North Tama senior Johnathan Cochran, front center, pictured with members of his family on Nov. 25 in the high school gym commons after signing his Letter of Intent to play esports next year for Marshalltown Community College. Pictured clockwise from back left, Cochran’s cousin Danika Wrage, sister Emily Cochran, maternal grandparents Marv and Nancy Boldt, paternal grandmother Karlene Cochran, father Chris Cochran, [Cochran], and his mother Rachelle Cochran. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – North Tama senior Johnathan Cochran signed a Letter of Intent on Monday, Nov. 25, to continue his esports and academic careers at Marshalltown Community College (MCC).

With his friends – including former teammate Landon Kucera, a member of the North Tama Class of 2024 who now plays for MCC – and extended family by his side, Cochran committed to playing for the college’s Overwatch 2 team next school year.

He has been playing the team-based, multiplayer, first-person shooter game as a member of North Tama’s top-ranked esports team for the last three years.

“Nothing worse than when you graduate your starters and for Overwatch, we’re losing all five,” MCC head coach Dr. Andrew Goforth said following Cochran’s signing in the North Tama gym commons. “I was a bit nervous [before finding out] this gentleman (Cochran) is going to be playing for us next year. He will lead us back and help us regrow that team.”

With his commitment to MCC, Cochran joins one of the best college esports teams in the country; during the 2023-24 season, MCC won two National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE) championships including one in the Overwatch 2 Contender Series.

North Tama senior Johnathan Cochran signs his Letter of Intent to play esports for Marshalltown Community College (MCC) next season on Monday, Nov. 25, in the high school gym commons in Traer. Cochran will play for MCC’s Overwatch 2 team. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Cochran’s plans as an MCC Tiger include pursuing a degree in engineering with hopes of transferring to Iowa State University.

“Only three years in the game and you have outgrown and outshone kind of everyone that has played for North Tama,” North Tama esports head coach Levi LaRue told Cochran following his signing ceremony. “This is something that you clearly deserve.”

North Tama senior Johnathan Cochran, front left, pictured with his esports coaches – present and future – on Monday, Nov. 25, in the high school commons in Traer following his signing with Marshalltown Community College (MCC). Those pictured include (back row, l-r) MCC head coaches Dr. Andrew Goforth and Nathan Rodemeyer, and North Tama esports head coach Levi LaRue (front right). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER