Paintball Focus

Dads.

10/8/2023

Every time someone tells me the story of the first time they played paintball, I am always so fascinated in how similar many of our experiences were.

The story almost always starts the same; a friend planned a birthday party at the paintball field or invited them out behind their house to play. Of course most of our mothers gawked and panicked at the idea as soon as they heard the words “gun” or “battle”. But, just as they felt horrified, every single one of us had a Dad that thought it sounded awesome and snuck us off to go and play, or at least my Dad did.

It’s a story that mirrors many competitive and recreational players of the game, and the theme matches mine almost exactly.

My father always wanted me to try new experiences as a child and was always supportive in that journey. He noticed me for months rushing to the magazine aisle at the local grocery store during the weekly family shopping day. I would always grab the latest issue of APG and gawk at the pro players adorned across the pages. He knew how badly I wanted to play paintball even though I was only a young child.

I can still remember Christmas Day 2001; I was just eight years old and my Mother would always do the Christmas shopping because my Dad worked long hours every week on his job site. We would get the normal sorts of gifts; clothings, toys, or even some lucky years, a gameboy. However, every year my Dad would always take the time to buy one gift that he would go out and get for each of my siblings and I. To my elation, that year my Dad bought my brother and I brand new Spyder Xtra paintball guns contained inside their perfect form fitting plastic clamshell packaging. Current NXL President Tom Cole had just helped lead Bad Company to a top four finish at World Cup two months prior using the same basic, blowback Spyder Xtra. I can still remember the glossy blue sheen of that gun; the feeling when I unscrewed the cap on the 200 count Zap paintball bottle to fill my gravity fed hopper, and the pure excitement I felt as my Dad and I shot trees in the back yard until they were stained yellow.

For the following months, every few days, my brother and I would walk the quarter mile trip to our closest next door neighbor and we played paintball. We played without any motive, any goals, any worry of trophies or accolades, and just played the game out of love. Sometimes it would be with as few as 2 vs 2, but on special weekends one of my friends uncles would come down with his brother, both bathed in JT gear, and in their hands, iced out 2001 Angel LCDs. It was mind blowing to me to see these two guys play, and I mean that in the truest sense. They would take on every kid in my part of town, mowing down 20-30 of us every game in the woods. It was at that moment I truly fell in love with the sport of paintball.

I would eventually move on to competitive play and the media side of the game, but I still always kept that Xtra as a memory of where it started, albeit with a few modifications made throughout the years. My Dremel artwork on the body at age 10, the rocking frame and clamping feedneck at age 12, or the Smart Parts Progressive barrel at age 13, all paid for by the reffing job my Dad would drive me to every Saturday at my local field.

It all started with that one moment with my father and led to a lifetime of great memories playing the game. From all the weekends as a kid running me around to the field, to encouraging me to get my first real job as a paintball ref on Saturdays, and everything in between. I am so thankful for all the years I had with my father and that he was so willing to always let me try new experiences like paintball. If you have a moment, thank your Dad, Mom, Uncle, Brother, Friends, or whoever it was that let you experience the game for that first time just as my Father did, because we all owe it to them for bringing us these memories.

A Short, Off-the-cuff Paintball Anecdote in memory of Jeff Nadu Sr. 1964-2023

Read his obituary below;
https://www.etzweilerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jeffrey-A-Nadu-Sr?obId=29411364

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Hormesis Paintball Announces the Elite 1v1 Tour, Official White Paper and Press Release

7/6/2023

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After years in the making, Oliver Lang has officially unveiled the newest format in paintball, the Elite 1v1 Tour. The one versus one styled format uses a unique field setup and focuses on building great players and discovering untapped paintball talent around the globe. What started as merely an idea out of passion, Hormesis Paintball has pooled together a talented group of visionary creators to redefine what the sport can be on an international stage.

The Elite 1v1 Tour Builds on What Makes the Game Great.

Oliver Lang had a start in the sport of paintball similar to so many players around the world; playing paintball in the backyard, side by side with his best friends. Oliver would go on to become one of the greatest players in the sports history, inspiring an entire generation of players to strive for the highest level of the game.

However, not every player has the same opportunities that Oliver did in Southern California; high level competitive paintball currently exists in small pockets around the country, with the majority of top-level pros playing in just a few select areas. By creating a unified, one versus one format through the Elite 1v1 Tour, Oliver is focusing on what makes the sport great and expanding it in a meaningful way. Paintball players around the World can all share the same opportunity to play at the games highest level to climb the ranks.

