Boise State Athletics

Esports Award Winners

Triple Threat: Three Broncos Take Home Postseason Honors

1/15/2026 11:00:00 AM | Esports

Boise, Idaho — Bosie State Esports went three for four in postseason Mountain West Honors this fall, taking home both Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Player of the Year awards, and the Rocket League Coach of the Year as well. Preston Ferrante and Eric Labastida won the Rocket League POY and Smash Bros. POTY, while Payton Wilkin took home the Rocket League COTY.

ROCKET LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: PRESTON FERRANTE
Sophomore Preston "Prstn" Ferrante has seen both his teamates win conference or national awards int he past 18 months. This semester, the Altadena, California native takes center stage, bringing home his first conference postseason honor. "Preston has been grinding school and the game and I could not be more proud of him," said Head Coach Doc Haskell. "He's not a jump up and down kinda guy but it's gotta feel good. He earned it!" The two time Mountain West Champion is pursiing a degree in business.

SMASH BROS. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ERIK LABASITDA
In their second semester at Boise State, Labastida has stepped up to a leadership role, being named captain by Coach Kelsey Moser. A senior at Boise State, Labastida led the Broncos from a winless 2024-25 Mountain West season, to an appearance in the 2025 Mountain West Championsihp game vs. San Jose State. When Eric joined the squad, he stepped up to lead our Smash players," said Haskell. "It's no accident that a team that was winless in 2024, made it to the championship in 2025.  That's part of the Mada effect." 

ROCKET LEAGUE COACH OF THE YEAR: PAYTON WILKIN
Wilkin is no stranger to conference honors. He's taken home hardware multiple times, and the Boise native is nothing short of crucial to the Broncos success, says Haskell. "Payton Wilkin has always been elite.  He loves these players and works his tail off for them.  This is his 3rd-such honor and it gives me pride to see him in the spotlight."

The Broncos will start their Valorant, League of Legends, and Overwatch season in the spring. Over the past eight years, the Broncos have captured 15 Mountain West Championships. 
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