Courtesy Phil “HDPhillyB” Botta, Wilmington University Assistant Esports Coach
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 10, 2025) -- The CACC Spring 2025 Marvel Rivals Championship has concluded, and Wilmington University has completed a surprising 4-0 upset victory over Post University in the championship final on Apr. 4.
Post's roster was: ADHD, Dissident, Alvy10 Speedyburn, Mewca, T0rer0
Wilmington's roster was: Carney, Spevan, Minisol, Autumngxi, Kawaii Aruruu, PickelWolf
Wilmington was a true Cinderella story as the Wildcats entered the playoffs with a record of 1-5 and a 3-16 map differential. But with a surprise 3-2 reverse sweep over Goldey Beacom College in the semifinals, the Wildcats were staring down the tunnel of what could be their first ever Esports Trophy. The stage was set for a first-to-four grand finals of the inaugural CACC Marvel Rivals Season.
Map 1 was decided to be Yggdrasill Path-Convoy as both teams excel in this game mode. In a surprising move Post bans the Winter Solider, one of T0rer0’s best heroes. Storm is banned by Wilmington knowing Post’s Mewca can dominate the battlefield with the Omega Mutant. Some more target bans proceeded that as Dr. Strange was banned by Post as Strange is one of Kawaii’s best heroes and Cloak and Dagger was removed by WilmU targeting Alvy10 from Post.
Post was set up to defend first, running a 1 Vanguard, 2 Duelists and triple Strategist formation whereas WilmU ran a solid 2-2-2. The defense from post on point one was rock solid but in a bloody brawl WilmU was able to cap the first checkpoint in overtime. From there WilmU cruised through point 2 with Kawaii (Venom) and Minisol (Nemour) combining for elimination after elimination eventually leading to a massive team fight where a tsunami of squirrels and whales broke down the Post defense and WilmU moved passed checkpoint 2. With only 2 minutes and 30 second rolling into point 3, WilmU had to be quick but big plays from Mewca (Magik) and the Post backline held WilmU in check until the nut was finally cracked by Carney (Squirrel Girl) with a nice double kill to open the space for WilmU to move forward and claim all three points with 1 second left!
It was Post’s turn to attack. Feeling it needed a little more front line, the Eagles switched their composition to 2 Vanguards, 1 Duelist and 3 Strategist with T0rero changing to “The Thing” as the second Vanguard. It was a war of attrition but in the end a quadruple Haymaker killing spree from T0rero cleared the space and Post captured checkpoint 1 with 17 seconds left on the clock! On point 2, Mewca (Magik) and T0rero, sliced and punched their way through the WilmU ranks to reach the checkpoint. Now with 2 minutes and 25 seconds it was a race against the clock for Post to finish the map! On point 3 Post was held at its spawn room doors and was not able to push the cart to the finish line. With Map 1 complete, Wilmington University went up in the series 1-0.
Map 2 in the Series was Spider Islands – Convoy to neither team's surprise. With WilmU’s Kawaii Aruruu’s Venmo being hard to deal with in Map 1, Post elected to ban the Symbiote along with Dr. Strange fully targeting Kawaii’s hero pool. WilmU stuck to their Map 1 strategy by banning Storm and Cloak and Dagger.
In Map 2 Post was again on the Defense first going for a 1 Vanguards, 3 Duelists and 2 Strategist formation with T0rero on his signature Winter Solider. WilmU rolled out on attack with 2-2-2 and Kawaii playing as “The Thing” a big question mark for both sides as the match commenced. With an early pick on to ADHD(Loki) and Mewca(Magik) it seemed like the point was lost but a heroic Kraken Impact from T0rer0 wiped out the WilmU attack and allowed Post to stabilize with 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the clock. On the next push some quick shooting from Carney (Squirrel Girl) netted him a double kill and WilmU was able to push the cart to checkpoint 1. It was clobbering time on point 2 as T0rero won two sperate team fights off the back of some well executed ultimates, however it was a well timed ult from Kawaii(The Thing) to the Post backline that allowed the cart to move forward and a Quadra-kill from Carney(Squirrel Girl) and his furry friends that ultimately cleared the cart and got WilmU over check point 2. From there the cart could not be stopped and WilmU captured all three points with 42 seconds left.
It was now time for Post to try its hand at attack, staying with 1 Vanguards, 3 Duelists and 2 Strategist formation, this time Alvy10 going to Wolverine to try and hack through the Vanguards of Wilmington University. Dissident (Magneto) the lone Vanguard had his work cut out for him to make the space necessary and protect Alvy10 at the same time. At the 2 minute 45 second mark, WilmU’s PickelWolf was caught out of position and without a second support there was not enough healing to sustain the dual vanguard frontline. Post powered through and in a cinematic exchange of ultimates ran through the defense and crossed checkpoint 1. With 4 minutes on the clock Post looked to press the issue but it was Carney who kept them on the back foot with barrages of acorns finding pick after pick creating a numbers disadvantage for Post. To trigger overtime Alvy10 sacrificed himself on the point allowing for the map to continue but swaps from Minisol to the Winter Solider and Kawaii to Groot added the extra firepower needed to halt the final Post Push. Map 2 ended in a 3-1 victory for WilmU with the series now 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
For Map 3 Post chose to send the game to Shin-Shibuya, a Convergence Map. Post removed Venom and then targeted Carney by taking away the Squirrel Girl. WilmU continued their strategy of banning Storm and Cloak and Dagger.
