Player Spotlight

Nick Stuto, 19, recently graduated from Brookdale Community College (BCC), where he pursued graphic design. Stuto described his experience at BCC as exceptional, saying the campus was welcoming and offered various clubs and pop-up activities for students to enjoy.

He is now pursuing a career in graphic design and is preparing to continue his education at Rider University. As he transitions from BCC to Rider, he looks forward to accessing new resources that will help him share his work with a broader audience. After completing his academic career, Stuto hopes to work in graphic design and eventually advance to a creative director role.

In high school, Stuto was not highly involved in social activities and spent much of his free time playing video games. When he arrived at BCC, he discovered a brochure about varsity esports and decided to turn his hobby into an opportunity. 

“I signed up for team tryouts for the title Overwatch. My skills paid off, I made the team and I was able to have a very successful first season playing alongside amazing teammates,” said Stuto.

Rather than focusing solely on individual improvement, the team emphasized working together as a unit. Players scrimmaged against other teams and reviewed gameplay together to improve communication and make better split-second decisions. Stuto said being part of a collegiate esports team was one of the most enjoyable experiences of his life. He said the friendships he built extended beyond the game itself. Whether the team won or lost, each match created lasting memories.

“The NJCAAE was a very fun league to compete in. They offered us an opportunity to show off how powerful of a team we were, while also competing in an organized fashion,” said Stuto.

His advice to young gamers is simple: “Don't be afraid to share what you're good at.”

 Stuto said he never expected video games to benefit him in the future, but they helped him create some of his favorite memories and build meaningful connections through esports.

“Thank you to Chris Boehmer and the staff at the BCC Esports Arena for making my time there super fun. And to my past teammates, I made some of my best friendships with you guys. We had a great run, GGs.”