TORRINGTON – Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) has added Esports to the college’s athletic programs. 

Caleb Spitzer has been named the coach of the new Lancer team and the team will begin competing in the fall, according to EWC Athletic Director B.J. McCullum.

“We will immediately be adding Tier-3 Esports at Eastern Wyoming,” McCullum said. “While brand new, we are beginning with an outstanding young coach who will make this an exciting program.”

Spitzer joins the Lancers after he helped run tournaments for one of the largest games, Age of Empires 4. He was also a production lead for a gaming platform, growing it from nothing to over 5,000 players. He brings knowledge on a wide array of games and strategies, McCullum added. 

“I started playing video games when I was kid,” Spitzer said. “In college I started playing League of Legends.”

Esports can be any competitive video game, Spitzer said, including games such as Call of Duty, Mario Kart, Street Fighter or any game involving competition against another player.

“Esports is a billion dollar industry in the USA right now,” Spitzer said. “There are high school, college, and professional teams.”

The NJCAA consists of three tiers for Esports. Tier 3 sports will be available to current students both full and part-time as well as dual students, employees and alumni. Spitzer plans to start this summer with Tier 3.

Tier 2 and 1 teams will begin in the fall and are only open to those enrolled full-time and in contact with Coach Spitzer.

Spitzer is presently recruiting team members. Scholarships are available and he plans to start with 15 team members – 10 in Torrington and five on the EWC campus in Douglas. 

Esports team members can compete from anywhere, making it possible for students who are dual enrolled or remote to be a part of the team.

“My long-term goal is to have a team of 30,” Spitzer said. “It is a growing sport, and it is lots of fun.”

For information about becoming a Lancer contact, coach Spitzer a cspitzer@ewc.ey.edu.