The simple rules, fast-paced games, and proven community building will lead to creating a stronger, international paintball network and a platform for truly anyone to become the best in the world.

Clear Goals and a Focus on Growth in the Game.

Oliver didn't want to simply create just another league, he wanted to transcend what the sport can be on an international stage. For more than two years Lang fostered his vision and brought his concept to life by focusing on a few key goals that would transform paintball into its next golden era;

A standardized, one versus one format will create a unified and easy to play style of paintball that affords the same opportunities to all players
The one versus one format, utilizing a streamlined field, is more easily followed by the casual fan or player.
Forming an internationally tracked league, local and national events, and elite tours reduces entry barriers for players and creates a viable path to the pro level of paintball for everyone.
A united Federation centered around field owners and players will result in more streamlined and efficient processes, as well as a stronger governing body to unite the future momentum and growth of paintball.

The Duel

The Duel serves as the primary, competitive format of the Elite 1v1 Tour, and is a one versus one match played for ranking points or in competitive tournaments.

One Versus One, 20 minute match. The first player with a 10 point total, and a margin of 2 points or highest score at time expiry wins.
Played on a field 80 feet in length by 40 feet in width with a location set layout built from 14 total bunkers.
A point is won when one player eliminates the other player.
Players switch sides each point and can communicate with each other at all times of the match.
Two Timeouts per match.
Paint is limited to five cases per match (10,000 paintballs) with no restriction on how much paint a player carries during the point.
Rate of fire for electronic markers capped at 10.5 balls per second, or semi-automatic mechanical may be used.

The Joust

The Joust is an informal game played for fun and camaraderie and can serve as a warmup to a Elite 1v1 Tour Event. A joust can have as few as four participants and as many as forty representing two national teams comprised of Duelers from across the World.

The Joust is a 60 minute long match in which players compete head to head across their entire roster.
Each point a team sends out a player to play a one versus one point. The winning player of the point stays on the field, the loser must be substituted for the next player in the rotation. A player stays on the field playing points until they lose a point.
The Joust starts with each team captain and a coin flip. The winner of the coin flip chooses to be the “Initiator” or the “Reactor”.
The Initiator must send their player out to the start box first. The Reactor can wait to see who is sent out and choose their player accordingly.
Paint case quantity for the match is limited to the player count on a team divided by two. So ten players on each side is capped at five cases.
Captains for each team get one “Trump Card” for each match. The Trump card can be used to immediately eliminate any opposing player on the field and can be strategically used to eliminate the teams best player during a point or halt a hot-streak and force a substitution.

Telling Stories

The most unique aspect about the Elite 1v1 Tour is the formats distinct connection to the players and their personalities on and off the field. Rather than the industry standard way of viewing the sport, the Elite 1v1 Tour can redefine paintball media with in-depth story telling on and off the field, character building, and season-long arcs that create immersive and enthralling media experiences.

Instead of focusing solely on the on-field aspects of the sport, the media team being assembled for the Tour can provide an all encompassing and engaging story for each player that follows them on the field, during their training, and in their everyday lives.

The most critical element to any captivating form of media is the human element. Viewers and fans need to be made to care about the personalities, the struggles, and the achievements of the players on the field.

The inaugural Elite Tour debuting in the summer of 2023 will be the launch point for one of the most ambitious and riveting media productions in the sports history and will usher in a new way to view the sport and engage viewers around the globe.

The Full White Paper and Constitution

An important focus of the Elite 1v1 Tour is the inclusion of all players in the community and to ensure their voice is heard. The official White Paper of the organization is meant to outline the structure of the format, its rules, and how it is governed. Read the full White Paper below.

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The Iconic Paintball 30 Under 30, The Best Paintball Players in the NXL Under 30 Years Old.

2/21/2023

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Over the course of the last few seasons, professional paintball has seen a new youth movement emerge. With the average age of an event winning player at just 32 years old, the league is getting younger. The newest influx of top level talent under the age of 30 is pushing forward the next great wave of superstar players; we decided to look at the entire pro division and determine the top players in the World under 30 years old with this years Iconic Paintball 30 under 30.

