Austin Hetter of Barton Captures Second Straight Esports Madden Invitational TItle
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Austin Hetter of Barton captured his second straight Conference Carolinas esports Madden Invitational championship on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.
Hetter becomes the first-ever two-time winner of a Conference Carolinas esports title. The 2023 Madden Invitational Finals marked Conference Carolinas’ sixth esports championship final.
The 2023 Conference Carolinas Madden Invitational finals were a best-of-three with Hetter besting Khwan Mickens of Chowan, 2-0, to claim the title for the second straight year.
Playing as the Philadelphia Eagles, Hetter collected a thrilling 21-16 victory over Mickens’ Cincinnati Bengals in the first game of the championship round.
In the second game, Mickens looked to be on his way to victory, but Hetter scored 14 consecutive points in the second half to emerge with a 28-21 win that earned him the overall title. Down 21-14, Hetter scored to even things up and then a defensive score on a fumble allowed him to go ahead for good at 28-21.
The semifinals were also the best-of-three with Hetter downing Barton esports teammate Brett Blackley in the semifinals, 2-1, to make it to the championship round. Mickens picked up a 2-0 win over Austin Jones of Belmont Abbey to advance to the championship against Hetter.
Conference Carolinas has now held an esports championship in Madden for the last three academic years, a FIFA Invitational in the spring and fall of 2022 and in 2021 the conference held an NBA 2K21 championship.
Bryce Witt of Chowan won the inaugural Madden Invitational in 2020-21 with Barton’s Hetter taking the title in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. Deante Shackleford of Belmont Abbey secured the NBA 2K21 championship title in 2020-21.
Nicholas Marrone of Lees-McRae captured the title in the second annual esports Conference Carolinas FIFA Invitational in the fall of 2022. Erskine’s Carlos Murguia picked up the win in the inaugural Conference Carolinas FIFA Invitational in April of 2022.
Conference Carolinas partners with Launch Esports for its esports championships. Conference Carolinas and Launch Esports are collaborating with EGF for the 2022-23 esports championships in the conference. In addition to FIFA this past fall and the Madden Championship, Conference Carolinas will also hold its inaugural Rocket League championship on March 11, 2023.
2023 Conference Carolinas Madden Invitational Semifinalists
Brett Blackley, Barton
Austin Hetter, Barton
Austin Jones, Belmont Abbey
Khwan Mickens, Chowan
2023 Conference Carolinas Madden Invitational Winner
Austin Hetter, Barton
Conference Carolinas Madden Invitational Champions
2020-21: Bryce Witt, Chowan
2021-22: Austin Hetter, Barton
2022-23: Austin Hetter, Barton