Trine esports wraps up season with individual awards

Trine University’s esports teams completed their spring season with two individual awards.

Jonah Kyle, a computer science and information technology major from Valparaiso, Indiana, received the Forge Scholastic Esports Championship 2026 Uncommon Player Award at the first ECAC National Founders Invitational, held May 15-17 in San Antonio, Texas.

Wyatt Burton, a computer science and information technology major from Edinburgh, Indiana, was named the Cleanest Driver in the Collegiate iRacing League (CiL) this season.

Mental fortitude

Kyle, a member of Trine’s Overwatch team, was honored among thousands of players across all leagues represented at the Founders Invitational.

In presenting the award, ECAC Esports said, “Jonah displayed mental fortitude through difficulties with tech, tournaments and facing off against a David Goliath story. He showed diligence, determination and dedication to keeping the spirits of his teammates high! There is no one at this event that deserves this award more than Jonah!”

Though Trine lost matches against Purdue, the University of Delaware and Northwood, Jeremy Goossens, director of esports, said it was still incredible to see the university compete on such a big stage. The invitational included the top four teams in each title based on performance across the fall and spring seasons.

“Our players represented our program exceptionally well throughout the event,” he said. “They got to play against Northwood University, who has players in the national team.”

In addition to Kyle, the team included Hudson Kelly, a computer science and information technology major from LaGrange, Indiana; Logan Gault, a computer engineering major from Indianapolis; Elton Langley, a computer science and information technology major from Indianapolis; and Brockstan Tschannen, an extended reality major from Angola, Indiana.

Clean driving

Burton averaged 262.7 turns per incident point in the virtual racing league. An incident point can be a happening as simple as dropping a wheel off the track.

He finished second overall in the CiL, getting edged out by Jake Cummings of Converse University by two points.