UM Esports became an official University athletic program in 2019, and its popularity has only skyrocketed since, making it one of the fastest-growing sports at the University. Students from every corner of campus are encouraged to come check out the scholarships, comradery and all the fun to be had in Grizzly Esports.
Scroll further to learn how Grizzly Esports has leveled up its antidote for toxic gaming culture and meet an esports athlete who exemplifies the team’s community-oriented attitude. You’ll also discover the titles they compete in, the scholarships and degree experience available, and the inclusive community that defines the Grizzly Esports experience.
Everything You Need to Know About Grizzly Esports
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UM’s Grizzly Esports team started as a student club in 2012 and became an official University sport in 2019 as part of the National Association of Collegiate Esports. It competes in the Big Sky Conference and against other national Esports programs including the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Grizzly Esports currently has over 300+ active members, with around 100 playing competitively.
Follow Grizzly Esports on Twitch
Grizzly Esports is the ONLY fully supported Esports program in Montana, with headquarters in the UM Esports Arena on the second floor of the University Center. This space is stacked with high-end gaming equipment, plenty of lounge areas and spectator seating for hosting national tournaments and events.
What Games Do Grizzly Esports Athletes Compete In?
You can find people playing all sorts of video games throughout Grizzly Esports and the UM Esports Arena. But these are the titles that Grizzly Esports plays competitively against other Esports programs:
- Rocket League
- Overwatch 2
- League of Legends
- Super Smash Bros
- Fortnite
- Apex Legends
- Valorant
- Marvel Rivals
Do You Have to Play Competitively to Play Esports?
No! While about half of the Esports athletes play competitively, the other half are there for the community and events. And you don’t have to be an epic player to join. Everyone and anyone with an interest in gaming is welcome to come grab a controller or keyboard.
Welcome to the Esports Arena
While you don’t have to play competitively to join Grizzly Esports, the members who compete are some of the best in the game. Grizzly Esports has already secured several national titles and is consistently ranked. The competitive portion of the team prioritizes fun, but they take their skills seriously, practicing every week and representing Montana on the national stage.
Every Game. Every Body. Every One
Any interest in video games or the Grizzly Esports culture is all you need to join the team. One ground rule is that you must abide by the team’s guiding principles of belonging, meaning you bring a warm and welcoming attitude – no toxicity allowed. Grizzlies don’t just game—they build each other up through teamwork, inclusion and respect.
Meet Logan Brewer, Grizzly Esport Athlete
Meet Logan Brewer, an esports student-athlete from Spearfish, South Dakota, who came to UM as a first-year student in 2023. Logan discovered Grizzly Esports during a campus visit and then again during UM’s new student welcoming events (during the Big Sky Experience).
It wasn’t long before he was immersed in the esports community, eventually donning the captain’s hat for a Valorant team. Now third year at the University, he’s happy to share his favorite things about being part of the team.
“The community is the biggest part of Griz Esports. There are so many friendships I’ve made just because I’m in the esports program that I would not have made. When I walk around campus, there are more people I see and more people that I can talk to. It’s a community I feel safe in.”
Maybe it’s the attributes that becoming a team captain has imposed, but Logan is a confident student with no trouble making conversation wherever he goes. That’s probably why his best advice for becoming part of the team is simple: Show up.
“The easiest way to get involved is to stop into our space, the UM Esports Arena. There are plenty of ways to get involved by just coming in. I got involved by just walking in and talking to someone. If you see anything branded Esports, you can talk to them. If you have any little tiny thought of, ‘maybe that will be fun,’ do it! I say totally go for it.”
Read Another Student Story: My Experience with Grizzly Esports
Scholarships, Charitable Giving and Degree Experience
Like any student-athlete at UM, the student part comes first. Alongside mandated grade checks and GPA requirements, there’s a strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy balance between video games, academics and social life. This strong academic standing is reflected in the 50 athletic scholarships awarded to team members.
Scholarships are divided among team leaders, active team members and, perhaps more than anything, athletes who participate in the team’s charitable efforts. Possibly most notable is Grizzly Esports’ involvement with the annual Can the Cats Food Drive, coinciding with the “Brawl of the Wild” between the University of Montana and Montana State University football programs.
Some of the strongest correlations between academics and the esports team come from the many degrees at UM that are directly related. Several esports student-athletes parlay their game expertise into majors like game design and interactive media, cybersecurity, computer science, management information systems and more.
Meet Michael Cassens, Director of Esports
Even though Grizzly Esports is already champion of the Big Sky Conference after clinching two titles in Rocket League and one in Fortnite, the team's primary emphasis has never been podium finishes. Instead, Director of Esports Michael Cassens wants to foster an environment that adds to the student experience.
Michael shares his approach to Esports in this video:
Find More Information about Grizzly Esports
Visit our website: UM Grizzy Esports
Send us an email: esports@mso.umt.edu
Follow us on Instagram: @umt_esports
