The Blinn College esports program participated in the 2023 Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup over the weekend, as the Buccaneer Overwatch team went 2-2 in four matches and finished in the Top 8.

The two-day event opened Saturday and ended Sunday at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Blinn participated in the Commissioners Cup for a second consecutive year.

"This entire year we have been on the fringes of being a top 20 team in the nation," Blinn assistant coach Kyle Murto said. "A lot had been said about us not having a notable win against a top team, but we finally achieved that goal this weekend, and it allowed us to qualify for the top 8 at the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup. It will go down as one of the most memorable experiences for me as a coach, and I give all the credit to my phenomenal players who have busted their butts all semester long to get to this point."

In its opener, Blinn fell to Converse University 3-1 in a best-of-five tilt. The Bucs recovered to knock off Southern New Hampshire University 3-0 and rebounded against Converse with a 3-2 win to advance to the quarterfinal round.

(Pictured: The Blinn College Overwatch team, back row from left: William Bowman, Gabriel Lopez and Jake Langridge. Front row from left Ezekiel Bernheim, Matthew Hutchings, and Nicholas Behney)

"I had never seen my team play this exceptionally well," Murto said of the Bucs' win over Converse. "It truly was the best they have ever performed as individuals and as a team. There was nothing that could have stopped them with how they played map five."

Blinn's run in the Cup ended with a 3-0 setback to No. 3 Boise State University.

Overall, the Bucs finished 2-1 in the group stage and 0-1 in the knockout playoff stage.

Gabriel Lopez, William Bowman, Jake Langridge, Matthew Hutchings, and Nicholas Behney competed for the Bucs, with Lopez, Bowman, and Langridge playing their final matches for Blinn.

"To Gabriel Lopez, William Bowman, and Jake Langridge ... they have been excellent students and competitors," Murto said. "I look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the future, and I will continue rooting for them and all my players. It has been an amazing year and it could not have been capped off in a better way."

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 43 NJCAA national championships since 1987.