Cumberland Esports Claims Share of MSC Title, Places League-Best 40 on Academic Team

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland Esports continued its dominance both in competition and in the classroom as the Phoenix earned a share of the 2026 Mid-South Conference Esports Regular Season Championship while placing a conference-best 40 student-athletes on the MSC Academic All-Conference Team, conference officials announced Thursday.

Cumberland claimed a share of the MSC Regular Season Championship alongside Cumberlands (Ky.) after both programs totaled nine points across the conference's four-game slate. The Phoenix secured championships in Overwatch 2, Rocket League, and Valorant, winning every title in which they competed to earn co-champion honors. Cumberlands claimed the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate title to finish level with Cumberland in the standings.

Conference points were awarded based on finishes across the four sponsored titles, with Cumberland posting a perfect performance in its three competitions. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) finished third in the standings with five points, while Bethel (Tenn.) placed fourth with one point.

The championship continues a stretch of success for Cumberland Esports, which has consistently positioned itself among the top programs in the Mid-South Conference with multiple conference championships and national-level performances across several titles.

Off the competition stage, the Phoenix also excelled academically, leading all Mid-South Conference institutions with 40 student-athletes earning MSC Academic All-Conference honors. Campbellsville (Ky.) and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) tied for second in the conference with eight honorees each.

To earn Academic All-Conference distinction, student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale and be in their third academic term or fourth quarter.

Cumberland's Academic All-Conference honorees included Riley Alden, Alex Barto, Kurtis Bogner, Isaac Boodt, Trevor Boortz, John Buron, George Davisson, Natalie Eddy, Benjamin Eleby, Henry "Grey" Etue, Andrei Go, Youssef Guarari, Noah Jarnigan, Jason Joyce, Muhammad Kamal, Andrew Kingston, Jacob Sherman-Kozlowski, Vance Lackey, Sean Lightbody, Francis Lombardo, Christopher Mangano, Travis "Casey" McCale, Kier Priest, Andres Ramirez, Daniel Rees, Carson Rose, Stijn Scheffers, Katie Scoggins, Christopher Sheputis, Tyler Sims, Rebeca Oliveira de Souza, Nathaniel Spomer, Patryk Surowiak, Garrett Tacket, Luis Vasquez, William Weir, Nathaniel Wicker, James Wile, Matthew Zabel, and Jean-Franco Zarate.

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Players Mentioned

Alex Barto: 6' 1"; Sophomore

John Buron: 5' 11"; Junior

Jason Joyce: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Muhammad Kamal: Sophomore

Andrew Kingston: 5' 10"; Junior

Francis Lombardo: 5' 8"; Junior

Kier Priest: 5' 4"; Senior

Andres Ramirez: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Christopher Sheputis: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Nathaniel Spomer: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Alex Barto
: 6' 1"; Sophomore

John Buron
: 5' 11"; Junior

Jason Joyce
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Muhammad Kamal
: Sophomore

Andrew Kingston
: 5' 10"; Junior

Francis Lombardo
: 5' 8"; Junior

Kier Priest
: 5' 4"; Senior

Andres Ramirez
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Christopher Sheputis
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Nathaniel Spomer
: 5' 7"; Sophomore