Gutierrez Captures FIFA National Championship

DALLAS – Dallas College Mountain View freshman Zaid Gutierrez won the National Junior College Athletic Association esports FIFA Spring Open Division championship.

In his first semester competing for the Lions, Gutierrez rolled through the playoffs, dropping just one game on the way to the title. He beat Catawba Valley's Niste0110, 3-1, in the best-of-5 semifinal series before sweeping Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College's Cascola_, 3-0, in the finals.

"It was a good accomplishment," Gutierrez said. "Not to sound cocky, but I expected to win it. It was a championship-or-bust type of competition for me. I knew what type of player I am, I knew what I'm capable of."

Introduced to Dallas College's esports program this year by a friend, who handed him a flyer, Gutierrez already had a lofty background in FIFA. He's won competitive tournaments outside of NJCAA esports, and is ranked in the top 200 in North America in FIFA.

"I thought I'd give it a try and see how I do," Gutierrez said. "I'd like to win something for the school."

After receiving a first round bye in the playoffs, Gutierrez swept South Carolina Sumter's MexicanoL0co53, 3-0, in the quarterfinals.

"Zaid is one of those few special talents that had all the tools from day one," Mountain View coach Brody Rush said. "During tryouts, I had a private conversation with him, discussing his vision, potential and realistic goals for the Spring 23 season. We both resulted to one goal: win the whole thing. As the season progressed, I quickly realized his eye for the net. With Zaid, it was more of a mental battle for the already decorated FIFA player. After losing his only series of the season in week 5, I truly believe that it was a blessing in disguise. We looked at it as now he could play freely without him holding himself at such a peak standard. His sole loss caused fiery intuition and made him sit up in his chair, so to speak, and really find the motivation to break down his opponents' film week after week. By the time Zaid entered the playoffs, he had worked on his weaknesses, and sharpened his strengths. Learning his opponents' tendencies was the final piece for a perfect championship run."

Gutierrez, who attends Dallas College North Lake, plans to study kinesiology, and would like to become a high school soccer coach. He also has a goal of becoming a professional FIFA player.

"We'll see where it takes me from there," he said.

Gutierrez became the second Dallas College esports student-athlete to win a national championship in 2022-23.