By: Ethan Steinquest September 25, 2026
Tanner Ball, at heart, and Kupa’amekalanakila Flint, at proper, play a observe set
between rounds at CDE Lightband’s F2CON. | Photo by Alia Chapman
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Austin Peay State University’s Govs Gaming esports membership returned to CDE Lightband’s F2CON this month for the Tennessee Valley
Invitational, competing in opposition to Middle Tennessee State University and Murray State
University in a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate round-robin match that
Each faculty fielded 4 gamers in a collection of one-on-one matches, with MTSU claiming
the trophy. Austin Peay completed 1-3 in opposition to each opponents in what grew to become this system’s
hardest take a look at since its debut on the earlier F2CON.
“Both of those groups are official esports packages which have competed collegiately
earlier than, and our gamers haven’t,” stated Meagan Potts, Govs Gaming’s workers advisor.
“For a number of them, this was their first time experiencing that stage. Just as a result of
you’re doing properly training in your room or on-line doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t develop. It
gave them one thing to attempt for, and all people had enjoyable.”
The stakes have been increased than final yr’s four-match Tekken 8 showdown, which peaked at roughly 1,000 reside viewers on the favored preventing sport
channel TampaNeverSleeps. This yr’s livestream reached over 2,200 viewers, whereas college students gathered on campus
for a watch occasion to cheer on the group.
Govs Gaming’s “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” group, from left: Meagan Potts, Govs Gaming
workers advisor; and rivals Bianca Vega-Ortiz, Ari Martinez, Tanner Ball, and Kupa’amekalanakila
Flint. | Photo by Alia Chapman
Kupa’amekalanakila Flint, a junior engineering know-how main, scored APSU’s two
match wins and served because the group’s coach. He labored together with his teammates on an intensive
stretch of observe main as much as the competitors.
“We’ve been practicing hard for about two and a half weeks,” he stated. “Everyone improved
fairly shortly over that period of time, and everybody tried their finest. It’s disappointing
that we didn’t win, however there’s all the time subsequent time.”
The occasion additionally marked a debut behind the microphone for Carson Daschle, a junior accounting
main and Govs Gaming’s president. He offered reside commentary for the stream alongside
skilled esports caster ProXYTCG.
Govs Gaming president Carson Daschle, at left, supplies commentary throughout a livestream
of the Tennessee Valley Invitational at F2CON, which was featured on the favored preventing
sport channel TampaNeverSleeps. | Photo by Alia Chapman
“It’s an actual honor to be up there on the stage, being the voice that folks hear commentating
the gameplay,” Daschle said. “The greatest factor I gained was studying find out how to be up
entrance in entrance of an viewers. I used to be nervous for months, however I used to be informed I regarded pure
on digital camera — my mother even known as me afterward to inform me how properly I did.”
For Richard Lewis, the school advisor of MTSU Esports, the three-school discipline is
an indication of issues to come back for esports within the area.
“It’s rising — we have been rising at MTSU, Austin Peay is rising, and all the faculties
listed here are actually making an attempt to construct a much bigger program and ecosystem,” he said. “It was
nice to see all of the rivals. It was neck and neck all through, so it was an excellent
competitors.”
Govs Gaming plans to hold that momentum into the yr forward, with collaborations
within the works alongside campus organizations together with the Tabletop Roleplay Gaming Club and Girls Who Code.
“All these clubs have similar ambitions in mind,” Daschle stated. “We’re making an attempt to see
what we are able to do collectively as members of the campus and develop one another — individually,
but in addition collectively.”
Students thinking about becoming a member of Govs Gaming can go to the club’s Discord server or contact Potts at pottsm@apsu.edu.