Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ

Esports team is 2nd in nation, 1st in PBC

January 13, 2026
The Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Esports team finished second nationally and won the Peach Belt Conference championship in the Marvel Rivals game in the fall.

Article By: Clark Leonard

The University of North Georgia (Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ) Esports team finished second nationally and won the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) championship for the Marvel Rivals game in the fall.

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's performance on the national stage came in the virtual National Esports Collegiate Conference, and the PBC event was held in Florence, South Carolina.

Team members included Brayden Bryant, Branyan Daniel, Simon Kuester, Bryce Reed, Tyler Summers, and Matthew Vue.

Nathaniel Hehl, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Esports coach, said the team produced its strong results despite going up against schools that recruit students specifically for Esports.

"I couldn't be prouder of the team with what they accomplished with so little time to prepare," Hehl said.

Daniel, a junior from McDonough, Georgia, pursuing a degree in finance, has been on a few Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Esports teams since 2024. He said the camaraderie and success of this fall's team have been meaningful.

"It's super gratifying," Daniel said. "It feels great to have our hard work pay off."

Kuester, a senior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, has participated on multiple Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Esports teams since 2023. He said the latest results paired with Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's fall 2024 Halo national title and second-place national finish in the spring 2025 Local Area Network event at the NECC are building a larger narrative.

"It helps put us on the map," Kuester said.


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