Overland Park, Kan. — The Central Methodist University Esports team delivered a strong postseason performance Saturday, earning a runner-up finish at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Rocket League Championship held at LevelUP Arena inside AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk.

The 2026 championship marked the third annual Heart Rocket League postseason event.

Entering the day as the No. 2 seed, CMU carried momentum from a 6-1 regular season into the conference's double-elimination bracket.

The Eagles opened championship play with an impressive 4-2 victory over No. 3 seed Saint Ambrose University in Game 2, advancing to the winner's bracket semifinal. In that matchup, Central faced top-seeded Columbia College, which entered the tournament undefeated. CMU fell 4-0, dropping into the elimination bracket.

Central responded decisively in Game 5, sweeping No. 4 Missouri Valley College 4-0 to earn a rematch with Columbia in the championship series.

In the title match, the Cougars proved difficult to slow down, completing a 4-0 sweep to secure their first Heart Esports Rocket League Championship. Columbia finished the tournament a perfect 4-0, while the Eagles claimed second place, their best finish at the tournament in program history.

The Eagles' performance capped off a standout season in which they established themselves as one of the conference's top contenders. Central's roster featured several statistical leaders during the regular season, including assists, saves, and shooting percentage.

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