Mariani Excited to Take the Reins of Williamson’s New Esports Program
Part of the tremendous gift of the new Wesley Student Center given to Williamson by Joseph and Marion Wesley, included a brand new, state of the art esports computer gaming room. The room allows Williamson students to relax and compete against themselves and others in computer gaming. It also now allows Williamson to field competitive programs that will compete against other colleges in the burgeoning field of esports.
"Esports is the rage of the nation, and especially on the collegiate level," shared long-time Williamson director of athletics Dale Plummer, now in his 35th year in the position. "Our guys have been clamoring for some time now about us adding it as a varsity sport. Prior to the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley, we simply didn't have the space or resources to do so. Now, thanks to them, we do."
With that in mind, Williamson is set to launch Esports as its ninth varsity sport. The college will compete in the games of Overwatch and Rocket League, as part of the National Esports Collegiate Conference.
In order to do so, Plummer had to find a person to coach those teams, as well as oversee the open gaming time for the student body. He believes, to use an old-fashioned sports term, he hit a grand slam with the hiring of Nick Mariani, to the position of esports coordinator/esports coach.
"I could not be more excited about Nick coming onboard to get us started in esports," shared Plummer. He is an outstanding person and a phenomenal esports player himself. He has a lot of playing experience, but also is studying esports as part of his major, so he knows all the ins and outs of how to compete against other colleges, as well as how to broadcast our games. You name it, he can do it."
An outstanding player in the game of Super Smash Brothers, Mariani could not be more excited about coming onboard at Williamson.
"Williamson is an outstanding school, the finest in the nation. No one can do what Williamson does for the young men who attend. To be able to help Williamson start its program and hopefully build it into one the students and the school can be proud of, is a dream come true," shared Mariani, whose gamer name is "Sauce."
Mariani has been playing video games for a long time. In fact, according to him, he has been playing them as long as he can remember.
"Some of my earliest memories are of playing video games. My older brother (Andrew) taught me how to play. I remember playing video games with my family and then eventually getting good enough to beat my brother and his friends.
I'm a competitive person. Gaming, and specifically Super Smash Brothers, has allowed me to travel and make life-long friends.
According to Plummer, Mariani is one of the foremost players of that game on the East Coast.
"He is a very humble guy, but Nick really is that good."
For his part, Mariani, who attends Fischer College and is finishing up his degree in sports management, with an emphasis on esports, could not be happier how things are going.
"So far things have been going great! Everyone here has been very welcoming and supportive. I hope our program can continue to grow and we can have multiple teams for multiple games that we are successful in.
"This is a great school and it deserves a great esports program as well."