This list is meant to highlight the high level talent of the leagues young stars and uses the roster age of players as of World Cup 2022, while giving insight into future potential of each of these talented individuals. This is not a ranking, just a presentation of the NXL's rising young stars.

1) Jacob Edwards, Tampa Bay Damage, 27 Years Old

One of the best gunfighters in the entire pro division, Jacob is a disruptive and versatile force on the field. Lauded for his clutch closing ability, keen sense of timing, and elite break-shooting, Jacob is our pick as the best player in the World under 30. At just 27 years old, Jacob already has more than a decade of pro experience and has learned under his older brother Jason, one of the best pure gunfighters in the games history. He was a critical piece to the event win Damage earned in 2022, and he will continue to be the critical centerpiece of the Damage roster for years to come.

2) Stephen Omara, Baltimore Revo, 29 Years Old

The versatility that Stephen Omara has displayed on the pro field over the last decade has been elite. His talent in playing the blind spots on the field and having a knack for finding unconventional moves makes Stephen incredibly challenging to get off the field. Every paintball player strives to be able to play any spot on the field; Omara is that guy. He is never out of position, and always ready to make game breaking moves.

3) Demetrius Ninios, San Antonio XFactor, 29 Years Old

Arguably one of the brightest paintball minds on this list, Meter has always had a strong talent in rapidly identifying the opponents advantage and quickly reacting to nullify their position. A highly dangerous break-shooter, Meter has a feared gun on the field and excels in his ability to adjust throughout a match for the best shot placement possible. One of the core pieces of XFactor, Meter is just 29 years old with his best years in the sport ahead of him.

Brandon Cornell, Edmonton Impact. 26 Years Old.

Brandon Cornell has been one of the sports most dynamic dorito side attackers on one of the best teams of the last decade. His aggressive and sometimes unorthodox style has earned him a reputation as one of the best island players in the world on the dorito side of the field, and he can often take the entire side of the field down by himself. At just 26 years old, it is hard to believe that Brandon is still just entering the prime of his career, and he will be the a core piece of Edmonton for a long time.

4) Leonid Smotrov, Red Legion, 24 Years Old

One of the most experienced players on this list, Smotrov has been an athletic and offensively talented dynamo for the Red Legion since he joined the team at just age 15. It’s rare a player comes along with such high offensive talent backed by such a refined mental tenacity at an age this young. But for Smotrov, it has been a skillset nearly a decade in the making behind the elite coaching of the Red Legion focused on high offensive output based on elite timing and not purely risk aversion. Smotrov will likely be one of the true stars of the NXL over the next 10 years as the next wave of talented young pros takes over.

5) Axel Gaudin, Edmonton Impact, 29 Years Old

It’s almost insane that Gaudin is just 29 years old; becoming a bona fide pro at the age of 17, Axel has been a snake-side force in both the US and EU professional paintball divisions for more than a decade. Refining his game under the watchful eyes of his father and the TonTons coaching staff, Axel has become a master at the ultra aggressive offensive style he is now famous for. Playing for teams like Red Legion and Art Chaos, Gaudin was able to notch multiple US event wins before he turned 20 years old. Since then, he has become one of the most sought after players in all of Europe, so much so that Impact signed him at the start of the 2022 season where he helped secure two event wins in 2022.

6) Mike Zuppa, Edmonton Impact, 28 Years Old

From humble beginnings with former pro team CEP, Mike Zuppa quickly found a role as a snake side attacker and really began to develop his game with Baltimore Revo during the 2021 season that led to his dominant year for Impact in 2022. Zuppa is one of many talented young snake players on this list, and arguably one of the best when it comes to his timing based style of attack. Zuppa is near-elite when it comes to reading zones and striking during the fractions of a second that his window of attack opens. He will likely be one of the top snake players in the league in the coming seasons and his style will fit fluidly with nearly any team.

7) Mike Urena, San Diego Dynasty, 27 Years Old

While many players on this list played and developed under their current team, the case is quite different for Mike Urena. He fought through the pro ranks with DMG and then earned his spot on Dynasty behind his bruising and bullying style of play. Now, as one of the prime attackers for San Diego, he has been a legitimate part of their historic three-peat season championships and World Cup victories. He has been at the forefront of the bruising, bullying snake player movement emerging in the NXL; when asked to play a more versatile and varied role in 2022, Urena answered with a high level of play off the bench for Dynasty at any position he was asked to. The future looks bright for San Diego with a player of Urena’s caliber on the roster.

