St. Clair College continues to make history, winning back-to-back Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) Championships.
The Saints entered the CRL Fall Championship's Top 4 playoffs this past weekend as the number two seed, where they took on the best programs in North America as they defended their Spring 2025 crown.
In the semifinals, the Saints took down Concord University in a dominating 4-0 sweep, where they only allowed one goal against in the series. In the upper finals, the Saints continued to be a force as they knocked Winthrop University to the lower bracket with a 4-1 series win.
Winthrop returned to take on the Saints in the Grand Final. In a tightly contested match, the Saints went on to secure the 4-3 series win, capped off by a Game seven overtime goal by Ario "Arju" Berdin.
With the victory, St. Clair College joins the University of Akron and Northwood University as the only programs to achieve back-to-back CRL North American Championship wins since its inception in 2017.
"Winning a singular North American championship of this calibre is an exceptionally difficult feat that only a small group of programs could ever hope to achieve," said St. Clair College Esports Director Shaun Byrne. "With the level of play improving at a rapid pace, to do it back-to-back will be almost impossible to replicate moving forward. This team and their achievements are truly historic."
The CRL Fall Championship is the culmination of the season that started with more than 250 schools across Canada, the United States and Mexico competing. The Fall Championship broadcast was seen by over 6,300 unique viewers.
Saints Rocket League Team
James Janzen - Delmenhorst, DE
Nicolas Steinhauser - Vienna, AUT
Fabian Buß - Bocholt, DE
Ario Berdin - Vicenza, ITA
Head Coach Yusuf Naebkhil - Windsor, ON
Assistant Coach Luca Paparatti - Milano, ITA
