LEVELING UP. It is perhaps unsurprising to learn UW-Stout, Wisconsin's polytechnic university -- which has a vibrant game design program -- was one of the first public colleges to launch an esports athletics team. However, the Blue Devils team is made up of a students of all focuses; students studying dietetics, engineering, golf management, and even those who formerly played traditional sports make up the team.

Back in 2019 when the University of Wisconsin-Stout announced it was launching an esports team, a handful of pretty important details had yet to be ironed out. Those included where the team would play, how player recruitment would work, and who the coach would be. About five years later, the program hasn’t just nailed those pieces down — it’s exceeded all expectations.

Video games have gone through myriad transformations, both in industry and in the zeitgeist. Not dissimilarly, esports is undergoing its own revolution, albeit a fast-tracked one.

Esports Foundry’s latest report on the growth of intercollegiate esports — a 101-page report published in October 2025 – documents the widespread surge in esports’ popularity across the nation in just the past 10 years. Notably, the report credits Illinois’ Robert Morris University as setting the movement in motion, as it launched the country’s first collegiate varsity esports program around 2015.

“Ten years later, collegiate esports has grown into one of the fastest-rising pillars of campus culture,” the report states. “Today, there are at least 680 esports programs across North America.”

I would argue (UW-Stout now has) the best facility in Wisconsin. We're starting to turn some heads, especially in the Midwest. –Aaron Froelich, esports head coach

Considering UW-Stout’s 2020 esports team launch was the first in the UW System, Wisconsin overall certainly has room to grow in what appears to be a promising niche. UW-Stout Esports Head Coach, Aaron Froelich, would agree.

Today, the UW-Stout esports team roster features about 40 students, ranging from active players across its featured games — Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch, Marvel Rivals and Super Smash Bros. – to the students on its broadcasting team members and student coaches.

Esports is also a burgeoning academic area, including at UW-Stout. In 2023, the university launched an esports coaching minor; an esports event management certificate and esports production certificate are also in development, Froelich said.

According to Esports Foundry's 2025 report, there are nearly 80,000 intercollegiate esports athletes in the U.S. What was once seen primarily as a hobby has turned into a full-fledged industry – and asset to university recruiters. 

The Blue Devils esports team is largely made up of men though a handful of women are part of the 40-player roster. Head Coach Aaron Froelich said there are more esports players part of UW-Stout's new esports club, which already has over 100 members since its launch this fall.

Froelich, a longtime esports player and fan, also experienced the traditional student-athlete experience during his college career, when he played baseball. As he explained, the esports scene at UW-Stout isn’t so different than other athletics teams.

Intercollegiate esports teams typically operate in one of two categories, Froelich explained: student-led clubs and athletics programs. At UW-Stout, the team falls under the latter. (UW-Eau Claire and CVTC each have an esports club team.) 

From recruitment efforts — which include traveling to watch high school esports players, leveraging UW-Stout’s esports facility to attract new students, and hosting tryouts — to each athlete’s commitment to team practices and travel, Froelich sees the esports scene continuing to boom at UW-Stout and beyond.

“In past years, any time that (the team) had to travel for a tournament, it was in places like Chicago, Milwaukee or Minnesota (which had) facilities nice enough to host those events,” Froelich said. “Now, we can put a large emphasis on our ability to host events and bring different schools to our university to compete here."

In past years, any time that (the team) had to travel for a tournament, it was in places like Chicago, Milwaukee or Minnesota (which had) facilities nice enough to host those events. Now, we can put a large emphasis on our ability to host events and bring different schools to our university to compete here. –Aaron Froelich, esports head coach

The Blue Devils esports athletes practice four to five days a week and often participate in weekend tournaments, both virtual and in-person. The team is part of the Wisconsin eSports Conference (WEC) – which is sort of like the NCAA version of esports – and, this year, includes teams from roughly 24 institutions.

“We’re actually the only school in the WEC to qualify all of their teams to all of the state championships since (WEC’s) inception, which has only been three semesters now, so (the team is) six for six,” Froelich said.

The amount of games played varies somewhat semester to semester. This fall, the overall team – which is further divided into six teams: Valorant, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, Smash Bross, Rocket League, and JV Rocket League – will have participated in about 100 matches, Froelich said.

The Blue Devils headed into the 2025-26 school year with great momentum from the previous season’s 15-2 record, qualifying for the WEC Spring Championship and placing fifth in the nation across all divisions. Then, UW-Stout upgraded its esports arena.

Thanks to a $1 million donation from the UW-Stout Foundation and Alumni Association, the Blue Devils esports arena expanded, now hosting 34 monitors — plus custom AV and lighting – across the 1,900-square-foot space. The team also secured a sponsorship from Chippewa Falls’ Spectrum Industries, which makes esports furniture.

“In past years, any time that (the team) had to travel for a tournament, it was in places like Chicago, Milwaukee or Minnesota (which had) facilities nice enough to host those events,” Froelich said. “Now, we can put a large emphasis on our ability to host events and bring different schools to our university to compete here."

The first weekend of December, the Blue Devils hosted the WEC Fall Championship, bringing 18 teams from a dozen different schools to the Menomonie campus.

“Honestly, unlocking this new facility means unlocking additional benefits too,” Froelich said. “I would argue it’s the best facility in Wisconsin. … We’re starting to turn some heads, especially in the Midwest.”

Spectators are welcome via Twitch streams and public events, including specific watch parties or special events like homecoming matches.

"The culture we have here is really one that is focused on involvement and inclusivity," Head Coach Aaron Froelich said of the esports team.

Learn more about the University of Wisconsin-Stout's esports team online at www.stoutbluedevils.com/sports/esports. Watch future matches via Twitch and keep up with the team on Facebook and Instagram.