8) Sam Silberg, Los Angeles Infamous, 29 Years Old

The ever present and in your face dorito attacker for LVL has been a revelation for the Columbus franchise. Over the last two seasons, Silberg has developed his game into a varied and creative level that puts constant pressure on the opposition. His gun skills as an offensive player are near elite and after a surprise departure from LVL to join Infamous, Sam will become one the key players for Los Angeles in 2023. He should be an immediate starter and brings even more offensive talent to an LA team building quite a potent offense.

9) Kyle Barry, MLKings, 28 Years Old

The ever talented Kyle Barry has been the unquestioned leader of the recent MLKings run of success. His clutch ability in big moments combined with his stout gunfighting and offensive presence has been the key piece of the MLKings growth into a top eight team over the last two seasons. At just 28 years old Barry has his entire career in front of him and has already become a well established, upper level pro with tons of star power. The MLKings have lost a few players this offseason, but with Barry at the core, they should continue to find growth and success moving forward.

10) Connor Kelley, Houston Heat, 20 Years Old

The biggest breakout player on this list, Kelley had a somewhat quiet rookie season in which he followed up with a dominant year in 2022. While many of the players on this list built their game around pure offensive presence, Kelley is much more rounded at all positions and able to play at all levels of the field effectively. Arguably one of the most important pieces behind the last two years of growth the MLKings franchise had, Kelley is maybe the top commodity in the NXL when it comes to players under 30. His value was highly sought after by Houston Heat, who signed Kelley for 2023. Conner will be an intriguing player on the veteran heavy Heat roster, but brings a dynamic style that will pair well with Tyler Harmon and Konstantin Fedorov.

11) TJ Danner, San Antonio XFactor, 29 Years Old

The ever poised TJ Danner has been around the Texas pro paintball scene for quite some time now and his calm demeanor on the field is his biggest attribute. His ability to play at nearly every position on the field has been a major piece behind Danner’s success since coming into pro in 2014 and later finding podium success with ac Dallas before joining XFactor. San Antonio is rapidly becoming a top defensive team this offseason and is building the roster around their talented young core; Danner is a key piece of that core and they will be a dangerous team over the next few seasons as they grow and mature into a top level program once again.

12) Ceelos Cortez, Baltimore Revo, 29 Years Old

On a list full of offensive talent, Ceelos Cortez is perhaps one of the most complete offensive players here. An incredibly high motor, huge offensive versatility, and a level of reckless abandon that you just can’t teach, Ceelos has been a weapon on every pro team he has been with. After becoming one of the core attackers for a rapidly rising Tampa Bay roster, Ceelos departed the team to join Baltimore Revo for the 2023 season. He brings a lot of intrigue for the Baltimore franchise under new ownership that has very ambitious goals in the coming years.

13) Pat Kraft, New York Xtreme, 29 Years Old

The blunt and abrasive star from New York has been at the center of the show stopping attitude that has made NYX one of the NXL’s favorite franchises. With his game built around disciplined gun skills, zone awareness, and timing, Pat Kraft has been a bright spot on the emerging program from New York. Now with news of Harris Hussain departing NYX, Pat Kraft is instantly going to be thrust into the leadership role of Xtreme and he is primed to have one of his best seasons ever. The youthful program is loaded with talent and could surprise behind Kraft’s play.

14) Trent Nitta, Los Angeles Ironmen, 19 Years Old

With maybe the most untapped potential on the list, Nitta has been on a path to professional paintball since age 14 when he packed his bags and moved to Texas alone to chase his paintball dreams. He has some of the more refined gunskills of anyone on the list and when paired with his offensive presence on the field, he has quickly become an effective option for Ironmen during his rookie campaign. Trent is an incredibly intense player and has the “it” factor when it comes to a winning drive on the field. The Ironmen secured perhaps one of the top players under 20 in the World after signing Nitta and he is on pace for a great career in the NXL.

