining Bearcats Esports by visiting our website or emailing esports@mckendree.edu.
To watch these competitions, check out Bearcat Esports’ Twitch channel.
Gaming at McKendree extends beyond the Bearcat Gaming Club and Bearcat Esports; students can also participate in friendly competitions in the gaming lounge or the Lair. Bearcat Gaming organizes these events. To learn more about upcoming events or get involved with Bearcat Gaming, follow the club on Instagram.
