THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
ABOVE: National Champions (l to r) D.C. Canady, Moses Landis, Braden Bulla, and Tyler Mahoney with eSports Coach Guido Esteves (in front).
DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College eSports hit a new high on Monday when the MarioKart 4v4 team won its first NJCAA National Championship. The DACC team, comprised of Michael “D.C.” Canady, William “Moses” Landis, Braden Bulla, and Tyler Mahoney won the final tournament round against 8 teams, including Marshalltown Community College in Iowa; Southeast Community College in Nebraska; UNJC in New Jersey; and Heartland Community College in Normal.
“The beauty of eSports is that a small college like DACC can not only have a nationally ranked eSports program and hang with the bigger schools but have a chance to win a championship,” says Guido Esteves, Director of Audio/eSports/Community Outreach at DACC. “Most people don’t get a chance to be the best in the country at something, so I told my players to really soak that in.”
While three fourths of the team are first-year college competitors, team Captain D.C. Canady already has a national championship ring. Canady was the 2023 National Champion in MarioKart Singles.
“It’s so awesome to have another national championship at the college. We have an awesome 4V4 team this year and I’m glad we were able to pull it off,” states Canady. “I really enjoy being in our esports program at DACC. We have a ton of fun here and it’s a great environment to be in.”
Canady’s mom Jenni agrees, “Collegiate level eSports at DACC has given D.C. the opportunity to earn scholarships, enhance his leadership skills, build friendships, and compete against some ot he best teams in the nation. It has been a great experience.”
NJCAA eSports playoffs continue this week with three DACC players ranked in the top five going into the MarioKart Singles Tournament, the title Canady took last year.
Esteves doesn’t let his team rest on its laurels. “We have 3 top 5 players in MarioKart singles so it’s back to work this week for more playoff competition,” he says.
This is the first year the DACC team has competed in MarioKart 4v4, though they competed in MarioKart Singles and Smash Brothers Crew last year. Mario Kart challenges players with its fast-paced races featuring iconic Nintendo characters, while Smash Brothers Crew tests team strategy and combat skills in intense multiplayer battles.
For more information about DACC’s eSports program and upcoming events, please contact DACC eSports coordinator Guido Esteves at g.esteves@dacc.edu.
Danville Area Community College strives to provide quality education and enriching experiences, focusing on inclusivity and accessibility. DACC fosters a supportive community where students excel academically and engage in a variety of enriching extracurricular activities.
Danville Area Community College is a comprehensive community college serving Illinois District 507, which consists of Vermilion County and parts of Champaign, Iroquois, Edgar, and Ford counties. DACC’s main campus is located at 2000 East Main Street, Danville. The College has a higher-learning center in Hoopeston at 847 E. Orange. To apply to DACC, call 217-443-3222 or visit the Web site at www.DACC.EDU.
