BOLIVAR, Mo. – A Twitch-affiliate streamer highlights Southwest Baptist University's esports recruiting class for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Braden Gilbert, of Austin, Texas, is a junior transfer from Samford University. Gilbert will run the stream for SBU's varsity League of Legends team on game days, and will manage and develop the SBUniv Stream Team, consisting of multiple students who will broadcast a variety of games, creative material and educational resources on www.twitch.tv/SBUniv.

"Braden is a passionate streamer and extremely driven to develop high-quality broadcasts," said Chris Allison, SBU Esports second-year head coach. "His skill and vision will help online viewers to connect to our diverse and vibrant gaming community."

SBU hosted its own Esports Expo on April 29 and broadcasted tournament play, as well as keynote speakers Devin Nash and Darshan of CounterLogic Gaming. The expo also spent four hours on the front page of Twitch, and had 60,100 unique visitors and 73,000 page visits. SBU has a partnered channel and team page through the Twitch Student Program.

In addition to the expo, SBU's varsity team has streamed its practices and individual players' game play this past year. To expand its broadcasting ability, the team will have a new streaming station in the new varsity arena.

Gilbert has a wealth of experience in the gaming area. He also runs a Twitch channel that currently has 1,329 followers.

Gilbert enrolled at Samford in the fall of 2015 to pursue a degree in business administration and entrepreneurship. After struggling through the fall semester, he found his niche the following spring.

"I remember growing up that I could beat anyone's video games," Gilbert said. "No game was safe from my ability to understand the plot and mission, then beat it. I found a new hope through video games and the friends I made during the spring semester of my freshman year."

His start came when he received administrative status on a Reign of Kings server, hosted by a gaming community known as 247gamingworld.

"I started to stream regularly an 'Admin Cam' so people could see what's going on in the server," Gilbert said. "This continued until my departure from 247gamingworld."

Then, in April 2016, Gilbert launched his own stream with only 500 views and 120 followers, branding it as a part of Bulldog eSports LTD. His grandmother helped him purchase a new computer and he slowly started to build up his set.

The fall of 2016 brought many late nights of streaming and rapid growth within his Twitch channel. Gilbert amassed nearly 1,500 followers during two semesters, while sharpening his skills as a streamer.
 
"At my previous school, I had brought together the community of gamers and esports," Gilbert said. "I had fielded two rosters for Collegiate StarLeague's and American Video Game League's Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) seasons. Between teaching guys how to play CSGO, getting swept every game, passing my classes and streaming, I felt like I had potential to change the game."

That's when SBU came calling.

"I typed out a short tweet, asking for guidance on what to do to make a university support esports," Gilbert said. "I didn't expect Chris Allison to respond, and I didn't expect the next three months to change my life story.

"I can play CSGO and I can stream. Chris told me about SBU's program and told me to pray about my future. Over the course of the summer, I felt led to transfer to SBU."

Gilbert, who will be the broadcasting coordinator for SBU esports, is thankful for this opportunity.

"I believe esports is at the bottom of a very large mountain, but will only continue to grow," Gilbert said. "Now, as an active streamer receiving a college scholarship, I can thank God most of all, but also a simple tweet, and the dreams I have had and will continue to have."

For more information on SBU esports, contact Allison at (417) 328-1744 or callison@SBUniv.edu.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

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