By A Quiet Leader at the Helm of Carroll E-Sports
Late at night, when most Carroll College students are winding down, Steven Sanders is just getting started.
Sitting at the “Captain PC” in the campus esports room, headset on, eyes locked in, he’s leading his team through a playoff match with practiced precision.
It’s the kind of moment where he thrives, not in the spotlight, but in the strategy.
“Strategy is fun because you can be the better player even if your aim is bad,” Sanders said. “If you have a better game plan than your opponent, then you’ll always win, even if your opponent is cheating. Strategy is the backbone of esports.”
This spring, Sanders and the Carroll esports team were chasing perfection, and they found it.
On April 21, the Saints defeated Northern Michigan 3-0 to win the PlayFly National Championship, completing an undefeated 10–0 season.
For Sanders, that win was the culmination of four years of growth, from a quiet freshman unsure of his place, to the president and standout player guiding Carroll’s esports team to national victory.
A history major from Corona, California, Sanders didn’t come to Carroll with esports on his radar.
He started out as a psychology major, unsure of his path and looking for a new experience far from the California heat. Over time, he found his place not just in the classroom, but in a tight-knit gaming community.
He’s a passionate fan of titles like Fallout, Marvel Rivals, Skyrim, Metal Gear Rising, and Devil May Cry.
And as for the future?
“I’m just going with the flow,” he said. “I don’t have a plan right now, but I’m excited to see where life takes me.”
A Passion for Gaming from the Start
Sanders grew up in Corona, California, where his early years were, in his words, “relatively quiet and normal.”
He played soccer, joined his high school band, and spent countless hours after school immersed in video games. His fascination with gaming started young, watching his dad play Assassin’s Creed 2 on the PlayStation 3.
“Naturally, I got curious and wanted to try it out,” he recalled. “So, on a Saturday morning, I just asked my dad if it was OK for me to play AC2, and he immediately agreed.
After playing it for the first time, I was hooked.”
By high school, video games were more than just a hobby, they were a central part of his identity. In the years that followed, he would share his passion with others, mentoring and inspiring them.
Finding His Place at Carroll
When it came time for college, Sanders was looking for a change.
“The snow was a bonus,” he joked. “Though now I don’t get as pumped for cold weather. What really made the difference was the Carroll admissions team, they actually wanted to get to know me. It felt like they cared.”
He came to Carroll as a psychology major but eventually switched to history.
At the time, he’d stepped away from competitive console gaming and wasn’t planning to get involved, until then-president Ethan Melton invited him into the esports club.
Back then, the club was purely recreational. No official team. No structured practices. Just students who loved to play.
When Melton graduated, Sanders found himself at the helm of a scrappy group with big dream.
Building a Team and a Legacy
The shift from casual gamer to team leader didn’t come easily. Sanders admits he didn’t feel naturally suited to the role, and early on, he struggled with perfectionism.
“I used to have this sense of ‘I must do everything perfectly, or else it’s a failure,’” he said.
“But being around so many different people has gotten me out of that mindset. Instead of forcing things to happen, I’ve learned to go with the flow.”
With time, he grew into the role. Under his leadership, the club transformed into a competitive team. One of his proudest memories was that first Overwatch win in 2022, but the undefeated championship run in 2025 is now the crowning moment.
“It took a lot of work, but it was an amazing moment seeing all our hard work come to fruition. It’s nice to see people are more interested and taking esports seriously since we started winning.”
Asked how players train for esports, Sanders broke it down simply.
“All you have to do is play, and watch people who are better than you. Watch videos of people who play your role, learn how they take fights, approach duels, and compose themselves. Then replicate it. Not copy, but study what works and make it your own.”
Beyond gameplay, Sanders focused on building community. Events like Saints Giving Day helped raise over $2,700 for the team this year, boosting their visibility on campus. He helped organize casual gaming nights where students from all majors, football players, Nurses, and everyone in between, gathered for Mario Kart in the Cube or Smash Bros. in the esports room, located under the stairs in St. Charles 019.
“People seem very interested and committed to playing,” Sanders said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if, after I’m gone, Carroll has an official esports team backed as a sports program.”
Leading Through Presence
So what does leadership look like in a digital arena?
Mentorship. Strategy. Presence.
Sanders became the one players turned to during intense matches, the person who organized practice schedules, scouted opposing strategies, and kept morale steady.
One of his most successful coaching tools was a practice called “VOD Review,” where the team would analyze replays of past games and reflect on their performance.
In both one-on-one and full-team meetings, Sanders would break down gameplay, pointing out small mistakes in timing, positioning, or decision-making. The meetings weren’t always enjoyable in the moment, but their value quickly became clear.
“Since I have never played on a competitive team of Overwatch before, Steven’s VOD reviews really helped me change some bad habits that I had never even thought about,” said Ben Wallace, a sophomore from Mahomet, Illinois. “Many small ability management tips as well as big things with positioning really helped me improve as a player.”
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Sanders plans to move back to Corona and take a gap year.
He doesn’t have a set direction and isn’t in a rush to figure it all out.
“Right now, I’m just going to live life and see where it goes,” he said. “I want to take some time, breathe a little, and figure things out as they come.”
Sanders is sure of one thing about his future, he wants to continue to help the team succeed.
Sanders plans on coaching the esports team remotely starting next year. So while he will no longer be in the room with the team, he will still be helping the team improve and win.
His feelings about Carroll are nuanced. There were high points and hard ones.
But he leaves proud of what he helped build.
“We could lose everything, the room, the PCs, the backing, but as long as we have people committed to the team, all of that will come back.”
If he could go back and talk to the freshman version of himself, Sanders would keep it simple.
“Don’t hesitate. Join the club now and get involved sooner.”
From the quiet kid watching Assassin’s Creed on his dad’s console to the thoughtful strategist behind a national championship run, Steven Sanders didn’t set out to lead.
But through perseverance, humility, and a love for gaming, he became the kind of leader others rally behind, even if most of his work happens out of the spotlight – often in the dark of night.
“I never thought I’d end up here, but I’m glad I did. Leading this team, helping build something lasting, it’s probably the thing I’ll remember most.”
