North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports is proud to announce its participation in a major scholarship initiative at the 2026 Game and Geek Expo in Raleigh, North Carolina. In partnership with Carolina Games Summit, Barton College, Louisburg College, and USC Upstate, more than $500,000 in esports scholarship opportunities were available to competitors across multiple tournaments.
The Game and Geek Expo, held September 5–6 at the Raleigh Convention Center, brought together gamers, families, colleges, industry professionals, and members of the gaming community for a weekend centered around competition, education, and opportunity.
Competitors participated in tournaments featuring titles including Counter-Strike 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart, Forza 6, and Gran Turismo 7, creating an opportunity for talented players to showcase their skills while learning more about collegiate esports programs and scholarship opportunities.
NCWU Esports Delivers Strong Competitive Performances
North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports had a strong showing across multiple competitions throughout the weekend.
Lamont Taylor (SoulkingLJ) delivered an impressive performance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, placing 17th out of 74 competitors in Singles. Taylor also competed in Doubles, earning a 5th-place finish out of 14 teams.
Anthony Conner and Shafiq Nuijts also represented NCWU Esports in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Singles competition, with each finishing 49th in the 74-player bracket.
Nuijts expanded NCWU’s presence beyond Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by competing in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Singles Finals, where he secured an impressive 8th-place finish out of 60 competitors.
These results highlight the continued growth and competitive presence of NCWU Esports across multiple titles and demonstrate the dedication of Wesleyan’s student competitors on a regional stage.
Brightspeed Support Helps NCWU Esports Travel and Compete
The continued support of Brightspeed has played an important role in giving North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports student-athletes the opportunity to travel beyond campus and represent the University at major esports competitions.
Through Brightspeed’s investment in NCWU Esports, the program has been able to help cover important travel expenses, including transportation, lodging, and meals. This support allows NCWU competitors to focus on performing at their best while gaining valuable experience competing against players from other colleges and communities.
Brightspeed’s support has already helped NCWU Esports travel to competitions on larger stages, including previous events in Texas and South Carolina. That continued investment helps make opportunities such as the Game and Geek Expo possible for NCWU students and strengthens the program’s ability to compete throughout the region and beyond.
The partnership extends beyond travel. Brightspeed’s support has contributed to scholarships, equipment upgrades, esports program travel, technology, and expanded competitive opportunities. These resources help NCWU Esports provide students with experiences that connect competition with teamwork, leadership, broadcasting, content creation, technology, and career development.
For North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports, participating in the Game and Geek Expo represents more than competition. It reflects the program’s continued commitment to creating pathways for students who want to turn their passion for gaming, esports, technology, content creation, and digital media into meaningful educational and career opportunities.
Chantoni Grant, NCWU Director of Esports, shares, “North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports is focused on showing students that esports can be much bigger than just playing video games. It can create opportunities for education, leadership, content creation, broadcasting, technology, and future careers. Being part of an event offering more than $500,000 in scholarship opportunities allows us to connect directly with students and families and show them what is possible through collegiate esports.”
The 2026 event also marked the first year that representatives from all four participating colleges were present on the show floor, allowing prospective students and their families to speak directly with college representatives while experiencing the tournaments and activities throughout the weekend.
The partnership aligns with North Carolina Wesleyan University’s commitment to hands-on learning and providing students with practical experiences that prepare them for life beyond the classroom. NCWU Esports continues to build opportunities that connect gaming with education, professional development, leadership, media, technology, and community engagement.
About North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports
North Carolina Wesleyan University Esports provides students with opportunities to compete, create, lead, and develop professional skills through the rapidly growing esports industry. The program uses gaming as a platform for experiential learning while creating opportunities in competition, broadcasting, content creation, event production, technology, leadership, and community engagement.
Through partnerships, tournaments, scholarships, and educational initiatives, NCWU Esports is working to establish North Carolina Wesleyan University as a destination for students who want to pursue their passion for gaming while earning a college education.
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 7.3 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com
NC Wesleyan to Host NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championship Preliminary Rounds This Weekend
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) will serve as host site for the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championship Preliminary Rounds this weekend, welcoming some of the nation’s top programs to Rocky Mount for a high-stakes postseason competition.
The tournament will take place Friday through Sunday, May 8–11, with teams arriving on campus Thursday for practice sessions. The championship format features team competition, with both singles and doubles matches contributing to the overall team score.
NC Wesleyan will be one of six teams competing in the tournament, along with Albright College, Stevens Institute of Technology, Penn State Harrisburg, Emory University, and Johns Hopkins University.
“Being selected to host an NCAA postseason competition reflects positively on NC Wesleyan’s facilities, operations, and overall commitment to providing a high-quality student-athlete experience,” said Madison Morrison, Assistant Athletic Director. “It speaks to the trust the NCAA has in our ability to execute a championship-level event.”
Hosting responsibilities involve extensive planning and campus collaboration. From preparing facilities to coordinating travel and accommodations for teams and officials, the event requires alignment across athletics staff, facilities teams, and multiple campus partners.
“There is extensive coordination involved, including facility preparation, team and officials’ travel and accommodations, scheduling, compliance with NCAA championship protocols, and ensuring a strong game-day environment,” Morrison said. “It is a collaborative effort across athletics, facilities, and campus partners.”
Tennis Head Coach Albie Brice highlighted the tradition NC Wesleyan tennis has built in recent years and the significance of being selected once again as a regional host site.
