March 1, 2026 - - Lorain County Community College Esports competed across multiple titles during another week of the NJCAAE spring season, highlighted by strong performances in Chess by Austin Lukachko, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by Jerron Warner, Xander Taylor in Hearthstone, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with Braden Reichert, Valorant, and Super Smash Bros. Crew Battle.

Monday – Chess (Division III)

Austin Lukachko (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville HS) posted a 2–1 record in NJCAAE Division III Chess competition.  Lukachko opened with a 1–0 win over Vicente Merino-Gonzalez of NorthWest Arkansas Community College, fell 1–0 to Jasper Jones of Ellsworth Community College, and closed the evening with a 1–0 victory against Cannon Utz of Northeastern Junior College after advancing through a bye.

Tuesday – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Division I – Solos

Jerron Warner (Avon, Ohio/Avon HS) led LCCC in Division I action with two 3–0 victories, defeating Malachi Barker of Bryant & Stratton College–Virginia Beach and Cameron Wilson of Lake Michigan College.

Braydon Dobos (Oberlin, Ohio/Oberlin HS)) fell in both of his matches, dropping 3–0 decisions to Ian van den Ende of Brookdale Community College and Camren Mitchell of Bryant & Stratton College–Virginia Beach.

Lukachko dropped a pair of contests, falling 3–0 to Paul Synn of Brookdale Community College and 3–1 to Caillou Kaneski of Lackawanna College.

Division II – SSBU Solos

Traceton Bell (bellboy) earned a 3–1 victory over Jade Segarra of Bergen Community College and advanced past a bye in Week 2 competition.

Division III – SSBU Solos

Division III competitors combined for multiple victories.  Jason Thomas (NSPG) went 1–1, defeating Michael Wolff of Finger Lakes Community College (3–2) after falling 3–1 to Ben Biazo of Heartland Community College.  Lukachko secured a 3–1 win over Robert Howard of Richard Bland College.  Anthony Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Graduation Alliance) split his matches, earning a 3–2 victory over Zachary Lewis of Finger Lakes Community College before falling 3–0 to Levi Reising of Iowa Central Community College.  Traceton Bell (Oberlin, Ohio/Oberlin HS) added a 3–0 sweep of Tucker Wedgwood of Marshalltown Community College.

Tuesday – Hearthstone (Division III)

Xander Taylor (Elyria, Ohio/Huron HS) turned in a dominant 3–0 record on the evening.   Taylor defeated Veronica Gibson (Sandusky, Ohio/Trinity HS) twice by identical 3–1 scores and swept Kenna Hitzemann of Des Moines Area Community College, 3–0, while also advancing through a bye.

Veronica Gibson (MgoftheWtBst) earned a 3–1 victory in one match but fell in two 3–1 decisions to Taylor.

Lukachko picked up a 3–2 win in his only match.

Thursday – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Division III)

Braden Reichert (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Avon HS) posted a 3–1 performance during the week.  Reichert earned wins over Charlie Goodenbour (4–2), Dallas Heaberlin (4–1), and Allie Langston of SUNY Jamestown Community College (4–0).  His lone loss came in a 4–2 decision against Ross Vitek of Marshalltown Community College.

Thursday – Valorant (Division III)

LCCC (Austin Lukachko, Brody Taylor, Oliver Chambers, Braylon Zeman, Kylie Zeman, Tyler Misconish) earned a 2–0 team victory over Rose State College with back-toback 13-0 victories for a clean, continuing a strong run in Division III Valorant play. They are now 6-0 this spring.

Friday – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Crew Battle 3v3 (Division III)

Two LCCC crews competed in Week 5 action. LCCC 1, consisting of Lukachko, Bell,  Dobos) fell to Hutchinson Community College, 2–0.

LCCC 2 made up of Christopher Gonet (Lorain, Ohio/LCCC Early College), Warner, and Moore, posted a 3–0 team record, defeating Jacksonville College, Lake Region State College, and Hutchinson Community College by identical 2–0 margins.