Illinois College Esports Splits Wins Against Coe College and Mount Vernon Nazarene

The Blueboys secured a victory in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate but fell to Mount Vernon Nazarene in Valorant

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Illinois College esports team split its conference matchups on Monday evening, securing a win in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate against Coe College but losing to Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Valorant. In the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate contest, Illinois College achieved a 2-0 sweep over Coe College, with several players recording individual wins. However, the Blueboys dropped both maps against Mount Vernon Nazarene in the Valorant matchup.

Why it matters

The Illinois College esports program competes in various intercollegiate events, including the Midwest Virtual Esports Conference and the National Esports Collegiate Conference. These results showcase the team's performance and highlight the continued growth and competitiveness of collegiate esports.

The details

In the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate contest, Illinois College's Adam Byrd, Devin Ussery, Julian Luaders, and Jake Petrovich all recorded individual wins, leading to a 6-0 victory in the first game and a 6-1 win in the second game. Luaders also reached a milestone by recording his 200th regular season knockout (KO), now with 250 total career KOs. However, in the Valorant matchup against Mount Vernon Nazarene University, the Blueboys dropped both maps, Haven (6-13) and Bind (10-13).

  • The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team will next compete against College of Saint Benedict on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
  • The Valorant squad is scheduled to face North Park University on Monday at 8:00 p.m.

The players

Illinois College Blueboys and Lady Blues Esports

The esports teams based in Jacksonville, Illinois that compete under Illinois College athletics using the "Blueboys" as their men's team nickname. The program competes in intercollegiate events such as those organized by the National Esports Collegiate Conference and Midwest Virtual Esports Conference.

Julian Luaders

An Illinois College esports player who reached a milestone of 200 regular season knockouts (KOs) in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now with 250 total career KOs.

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The takeaway

The split results for Illinois College esports showcase the team's competitiveness in both Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Valorant, with individual player milestones and strong performances against conference opponents. The program's continued participation in intercollegiate esports events highlights the growing prominence of collegiate esports.