15) Damian Vazquez, San Diego Dynasty, 26 Years Old

One of the few rookies on this list, Vazquez joined Dynasty from the semi-pro division Noobies at the start of 2022 and rapidly redefined his play style under the watchful eye of Marcello Margott and Ryan Greenspan. Vazquez brings a unique style of offensive play for a rookie, focused more on gun-skills, zone discipline, and survivability. While many young players rely on athleticism alone at the 1 position, Damian brings a different style of pacing to San Diego that will be a useful tool in the arsenal for San Diego behind their next wave of great young players. His patience at the snake and dorito attack positions will balance well in the future with Margott’s elite defense and Yarber’s offensive prowess.

16) Kyle Nicholaou, Los Angeles Ironmen, 28 Years Old

The Los Angeles Ironmen rookie came into the franchise mid-season and launched one of the most explosive rookie campaigns in recent memory. He immediately became a high-impact player for the Ironmen and was a big piece of their late season rally to save their season from relegation. Bringing the classic Northeast style to California, the talented young dorito side attacker will play a key role in the Ironmen finding success in 2023. With the coaching staff being built around legendary coach, Shane Pestana, Nicholaou is potentially a player who will punch his way into the 2023 Dorito Player of the Year conversation behind the best coaching he has ever had.

17) Ryan Hall, Los Angeles Infamous, 27 Years Old

A true talent both on and off the field, Ryan Hall has built a reputation as one of the league's top up and coming offensive players, as well as one of the industry’s most talented anodizers. With the departure of Harrison Frye to Dynasty, Ryan Hall will be thrust into an even bigger role offensively for Infamous. In the past, Hall has played both on the dorito side and in the center, but going into 2023, he will potentially become the top dorito side attacker for Los Angeles, and his highly reactive style should fit the new direction that Travis Lemanski is taking the Infamous roster during this rebuild.

18) Ben Challenger, Los Angeles Infamous, 26 Years Old

There are certain types of individuals that are just built for paintball; fast, athletic, and compact. Ben Challenger is perhaps the personification of that build in the NXL. His size allows him to play in spots and utilize bunker angles that most players just cannot accomplish because of their frame. Add in his high level of athleticism and Ben fits the mold of the prototypical front player in the modern era. After departing from the AC camp in the offseason, Ben gets a new start at Infamous where he should see a major boost in playing time and really shine on a highly offensive and youthful roster as a key player.

19) Mark Baginski, ac Diesel, 24 Years Old

It's hard to believe that Baginski is just 24 years old; he was a mainstay contributor in the ac camp, and was a big piece of the success the program found both on ac Dallas and ac Diesel. Now as one of the core members of the NXL’s newest superteams, Baginski will be a part of the main rotation of players highlighted by his extreme versatility across the field. His game is centered around pacing and a stout poise that always keeps him in the right position. Mark has been a staple of Texas paintball for more than a decade now, and the experience he brings at his age will make him a critical building block of an ac Diesel program on the cusp of greatness after their offseason rebuild.

20) Jerry Caro, New York Xtreme, 28 Years Old

Although he has struggled with a few injuries over the last few seasons, Jerry Caro is still an explosive offensive threat, and at just 28 years old, has his entire career ahead of him. His always-move-forward mentality in the snake is akin to the snake players of old, never fearing the next bump down the field. We have yet to really see a complete season from Caro over the last few years, however, the youth movement and strong offensive roster being built in New York will complement Jerry well, and he should be a major focal point for this program moving forward. He also brings a lot of experience to the franchise, with his pro division roots dating back to the early 2010’s.

21) Graham Arnold, Seattle Uprising, 29 Years Old

Graham has been the heart and soul of Seattle Uprising since they won a pro spot all the way back in 2015 during one of the best semi-pro season performances in NXL history. Now, 8 years later, Arnold has been a key component in keeping Uprising relevant in the pro ranks of the NXL. Over the course of the last few seasons, Arnold has really built a lot of nuance and variety into his style on the field, and provides Seattle with a highly poised and versatile weapon that they often rely on to close games out. With new ownership taking over the franchise for 2023, Arnold will be looked to as a leader for the program and could help guide Uprising to a new era of success, as most of the team is on the right side of 32.

22) George McClean, New York Xtreme, 23 Years Old

When he joined NYX, the relatively unknown player found a way to contribute almost immediately as one of Xtreme’s best attackers. After a few seasons with DMG, McClean rapidly made a name for himself as a reliable and aggressive player last year for NYX. His incredible athleticism has been a huge asset for the franchise and he looks to be one of the core members of the team following their new direction after parting ways with Haris Hussain. George is finding a way to be effective and as he continues to gain experience, he may very well become one of the more fearsome 1’s in the division over the next few seasons behind a stout work ethic.

