Gordon State College Esports Player Takes Aim at Fortnite Championship Series
By Karolina Philmon, GSC marketing manager
As Gordon State College celebrates NJCAAE Esports Media Week, one Gordon Gamer is preparing to take his competitive skills beyond campus and into one of Fortnite’s premier competitive events.
Ryan Hoffman, known by his gamertag STACK, will travel to Dallas to compete online in the 2026 Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) Solos. With the North America Central servers located in Dallas, Hoffman plans to compete from the city to achieve zero ping and maximize his competitive performance.
In competitive gaming, “ping” measures the time it takes for a player’s actions to communicate with the game server. Lower ping means less delay between a player’s input and what happens in the game, making proximity to the server an important competitive advantage at high levels of play.
The opportunity marks another milestone for the GSC esports program that has grown rapidly since its creation in 2023.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been an athlete, competing in soccer, wrestling, skating and now esports,” Hoffman said. “I’ve competed at state championships, but I’ve found my greatest competitive strength in Fortnite. Competing in FNCS Solos gives me the opportunity to showcase what I do best on the biggest competitive stage I’ve taken on yet.”
Hoffman joined GSC Esports in spring 2025 with Fortnite as his primary title and has also competed in Marvel Rivals, Rocket League and Valorant. During the fall 2025 season, Hoffman helped the Gordon Gamers’ Fortnite roster open the season undefeated before entering late October with a 4-2 record.
His competitive success continued into spring 2026, when Hoffman and GSC alumnus Jimmy Dougherty, his Fortnite duos partner, advanced to the NJCAAE national playoffs. Following the season, Hoffman’s teammates elected him esports team captain.
For GSC Esports Coach David Grau, Hoffman’s latest opportunity reflects both his competitive development and growth as a student leader.
“Over the past 1.5 years of coaching Ryan, I've had the opportunity to watch him grow from a new competitor into someone who is not afraid to take on a leadership position,” Grau said. “Given the great talent that he has demonstrated in competition, the Solo FNCS is a great opportunity for him to showcase his skills on an even larger stage.”
FNCS represents Fortnite’s premier competitive series. The 2026 Solos competition begins with qualifying rounds Sept. 28 and features six stages of competition leading to the North America Central finals Oct. 26-27. Players advance through increasingly selective rounds based on their performance.
Hoffman’s journey comes as GSC joins NJCAAE member institutions in celebrating Esports Media Week, Sept. 20-27, an initiative spotlighting collegiate esports programs, players, coaches and competition.
The Gordon Gamers were created in 2023 after student interest sparked the development of an official esports program. GSC entered NJCAAE competition in fall 2024 and earned a playoff appearance during its first competitive season. Since then, the program has continued expanding its roster, competitive titles and presence on campus.
Fans can follow GSC Esports practice sessions and official Gordon Gamers matches on the team’s Twitch channel at https://www.twitch.tv/gordonstateesports.