The Baker College VALORANT team, known as The Swarm, concluded an impressive Spring 2025 season with national recognition and competitive success across several major collegiate esports tournaments, including the College VALORANT (CVAL) Championships, the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) playoffs, Playfly’s Tournament of Champions, and the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) May Madness.
CVAL Championships: Top 12 Finish
After earning a 4th place finish in the North Championship Division and securing a victory over the University of Missouri, The Swarm qualified for the 2025 College VALORANT Championships as the #10 overall seed.
In the opening round of the upper bracket, Baker faced Cumberland University in a closely contested series, ultimately falling short and moving into the lower bracket. There, they advanced past the University of Waterloo by forfeit and defeated San Jose State University in a high-stakes overtime victory to reach the Round of 12.
The Swarm then faced top-seeded Winthrop University, delivering a strong performance with a win in the opening game. However, they were unable to maintain momentum, concluding their CVAL run with a commendable Top 12 national finish.
NECC Postseason: Division 1 Runner-Ups
Beginning their spring postseason, The Swarm kicked off the NECC Division 1 playoffs as the #1 seed, with their first matchup against Indiana University. The Hoosiers brought the fight, but The Swarm came out on top. Next up was Northwood University in a tight series that ended up going the way of the Timberwolves. Falling to the lower bracket, the team fought through Oklahoma Christian University, Texas A&M University, and Concordia University-St. Paul to bring themselves to the Division 1 Championships. Facing off against Northwood again, The Swarm unfortunately were unable to stand up to their strength, losing the series and ending their NECC season as the Division 1 Runner-Ups.
Playfly Tournament of Champions: Representing at LAN
Following consistent performance throughout the Playfly College Esports Open Premier season, The Swarm received an invitation to the in-person Playfly Tournament of Champions LAN in Texas at the end of April. The event featured eight teams divided into two groups competing in a double-elimination format.
Competing against Cumberland University, Fisher College, and Northwood University, The Swarm fell in their opening match but rebounded with a decisive win against Fisher. In a rematch against Cumberland for a spot in the playoffs, Baker fought hard but ultimately exited the tournament after a narrow loss.
CECC May Madness: National Top 8 Finish
After defeating Siena Heights University in the Last Chance Qualifier in March, The Swarm advanced to CECC’s premier LAN event, May Madness, hosted in Texas in early May. The tournament featured 20 of the top collegiate VALORANT teams in a group-stage format followed by a single-elimination playoff.
Placed in a group with Fisher College, Ohio State University, and Cumberland University, Baker started strong with a victory over Fisher. Despite a setback against Cumberland, The Swarm rallied in the decider match with a dominant performance over Ohio State to move into the playoff bracket.
In the Round of 12, Baker defeated Harrisburg University in a tightly contested match to advance to the Quarterfinals, where they faced #2 seed Maryville University. Despite strong individual plays and a competitive effort, The Swarm fell to the eventual tournament champions, securing a national Top 8 finish.
Baker College’s VALORANT team closed out the Spring 2025 season with an impressive record of 34 wins and 17 losses. The Swarm continues to represent the college with skill, resilience, and sportsmanship on the national esports stage. As the program builds on its success, the future looks bright for Baker Esports.