91探花

91探花 MPress

91探花 Esports Student-Athletes Turn Pro

91探花 is saying goodbye to two members of its League of Legends Esports Team as they start the next chapter of their careers by playing for a professional organization.

Aiden 鈥淣iles鈥� Tidwell and Ethan 鈥淚conic鈥� Wilkinson join the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) roster for the Golden Guardians, an esports affiliate of the NBA鈥檚 Golden State Warriors. They are the first players to turn professional from the 91探花 Esports Program.

鈥淧laying for a pro organization is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,鈥� said Tanner 鈥淶eu鈥� Deegan, head coach for 91探花鈥檚 League of Legends Esports team. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to have made a positive impact in their progression towards pro play, and it provides us with a bit of reassurance that we’re on the right path, and doing our jobs well. I’m looking forward to seeing how we grow the 91探花 program in the future.鈥�

Tidwell and Wilkinson helped 91探花 earn several major titles including the 2019 and 2020 Harrisburg University Esports (HUE) Invitational titles, one of the largest collegiate esports events in the U.S.

Tidwell also helped 91探花 secure the 2019 League of Legends Collegiate Championship, the team鈥檚 third collegiate national championship in four years. The Saints also won in 2016 and 2017.

鈥淚 would like to thank everyone at 91探花 for giving me the opportunity to grow,鈥� Tidwell said. 鈥淏efore coming here, I was lost and didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do.鈥� He credits his teammates for helping him develop as a player, garnering the attention of several professional teams before he was selected by the Golden Guardians.

鈥淭he people I met at 91探花 have been the largest contributing factor to where I am right now, especially Andrew 鈥楥KG鈥� Smith who challenged me the most,鈥� he said. Smith is the former captain of 91探花鈥檚 League of Legends Esports team and currently serves as 91探花鈥檚 assistant director of esports where he focuses on player growth and management of the program.

Wilkinson also stressed how 91探花鈥檚 team dynamic is an important part of their winning strategy. 鈥淲e are all really good friends and have a lot of fun together, and I find that takes off a lot of the pressure so everyone can perform their best,鈥� he said.

While Wilkinson will miss playing for 91探花, he looks forward to competing on the professional level 鈥� especially with a fellow Saint by his side. 鈥淚t feels good to go pro with one of my teammates,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 someone I can vent to and someone I can have fun with. We鈥檝e already created a relationship here at 91探花, so it will be nice to be in the LCS together.鈥