Post was once again the first team to defend and set up a triple Vanguard, triple Strategist composition. Wilmington University stayed with the 2-2-2 formation. Kawaii now piloting Dr. Strange, his best hero, bullied his way onto the capture point and ensured the space for PickelWolf (Rocket Racoon) and Minisol (Winter Solider) to team up and unleash a fury of bullets mowing down the Post defense and capturing point 1. On point 2 WilmU cycled their ultimates well winning fight after fight continuing to push the cart at a blistering pace extending their time bank even further as they moving through Check point 2. Near the end of Check point 3 Post was able to stabilize after a nice Eye of Agamotto from Mewca locked down 3 players from Wilmington University who were promptly dispatched. The next push from the Wildcats proved to be their last as Kawaii Initiated the fight with a massive Eye of Agamotto stunning 4 Post Players and allowing MiniSol (Winter Solider) to unleash the Kracken eliminating Post left and right. From there Post staggered players onto the cart but to no avail as WilmU pushed all the way home claiming all 3 points.
The Eagles, with their backs against the wall were up for attack and elected to try the 1 Vanguards, 2 Duelists and 3 Strategist formation with Dissident on the Magneto acting as the tip of the spear. WilmU on defense staying with the 2-2-2 and continuing to utilize the Ammo Invention Team up ability. Post’s first push attempt ended in defeat with Carney’s (Punisher) Adjuducation eliminating 3 Post players as they made their way to the point. On the second push WilmU went for a forward hold past the choke. A critical over step by the Wildcats opened the door for Post who were able to single out Kawaii and remove the threat. From there the rest of WilmU fell like dominos and Post captured Point 1 with 1 minute and 15 seconds on the clock.
With extra time in the bank Post move forward towards checkpoint 2 only to be met with an Angry Kawaii who netted himself a neat 3 kill in the neutral. From there WilmU’s aggressive play kept Post pinned in the spawn room doors. At the 15 second mark, Post switched up the composition and spending every ultimate they had smashed their way through WilmU’s ranks and got the cart rolling again triggering overtime. There seemed to be hope for Post and the eagles flew closer to the checkpoint, but a 4 player Eye of Agamotto from Kawaii stunned the team and Carney unleashed his Final Judgement littering the kill feed with Post players earning himself a Quintuple kill and securing the victory for the Wildcats who are up in the series 3-0
Knees weak, palms sweaty and heads heavy, the players entered Map 4 of this grueling contest. Hell’s Heaven is where the fates will be tested and what could be the final map of the series. Post ban Venom to no one’s surprise but then take the Winter Solider out of the game in an interesting move. WilmU ban away the human torch and the Magneto which forces both the Vanguard players of Dissident (Post U) and Spevan (WilmU) to reach into their hero pools and pilot someone different than they have all series. With no Storm banned Mewca immediately locks in the Mutant Goddess. Could this be the difference maker that extends the series for Post?
Map 4 starts on the Frozen Airfield Submap with Post going for a 2-2-2 Dive Composition with Captain America and Thor leading the way, while WilmU goes for a 2-2-2 Poke Composition. At first WilmU is pushed off the point and Post is able to get some percentage going but the sharpshooting of the Wildcats gets pick after pick and they turn the fight in their favor and flip the point. WilmU did not relinquish the point for the rest of the round winning fight after fight. Clutch Strategist ultimates from ShotCaller Autumn kept the Wildcats alive and kicking through each engagement. Dissident on the Captain America could not find purchase in the backline and was unable to disrupt the rhythm of Autumn and PickelWolf. The round ends 100% Wilmu – 8% Post U
The party now moves to the second Sub Map: Eldritch Monument. If WilmU win this submap, they take the series and are crowned CACC champions. A Vanguard adjustment coming from Post to start submap 2 moves T0rer0 from Thor to Dr. Strange and Dissident switches to Thor. Wilmington University win the first team fight as Autumn (Loki) copies the Fate of Two Worlds from PickelWolf (Luna) and counters a flank attempt from Speedyburn (Squirrel Girl) which changes the tempo pushing the Wildcats onto the point to start accruing capture percent. At 43% Mewca (Storm) leads the charged with an Omega Hurricane which is countered once again by PickelWolf(Luna) and the Fate of Two Worlds. WilmU win the engagement and are in last fight territory.
With 3 ultimates stored Post has the ultimate advantage and with 87% on the capture progress Dissident(Thor) jumps onto the point looking to slam down with the God of Thunder but again Autumn (Loki) is there to nullify the ultimate with a well-timed copy of the Fate of Two Worlds. However, Dissident’s sacrifice was not in vain as the Post reinforcements arrived and with a clutch, Eye of Agamotto from T0rer0 in overtime. Post were then able to flip the point in their favor. In a desperation play Mewca (Storm) uses their ultimate to pick off PickleWolf(Luna) in the backline but this allows Autumn (Loki) to copy them and use Omega Hurricane against Post and with no Strategist to protect the Eagles WilmU wins the fight, flips the point and takes the series to become Grand Champions!
With that win Wilmington University completes its underdog story after having only won 1 game (via forfeit) all season. The Wildcats showed how resilient they can be in the finals of the Inaugural CACC Marvel Rivals Season. T are hungry no more as they lift their first ever Esports Trophy!
Honorable mentions from Wilmington University include:
It cannot be unstated the effort of Spevan (Magneto) for Wilmington University who protected his backline from countless ultimates and abilities while simultaneously facilitating Kawaii to dive and distract the backline of Post University. It is this sustain and counterplay that kept Wilmington University in fights and whittle precious seconds off the clock.
The plucky substitute PickelWolf being tossed into a Grand Finals series doing an excellent job of keeping her team alive and timing her ultimates to perfection. Without her valuable support Spevan and Kawaii would not be alive to tell the tell of this battle.