NEWBERG, Ore. — The George Fox Esports team turned heads in the PlayVS College League (PCL) landscape, capturing the Valorant Ranked League Division 3 championship with a 2–0 victory over Northwest Vista.

The Valorant squad, led by coaches Bradley Thurber and Coleman Roberts, tallied just one loss during its regular-season campaign against eventual championship opponent Northwest Vista, finishing 6–1 before storming through the playoffs without dropping a single round.

"Our goal at the beginning of the year was to commit to what we could and give it everything we had," said Thurber, director of Esports and player development. "I'm proud of how they overcame a lot of mental obstacles to put themselves in position to win while also taking care of their minds, their health and their academics."

"It was really encouraging to see how this team grew as young men this year playing video games, but it was also evidence that what we are building is bigger than just playing Valorant."

The road to the PCL championship began with a forfeit from the Rochester Institute of Technology, followed by a three-week hiatus before a semifinal head-to-head matchup against an undefeated Saint John's program that had not lost a single round all season.

The Bruins defeated the Red Storm in dominant fashion before meeting Northwest Vista in the long-awaited championship match, the lone team to hand George Fox a loss during the regular season. Team captain Simeon McQueen rallied the Bruins to another upset victory, securing another championship for GFU Esports.

"Winning feels great, but what feels even better is winning with people who feel like family," McQueen said. "I'm proud of winning, but I'm also proud of how we grew as a team."

The title marks the first championship of Thurber's tenure with the Bruins after he began serving as interim director of Esports and player development in February.