23) Tim Stelzl, New York Xtreme, 23 Years Old

Tim Stelzl has been a bit enigmatic his first few years in the pro division. Spending time with both Impact and NYX, Stelzl is perhaps the most potential filled front player under 30 in the NXL right now, but we have yet to see him fully unleashed due to injuries or roster depth challenges. As NYX begins to start their next era with the departure of team founder Haris Hussain, we may finally get to see a heavy dosage of Stelzl on the field and in the snake, and he should produce almost immediately when given the chance for NYX.

24) Jonah Jamroz, Los Angeles Infamous, 24 Years Old

Joining the new wave of bully snake players emerging in the NXL, Jonah Jamroz came into the Infamous program in 2021 and immediately became a reliable source of bruising offense on the snake side of the field. Infamous is rapidly becoming one of the youngest teams in the NXL and Jamroz is a key piece of their youth movement that is building alongside Sam Silberg, Ryan Hall, and Joe Barrett. His bruising style complements the rapid Infamous offensive pacing, and with the new roster direction, Jamroz could become a key component of Infamous over the next few seasons. He has been exposed to learning from one of the best snake players to ever do it, Thomas Taylor, and that should rapidly build his emerging skillset.

25) Will Hennessy , New York Xtreme, 29 Years Old

Hennessy has been around the competitive paintball scene for a long time, and has been with NYX since helping them secure a pro spot back in 2017. Often taking the role as both a 1 and a 2 on the snake side, Hennessy has provided a steady presence off the break and a responsive style of play closing out games from the snake. His versatility paired alongside the aggressive style of Jerry Caro and Tim Stelzl should provide some potent pairings for NYX in 2023. Will is a glue guy for this program, and the consistency he brings will be a key element for NYX finding success this year.

26) Grayson Gladstone, San Diego Aftermath, 27 Years Old

The versatile offensive player out of Southern California, Grayson Gladstone, has been making a name for himself as an aggressive minded player over the last few seasons. After joining Dynasty in 2020, Grayson moved on to ac Diesel last season and spent time learning from master tactician Greg Pauley. At 27 years old, Gladstone is becoming one of the league's most intriguing young offensive prospects. His ability to play on both sides of the field has been a key driver in his recent rise in the pro ranks, and now after joining SD Aftermath for the 2023 season, he has a chance to become the premiere attacker for the youngest roster in the NXL.

27) Mark Frans, Austin Notorious, 21 Years Old

After building some pro experience early on in his career, Mark Frans led his Austin Notorious team into a pro spot of their own after securing multiple finals trips and a World Cup win in 2022. Now, as the unquestioned leader of the NXL’s newest professional franchise, Frans brings versatility and much needed experience to the relatively young roster. He has been a big gun off the break for Notorious and is often called upon to quarterback the team from the back line and generate offense in the center of the field. Like every rookie pro-team, they have a long road ahead, but the talent Frans brings will be a critical tool in building success for this young Texas squad.

28) Brandon Trujillo, San Diego Aftermath, 18 Years Old

The youngest player to appear on this list, Brandon Trujillo is the dynamic and aggressive attacker for the youngest team in the division, San Diego Aftermath. With the team going a new direction in 2023 after Mike Hinman has stepped back from coaching SDA, the youth movement is in full effect in San Diego. Trujillo has been on the radar for a few years now and built a reputation as one of the premiere U18 players in the World; his time spent as one of the leaders with the U19 Team USA on the international stage provided valuable big-game experience. He should slowly begin to step into a larger role with Aftermath, and have plenty of time to continue to develop his game.

29) Chris Caputo, Brooklyn Bears, 24 Years Old

Aggressive, precise, and disciplined, Caputo has been the main offensive threat for New Jersey Leverage during a three year run in which they have won five tournaments and made nine finals trips. After helping lead Leverage to two NXL wins in 2022, Chris was signed to the Brooklyn Bears to make his rookie debut in the NXL pro division. His extreme dedication to drilling nearly every day should help him quickly become a top offensive player for Brooklyn, and find a role as a legitimate snake attacker in the pro division.

