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Year in Review
Peach Belt Conference to Begin Esports Champion- compete in national tournaments,” said Logan Henderson, student
coordinator for North Georgia esports. “My hope is that PBC will not
ship for 2017-18
only satisfy the demand for competitive gaming locally, but also the
desire for community that college students long for. What it’s about is
HILTON HEAD, S.C. – The Peach Belt Conference has announced it
the culture it creates, a place of comradely, respect, and acceptance. I
will begin an Esports Championship beginning with the 2017-18
think PBC will help in that development.”
academic season. The first year of the championship will feature
The championship team will receive the same trophy and honors
the game League of Legends from Riot Games.
as all other sports in the Peach Belt Conference. Esports will also be
The Peach Belt will be the first NCAA Division II conference to
featured on the PBC website with updated standings and weekly
hold an esports championship.
recaps. The conference will announce regular-season schedule and
“This is tremendously exciting for us,” said PBC commissioner
the tournament dates in the coming months. The conference is also
David Brunk. “Esports is one of the fastest-growing competitive
working with players to live stream the matches.
endeavors in the country and is a perfect opportunity for us to
“The exciting part is that we get to work with the gamers
expand the impact of the Peach Belt beyond traditional sports
on campus. We have always been about more than just athletics, themselves in designing this championship,” said PBC assistant
whether its cheerleading, dance team or pep band competitions or commissioner for strategic communications Ken Gerlinger. “From the
playing rules to game conduct, the players are on the ground floor
art shows or literary magazines; we are a community of institu-
tions. This is a great way to strengthen those bonds with a group as we strive to create the most balanced and competitive playing
of students who may not know that much about us and be on the field available. Their input and support is what is going to make this
project a success.”
forefront of a national movement.”
Beginning this fall, each of the 12 PBC member institutions will
form five-player teams with one alternate. The teams will play an Peach Belt to Begin Baseball Bat Testing in 2018
11-week regular-season schedule split between the fall and spring
AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference board of directors and
semesters. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams
president Dr. William Abare approved a recommendation from the
will advance to the PBC Esports Tournament with the winning
league’s athletic directors that mandatory baseball bat testing begin
team crowned the Esports Champion.
“Before many colleges would often create or run their own leagues with the 2017-18 season. The PBC will become the first NCAA Divi-
sion II conference to begin testing bats.
in local areas recruiting other colleges to play or they would only
2016-17