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Neumann University’s Darius Bryant won the ECAC NBA 2k23 title. (COURTESY PHOTO)
ASTON— Neumann University recently won the Eastern College Athletic Conference Esports NBA 2K23 championship, sweeping Cumberland University 3-0 in a best-of-five series. Sophomore Darius Bryant notched straight victories of 49-42, 67-61, and 48-36 to claim the title.
Bryant was cheered on by his esports teammates and some student spectators, who watched the competition on the Neumann Twitch stream at the viewing party in the Mullen Student Multipurpose Hall.
During the regular season 26 NBA 2K23 players from 18 colleges across a wide swath of the country competed in eight best-of-three matches plus playoffs in the quest for a championship. After a play-in match to break a tie, 16 teams made the playoff field.
Despite the “Eastern” designation in its name, the ECAC NBA 2k23 competition included colleges from the Midwest (Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan) and the South (Tennessee and Virginia), in addition to schools from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
According to Lydia Fister, ECAC assistant commissioner and director of esports: “As esports is online, we wanted to expand our national footprint. Our goal is to provide the opportunity to compete no matter where a school is located or the size of their program.”
After finishing the regular season 6-2, in a four-way tie for second place in the conference, Bryant defeated players from Cumberland and Radford University in the opening round before besting top-seeded Albion College and Cumberland in the finals.
Neumann’s NBA 2K23 team won the title in its inaugural season, competing with Bryant and Zachary King, who graduated in May. King finished with a 5-3 record and bowed out in the quarterfinals.
“Darius had an outstanding performance and impressive victory in the ECAC 2k finals,” said Derek Bosworth, the esports head coach. “His dedication and skill earned him not only the first-place title but an undefeated playoff season. I look forward to seeing more amazing games from Darius next season.”
NBA 2K23 is a basketball video game, the 24th installment in its franchise. Play simulates a typical game of basketball, with the player controlling an entire team or an individual player, and the presentations resemble televised NBA games.
In its fifth year, ECAC esports has grown to 160 member schools and reaches from coast to coast. It fields 1,100 teams and crowns 26 esports champions across 13 games. Several games have multiple versions, including Super Smash Bros., VALORANT, Overwatch 2, Call of Duty, and League of Legends.
Fisher College in Boston was the 2023 ECAC esports powerhouse, winning seven of the 26 titles.
According to Dean Eric Wellington, Neumann University in Aston will launch a major in esports in fall 2024. For more information, visit http://neumann.edu/.
Annual West Catholic Burrs at the Beach planned for June 25
The 34th Annual West Catholic Burrs at the Beach, to benefit the West Catholic Alumni Scholarship Fund, will be held 1- 6 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at Keenan’s Pub in North Wildwood, N.J.
Tickets cost $30 and include a buffet, reduced drink prices, raffle prize and a band and DJ for listening and dancing. Tickets are required. Admission for 21 and older only. Coolers are not allowed.
To purchase tickets, call or send check to George Light, 339 Crescent Hill Drive, Havertown, PA 19083, 610-853-2028; Tom McGinn, 407 Burke Ave., Ridley Park, PA,. 19078, 610-461-6141; or Peggy Panichelli, 111 Providence Rd., Apt. S8, Morton, PA 19070, 610-420-0987. For more details, email georgelightwchs@hotmail.com or mcginn81@comcast.net/.
Springfield Lions give local charities a boost with donations
The Springfield Lions Club held its annual night of giving for community organizations at the club’s last dinner meeting. Organizations involved in Springfield community services were awarded donations, including Springfield Town Watch, Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Springfield Fire Department, Springfield Ambulance Corps, Girl Scouts, Springfield Athletic Association, Springfield Youth Club, Our Community Cup Coffeehouse, Fostering Hope Delco, Springfield Township Library, Delaware County Hero Scholarship Fund, CareLink, and Springfield Volunteer Wall Fund.
For more information about the Lions, or for information on becoming a member, contact Larry Healy at 610-716-7076 or visit http://www.springfieldlionsclub.org/.
Directors hold screening of award-winning documentary about Holocaust survivor
Main Line Television will present a free screening of its latest film, “Ronnie Breslow: Escape From Germany,” a 2003 Bronze Telly award-winning documentary, 1- 4 p.m. Sunday, June 11, in the Winsor Room at Radnor Memorial Library. 114 W. Wayne Ave., Wayne.
Directed by Jill Frechie and John Ricciutti, the documentary tells the experience of Holocaust survivor Ronnie Breslow. She boarded the cruise liner MS St. Louis with her mother in May of 1939 to Cuba, with hundreds of Jewish refugees aboard, including 200 children. When it reached Cuba, the ship was turned away.
The short film will be followed another one of Frechie’s and Ricciutti’s documentaries, “David Tuck: Never Forget.” Another Holocaust survivor, Tuck passed away this year.
A reception with Breslow will follow the screenings. Everyone is welcome. For directions or questions, call Radnor Library at 610-687-1124.
Rocky Run YMCA honors Coach Rick Field during Swim for a Purpose Event
The Rocky Run YMCA, 1299 W. Baltimore Ave., Middletown Township will honor the life of Coach Rick and his dedication to the community this week. The Y invites families to register for the event on Saturday, June 10, to either swim for 30 minutes or 2.5 kilometers to benefit the Financial Assistance Program and commemorate Coach Rick.
On June 10, from 3-5 p.m., after the swim fundraiser, the YMCA invites the community to take part in a day of family fun and food trucks. Every dollar raised supports the Y’s financial assistance program, which allows the organization to offer discounted programming and membership to those in the community who need it most. Each year, the YMCA welcomes a wide variety of members through its doors. Support from generous donors ensures that every family and child has an opportunity to connect to healthier lives through access to local branches, high-quality child care, and impactful youth programs. Strong communities are built by people who care about one another.
For more information, call Rocky Run Y at 620-627-9622 or visit http://philaymca.org/.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com/.