“The Men’s and Women’s programs have established a tradition of excellence through unwavering dedication and hard work both on and off the court,” Brice said. “This marks the third time the Men’s Team has been chosen as an NCAA Regional Host since 2021, while the Women’s Team has hosted twice since then. In the past six years, NCWU has hosted five NCAA Regionals, showcasing its commitment to nurturing top-tier tennis talent.”
Brice also emphasized the competitive level of the tournament field and the opportunity for the weekend to produce memorable postseason moments.
“We anticipate an exceptional tennis tournament this weekend featuring some of the nation’s finest teams,” Brice said. “This regional is expected to be highly competitive, and the victorious team will undoubtedly receive a prestigious accolade to enhance its program’s illustrious history.”
“North Carolina Wesleyan is proud to welcome NCAA postseason competition to our campus,” said Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of North Carolina Wesleyan University. “Hosting the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championship Preliminary Rounds reflects the excellence of our athletic programs and the dedication of our coaches, staff, and student-athletes. We invite the community to join us in celebrating this exciting opportunity and supporting our Battling Bishops.”
Fans are encouraged to attend matches and help create an energetic environment as NC Wesleyan takes the national stage in NCAA postseason play.
“Attending matches, creating an energetic and respectful environment, and helping us showcase the hospitality NC Wesleyan is known for all go a long way,” Morrison added.
Championship Schedule (All Times Eastern)
Friday, May 8
10:00 a.m. – Stevens vs. Penn State Harrisburg (Match 1)
2:00 p.m. – NC Wesleyan vs. Albright (Match 2)
Saturday, May 9
10:00 a.m. – Emory vs. Winner of Match 1 (Match 3)
2:00 p.m. – Johns Hopkins vs. Winner of Match 2 (Match 4)
Sunday, May 11
12:00 p.m. – Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4 (Match 5)
Event Details
Event: NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championship Preliminary Rounds (First, Second, Third Rounds)
Location: North Carolina Wesleyan University (Rocky Mount, N.C.)
Dates: May 8–11, 2026
Teams Competing: NC Wesleyan, Albright, Stevens, Penn State Harrisburg, Emory, Johns Hopkins
Format: Team competition including singles and doubles matches
Other Bishops Competing
In addition to hosting the NCAA Men’s Tennis preliminary rounds, NC Wesleyan Women’s Tennis will begin NCAA Tournament play on Thursday, May 7, traveling to Emory University for a first-round matchup against Asbury University at 10:00 a.m. The NC Wesleyan Softball team will also continue postseason competition this weekend, competing in the USA South Conference Championship Series beginning Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Pfeiffer University.
All matches and games will be streamed live through the NC Wesleyan athletics website at ncwsports.com
NC Wesleyan Champions Silver Status at NCICU Ethics Bowl
North Carolina Wesleyan University’s Ethics Bowl team earned second place out of 17 participating institutions at the 15th Annual NCICU Ethics Bowl, marking the strongest finish in the University’s history.
The competition was held at the North Carolina State Legislative Complex and brought together undergraduate teams from North Carolina’s independent colleges and universities to engage in thoughtful, moderated discussions on complex ethical issues.
“We are deeply proud of this team,” said Dr. Joe Lane, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at North Carolina Wesleyan University. “They demonstrated great devotion, teamwork, and understanding throughout the competition.”
NCWU advanced through the regular rounds with an undefeated 4–0 record, securing wins against Catawba College, Salem College, Barton College, and Mars Hill University. The team then earned a victory over Wingate University in the semifinal round before falling to Johnson C. Smith University in the final round to claim second place overall. The final decision was closely contested.
“This was the most fun team I’ve ever been on,” said Niana Gunter, senior and team member. “I learned a lot about formulating an argument in conjunction with other people.”
Senior team member Shafiq Jair Nuijts reflected on the experience, adding, “Going into this bowl, I was nervous considering the tremendous amount of work my teammates and I put into this. Seeing the results of our efforts pay off in this manner was an unforgettable experience.”
This year’s finish represents a milestone for NCWU, surpassing the team’s previous best performance of third place at the 2020 Ethics Bowl.
The award was presented by Dr. A. Hope Williams, President of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU).
Competition Highlights
Throughout the day, NCWU students addressed a range of contemporary ethical topics, including corporate responsibility, international relations in global sporting events, the ethics of weapons of mass destruction, public education reform, civil-military leadership, and funding public schools during financial crises.
Team Members
Pictured (left to right; students in bold):
- Deon Bailey, Sophomore
- Dr. Jarrod Kelly
- Jolyna Sundbom, Junior
- Dr. Shane Thompson
- Dr. A. Hope Williams, President, NCICU
- Shafiq Nuijts, Senior
- Niana Gunter, Senior
- Dr. Jason Buel
- Maxima Iglesias, Senior
Not pictured: Dunya Salem, Senior, who is a member of the team but was unable to attend the competition.
Participating Institutions
The 2026 Ethics Bowl included teams from:
Barton College, Campbell University, Catawba College, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, Mars Hill University, Methodist University, Montreat College, Pfeiffer University, Queens University, Salem College, University of Mount Olive, William Peace University, Wingate University, and North Carolina Wesleyan University.
The NCICU Ethics Bowl promotes civil discourse, ethical reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving—skills central to North Carolina Wesleyan University’s commitment to academic excellence and student development.