30) Jenn Fulk, Heroines, 29 Years Old

Perhaps the best player in the WNXL, Fulk has quickly built a reputation as a relentless offensive threat with elite gun-skills. The athletic 1 for the Heroines was the critical piece to their Season Championship in the inaugural season of the women’s pro division of the NXL. It’s easy to see that with Fulk leading the charge on Heroines, they may go on a Dynasty-level run of dominance over the next few years in the WNXL, especially with other talented players alongside her like Rozy McCurley and Alexis Lazer.

Divisional Players to Watch Under 30

1) Colt Luckau, PBFit Semi Pro, 23 Years Old.

The undisputed top-gun of the semi-pro division, the leader of PBFit had one of the most feared guns off the break in the 2022 divisional paintball league. With elite pro style communication, high level vision on the field, and best-in-class zone discipline, Luckau was the key component of the PBFit run that saw them secure an event win and three finals appearances in 2022. PBFit came within a single match of winning back their pro spot, and with Luckau at their core, they should be a favorite to win the spot in 2023.

2) Dominic Devivo, Noobies Semi Pro, 24 Years Old

The quiet and reserved Northeast player joined the semi-pro division a few seasons ago and has spent his time creating one of the most versatile styles in the division. Developing in a Noobies system built around gun discipline and timing, Devivo is a true flex player, with the ability to play at all levels of the field and make a big impact for his team. Playing nearly every point of the 2022 season for Noobies, Devivo will continue to make a name for himself as the Noobies look to win a pro spot in 2023.

3) Jackson Frey, Blast Camp Semi Pro, 21 Years Old

The leader of one of the most talented non-pro teams in the World, Jackson Frey has helped build and lead the midwest powerhouse Blast Camp to multiple event wins in the last few seasons. They narrowly missed a chance to win a pro spot in 2022, and after winning the Astra event against NXL pro teams behind Freys elite play, Jackson is on the verge of being the hottest young prospective pro in the country. Blast Camp is tooling up to win the 2023 spot, so we may finally see the young phenom make his pro debut sooner rather than later.

4) Ben Sloffer, Vegas Golden Misfits, 18 Years Old.

Ben is a player whose name has been around competitive paintball with Team USA over the last few years, and he has made a name for himself as one of the sport's up and coming young stars. Guided by one of the best players in the world, Marcello Margott, and even sometimes spotted practicing with San Diego Dynasty, Sloffer seems destined for a large role in the future of an NXL pro team. After helping lead Wrecking Crew to one of the best seasons in NXL divisional history in D3, he looks to continue to climb the ranks in his path to the pro division with the Vegas Golden Misfits.

5) John Schappaugh, Blast Camp Semi Pro, 26 Years Old

The steady and poised center player for Blast Camp went on a tear in 2022. Schappaugh has been one of the best players on one of the best divisional teams in paintball for a few seasons now and has a commanding presence on the field. One of the best performances of the divisional season was John’s three days of dominance at the Mid Atlantic Major, an event in which he controlled the center and commanded with elite communication during their event win. He will be key alongside teammate Jackson Frey in winning a spot for 2023.

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Content Creators look to Blockchain technology for the future of professional paintball media.

12/5/2021

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The First NFT in Paintball History has been Minted.

As the World continues to transition into an increasingly digital landscape, non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been playing a critical role both as a store of value and in providing an incorruptible verification of ownership through blockchain technology. Their potential major role in the future of the digital world, as well as sports and gaming is quickly becoming evident. In the sport of professional paintball, the first NFT ever minted has emerged and with it, the potential for content creators to capitalize their intellectual property while immortalizing the iconic moments of the sport.

The National Xball League, the world's premiere professional paintball league, hosts the World Cup of Paintball each year in Kissimmee, Florida. When videographer Ryne Broshears stepped onto the World Cup field just a few weeks ago, he never could have imagined that one of the iconic moments he captured would become the historic, first-ever NFT to be minted in the sport of paintball. "The Stare Down" NFT features two of the best players in the world, Tyler Harmon of Houston Heat, and Raney Stanczak of San Antonio XFactor getting into a heated exchange during a critical match that would decide which team would play in the finals. Ryne felt the weight of the moment as it happened live; “I believe it was one of the most exciting moments from the World Cup, it was one of the most memorable moments of the event. The passionate attitude Raney played with captured the emotion of that game. I like catching the raw emotion that shows up in sports. Everyone has a response for it.”

