30 Health, 5 Rounds, 1 Hero, Karma
- Evan Murphy
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
OLIVET, Mich. — For freshman gamer Karma Poprawa, competing for The University of Olivet’s esports team has been both a new challenge and a dream come true. A native of Webberville and graduate of Williamston High School, the freshman has quickly made his mark in collegiate competition, earning a Division III national ranking tied at number six and collecting five wins so far this season. While representing UO as a Hearthstone player, Poprawa is also proving that his passion for gaming runs just as deep as any athlete’s dedication to their sport.
“What got me into Hearthstone was actually my high school team,” Poprawa said. The student-athlete didn’t even know what it was at first, but quickly got interested. After learning how to play and competing, Karma earned the opportunity to compete here, and really wanted to jump on it. Poprawa said, “The support from my mom has made it so much easier to make the decision to play here.”
Poprawa initially chose The University of Olivet because of it’s well-known insurance and risk management program. And when asked about some of his favorite parts of being on the esports team, Poprawa said, “It is really just the community, in all honesty. Knowing that I have teammates to talk to and play games with is also nice.” However, with that said, Poprawa soon found out had the opportunity to compete as well, and to that Poprawa said, “Finding out I could play esports here was just an added bonus.” Now, Karma sees gaming as a core part of his college experience.
The nationally ranked student-athlete had an introduction to competitive gaming that began with curiosity and evolved into a true passion for the strategic, deck-building nature of Hearthstone. The game is where players summon minions, cast spells, and battle to reduce their opponent’s health to zero. This season, Poprawa has spent dozens of hours refining his craft. The student-athlete says they spend roughly three hours a day or more than 20 hours a week. That effort has paid off with consistent improvement and national recognition. Karma feels like they’re doing so well because of how much time gets put in. And that really enjoying reading each card and understanding it offers an upper hand. Poprawa’s game knowledge and ability to predict opponents’ moves. And Poprawa said that being able to beat both teams from Utah State University on the same day was a memento to that skill.
“Knowing the cards helps me predict what others will play and play around that,” Poprawa said. “I also keep my decks flexible so if I predict wrong, I can adapt.”
However, Karma’s best performance came in an Oct. 4 matchup against Syracuse, where Karma pulled off a stunning comeback.
“I won on two health,” Poprawa said. “You start at 30, and I did about 18 damage in one turn to win.”
Poprawa’s main short-term goal is to avenge a close early-season loss, saying “My first match was against the University of Central Florida and I lost 3-2. I really want to be able to beat them.” And, as for this athlete's long-term aspirations, Poprawa hopes to continue climbing the national rankings while learning from each match.
Head Coach Kyle Wilkowski said, “His biggest weakness is adaptation, and Karma has played the same five decks forever—and in two weeks, they’re releasing a new pack expansion with about 600 new cards. But so far, Karma has been a fantastic student and athlete. Doesn’t cause any issues—just shows up and wins. My dream athlete.”
Looking ahead, Coach Wilkowski sees even greater potential. “Karma’s been super open to playing other games,” he said. “He’s close with the players and they love him. He’s even looking into Valorant next semester.”
Teammate Thomas Christie, game tag “Fusions”, also praised Poprawa’s accomplishments. “Karma’s performance so far this season has been great,” Christie said. “It’s true that he’s one of the best players at the collegiate level. Considering he’s beaten a bunch of Division I teams while attending a DIII school, I think Karma could go far with it. Karma’s future is very promising, and I think Karma can lead Olivet esports to lots of wins.”
Christie added, “Karma’s very determined to win and cares a lot about his teammates. He really just shows up every day and wins. Having that commitment helps the program look as good as we can.”
As the season continues, Poprawa remains grateful for the opportunity to represent Olivet and encourages others to get involved.
Poprawa said, “You can see our matches on Twitch or come watch down here at the Block House. And, join the Hearthstone team.”
Poprawa’s journey may be just in the beginning phases, but one thing is certain. His drive to compete, improve, and represent The University of Olivet will both take him far and continue to make him a key part of the growing esports program.