This is something historic. It’s a huge accomplishment, for sure. Last year, we only took fourth place. To make it back and do even better this year is something special. This is the real deal.”

EWC sophomore Ryder Tillard

TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Fortnite team made history as the first Wyoming college Esports team to win a national title when the Lancers defeated their opponents from Oklahoma in the NJCAA Fortnite championship round on Monday, April 21.

EWC clinched the NJCAA Fortnite title by defeating Murray State College, 3-1, in the showdown on Monday (teams play to the best of five rounds).

EWC’s Fortnite team consists of three players – sophomore Ryder Tillard from Douglas, sophomore Allen Woodard from Torrington and freshman Bridger Bruce of Upton. Second-year coach Caleb Spitzer leads the team.

The Lancers dominated the Fortnite competition during the 2025 spring season to secure the No. 1 seed going into nationals. EWC received a bye in the quarterfinals and went on to knock out Union College of New Jersey – Union County in the semifinals.

In 2024, the EWC Fortnite team made it to the semifinals before falling to Wichita State University Tech to place fourth. The 2025 season marked the first semifinal victory for the Lancers along with their inaugural national title.

“This is something historic,” Tillard said. “It’s a huge accomplishment, for sure. Last year, we only took fourth place. To make it back and do even better this year is something special. This is the real deal.”

Advancing to the championship round made the weeks and months of preparation worthwhile, Bruce remarked.

“It feels great to get this far,” Bruce said. “I play [Fortnite] whenever I can to stay prepared for moments like this. It’s a grind – we spend hours on end, every day.”

The grind

To reach the top of the Esports bracket, the Fortnite players at EWC logged “countless” hours of practice over the course of the semester, Tillard said. The sophomore estimated the team spent between 40 and 60 hours a week honing their skills.

“It’s like a fulltime job with overtime,” Tillard added.

Like traditional sports, Esports players watch film to scout their rivals before tournaments, Spitzer explained. Communication between players is also crucial – another similarity to traditional sports.

Tillard’s role on the team is to act as the “facilitator” to keep everyone on the same page regarding the game plan. Tillard ensures each player is in the right place at the right time to win each firefight in the Battle Royale arena.

Players interact each other through headsets that not only ease communication but block out background noise.

Fortnite is a relatively straight forward video game – there is no complicated backstory or epic quest for players to follow. Fortnite boils down to kill or be killed. 

As a result, Fortnite is more of a “mechanical” game than a “strategic” one, Spitzer explained. Hand-eye coordination, accuracy and dexterity – the ability to control input (either with a mouse or controller) – matters more than in-depth knowledge of a video game character or story line, Spitzer added.

Fortnite tournaments can take place anywhere on the globe as long as players are connected to high-speed internet. The Lancers are able to square off against teams from the suburbs of New Jersey to the Alaskan bush from their sophisticated computer lab on the EWC campus.

Fortnite and other Esports competitions are livestreamed from EWC to fans across the country. Observers can interact with Fortnite players during tournaments via live chat, Bruce said. Audience members can even give input and advice to players, Bruce added.

Tillard and Bruce both started playing Fortnite when Epic Games first launched in 2017. 

Fortnite is an online game and is constantly changing. Its creators make frequent updates, launch new options or formats and tweak the software to adapt to a rapidly growing player base numbering in the hundreds of millions across the world.

“I’ve seen it all in the game over the last seven years,” Tillard said. “Fortnite is worth getting into – there is something for everyone in the game.”

Staying abreast of these changes involves a high game IQ, Bruce said.

“There are lots of moves you need to make in order to be successful,” Bruce added. “I’ve been playing Fortnite my whole life since fifth or sixth grade.”

Tillard and Bruce manage to find time to unwind from the grind of Fortnite preparation and school. Tillard grew up on a ranch and returns home when he can to help the family. Tillard also enjoys hitting the golf course for a round or two.

Bruce is an avid outdoorsman and spent the morning before the tournament bagging a big gobbler on a successful hunt near Upton.