West Virginia University Esports has announced the signing of Jirair "Gyro" Papazian to join the WVU Rocket League team beginning in January 2025.
Gyro, a decorated pro who has played in Rocket League Championship Series since 2019, most recently played for Dignitas.
"It's great to bring someone of Gyro's caliber to the program," WVU Esports director and varsity head coach Josh Steger said. "The goal is to constantly elevate our team and stay in championship contention. With players like him, it doesn't allow anyone to get complacent. He'll bring a new drive to everyone on our team, and we're excited to see what he does with us."
In addition to his time with Dignitas, Gyro has competed professionally with the Pittsburgh Knights, FaZe Clan, Rogue, and KOI.
Gyro joins the current WVU Rocket League roster that includes senior Jarret "Angel" Birch, junior Ryan "Tool" Futral, and sophomore Matt "Matter" Ehresman. The trio won three national championships during 2023-24, and finished the fall with a semifinal finish in the CRL Fall 2024 National Championships. Last year, WVU was one of just four colleges in the country with three players to earn a spot in an RLCS regional event.
All four players are expected to continue to compete in RLCS this spring, in addition to their competitions at the collegiate level representing West Virginia.
"This is a great time to join CRL. It'll be a challenge with the influx of pro players entering the scene, but I'm confident in my teammates and myself that we're going to be able to have a lot of success and win some more championships," Gyro said.
"We have a great esports program here, the school has great academics, and that's what really set this apart from the other opportunities I've had. I can't wait to start my journey here at WVU."
To get more updates about WVU Esports, follow the program at @WVUEsports on X, previously known as Twitter, and watch live events from all the varsity esports teams at twitch.tv/wvuesports1.