MEET FERRIS ESPORTS OWN: JUSTIN SUMME
Written by Blinka
With the first ever CFGC LAN event fast approaching, players and coaches from across the country are preparing to make the trek to Big Rapids, Michigan. From April 17th-19th, Ferris State University will play host in their newly built esports center. I spoke with Justin Summe, Ferris State Esports Coordinator, about his background with CFGC, his history in esports, and what he’s looking forward to about Finals Week.
BACKGROUND OF JUSTIN
Justin (also known as Minitrue) came into esports as a professional player for Echo Fox in 2016. He competed in H1Z1 tournaments for the organization such as H1Z1 Fight for the Crown 2017 that aired on the CW, and was seen as one of the top H1Z1 players in the world. During his time as a pro player for Echo Fox, he transitioned into a coach which eventually led to him being given the role of general manager.
“It was an honor of a lifetime to work with such an extraordinary roster of championship players and teams on Echo Fox,” he told me. “ One thing you quickly learn from being surrounded by world-class talent day in and out, is that everyone needs support to thrive. As a professional player first, I was mentored in ways that I didn't know I needed by an amazing group of leaders.”
THE FERRIS STATE WORLD
In 2025 he took the role as Esports Coordinator for Ferris State and began applying what he learned at the collegiate level. “Our competitive teams were amazing, but the support structures in place were equally impactful. Peak performance is a byproduct of incredible talent combined with stable and supportive environments, and the development of positive psychological, biological, and social skillsets over time. This infrastructure is vital to esports as a whole, and especially so for solo esports competitors, such as fighting game players, where this type of development and support may not be prioritized in earlier stages of life.”
It was his passion for creating sustainable and healthy environments in esports that led him to talk with Albert Rassavong, co-founder of CFGC. According to Justin, Albert's “passion for building a space for fighting game competitors was so thoughtfully focused on accessibility, sustainability, and student experience. As someone who spent years climbing from the grassroots Battle Royale scene to building a professional space that provided actual careers and sustained success for my community, I saw a direct reflection of my own mission in Albert’s vision. This alignment was so clear that I immediately told Albert that I would love to be a part of what they are leading if I could be helpful in any way which led to Albert inviting me to join the CFGC advisory board.
Less than a year after joining CFGC, Justin is making the final preparations for CFGC’s first in-person LAN event. “ We [Justin and his team] meet weekly to iterate on logistics from previous events and we are very confident in our ability to host a high-scale tournament for the CFGC.”
“The CFGC Finals is a unique event with national coordination that differs from our typical regional events, but we have an exceedingly competent and ambitious student staff who excel at managing challenging large-scale events and are eager to exceed expectations.”
THE BEAUTY OF CFGC LAN FINALS
Despite his long history hosting plenty of esports events over the years, he sees hosting the CFGC Finals as a unique challenge. In particular, the difficulty of integrating his team’s collegiate background with the rest of the FGC community. He said that a top priority was to “produce and host an event that is representative of the larger community. I want CFGC and the larger fighting game community to maintain a sense of ownership in the event. The input from those stakeholders is of special value and of constant consideration.”
Regardless of a player or spectator’s background in collegiate esports or the FGC, it’s all about putting on an event that everyone can enjoy. “I'm most excited for these players to experience a big-stage moment where the bright lights are dedicated entirely to celebrating their competitive abilities and community in a space intentionally built to showcase them.”
We’re only a few weeks out from players experiencing those bright lights, the culmination of years of hard work practicing and improving. Since his retirement from professional esports, that passion for being the best hasn’t faded. Rather, he’s focused his efforts on a new goal.
“I want people to know that Ferris isn't just a site hosting an esports tournament. We are an esports destination. When you get on site here, you're walking into a facility where the people behind the camera and behind the operation are just as passionate about esports as the players on the sticks.”