Professional Paintball Player, Tyler Harmon of Houston Heat. Photo by Rob Moore.

A new opportunity for Creators.

Tyler Harmon, one of the players featured in the NFT, also happened to be the winning bidder for the historic digital item. Tyler is a firm believer in the future of NFTs in the paintball community and thinks they will be critical moving forward; “I’m a huge fan of the digital art landscape. This is the first recorded professional paintball NFT on the blockchain and I guarantee you it will not be the last. ”The Stare Down” provides a documented time stamp in the lineage of paintball media as we move into the next frontier of providing the community with amazing paintball moments.”

Perhaps one of the most direct problems that NFTs and the Blockchain in general can solve, is that they will provide a legitimate source of capitalization to media creators in the paintball world. In a sport that traditionally is difficult for media creators to sustain a living wage, NFTs can provide a new avenue of earnings for these talented creators if they are crafty enough to utilize the burgeoning potential of NFTs. Tyler Harmon agreed, providing an intriguing insight from a professional athlete in the sport;

“In the future of paintball I see NFT’s playing a huge role in being able to help compensate the extremely valuable men and women that document the game of paintball we all love. I believe we are also going to see paintball companies roll out NFTs that customers are only eligible to have access to by buying their products, which will then in turn create more revenue for those companies as customers look to acquire their favorite digital assets from those brands.”

The potential of NFTs being used in the sport is certainly as novel as it is exciting, and it should be able to provide a new and diverse ecosystem of collectibles within the game.

Utilizing the Blockchain to create secure and verifiable ownership.

NFTs explained. Photo Credit: Data Science Central, Stephanie Glen.

Historically, creators in the paintball industry have always struggled with the intellectual rights they have to their content as well. The Blockchain, put simply, can be thought of as an electronic ledger that records data; like who owns the content in regards to NFTs. This ledger is unhackable, incorruptible, and unbiased, it just shows the data. When someone purchases an NFT, that person is recorded as the rightful owner of the token, in most cases, the original creator, date of creation, and value of the purchase is recorded as well.

Photos, videos, and digital creations have been used without proper permission or payment in the past and NFTs solve that problem in Ryne’s mind; “The key is there, like you said, minting NFTs creates secure and verifiable chains of ownership. In a time where social media and creative work is often being stolen online, NFTs and the blockchain verification system helps add the next step to acknowledging ownership of media, it's undisputable. There's no opportunity to crop out a watermark or for someone to claim it as their own.”

Ryne plans to continue to be a trailblazer in his utilization of NFTs moving forward and already has plans to rapidly expand his offering of unique and collectible tokens. “My plan is to release a 20 NFT series from the 2021 season that captures memorable moments. I will continue to expand that with a full offering of the 2022 season’s best moments in paintball. I also plan to pursue an individual pro paintball athlete series specific to them.”

The digital world within the paintball industry should continue to expand as more media creators begin to recognize the utility behind NFTs and their associated security on the blockchain. The potential to give back the power of media creations to their creators is groundbreaking, and the future of digital creation looks bright in the sport of paintball.

For more information on the historic first NFT “The Stare Down” you can visit the OpenSea link here!

To learn more about the basics of NFTs, check out Stephanie Glen's article on Data Science Central here

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Fire vs. Ice The Debut of All-Female Professional Paintball League, the WNXL.

11/13/2021

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Photo Credit to Kurrite Photography

New to the World Cup of Paintball this season is the introduction of an all-women's professional paintball division, being called the Women’s National Xball League or the WNXL for short. Paintball has always been a sport of inclusion where everyone has an equal and fair chance to play. However, the introduction of a women’s only league will hopefully create a larger demographic of professional female players in a sport that has been mostly seen men as the majority gender.

The WNXL will feature six brand new franchises for the 2022 season that will compete in events all over the country. The league unveiled five of the six franchises that will play in 2022, with a sixth unnamed franchise to also join the field. Players interested in playing on these teams during the 2022 season can showcase their skills this spring at the Women's Paintball Combine held at Paintball Fit in Texas. The teams announced so far are:

Dallas Vibe
Sacramento Diamonds
Boston Heroines
Las Vegas Destiny
Femme Fatales

Photo Credit to Kurrite Photography

Women have been critical throughout the game’s history.

In the sport of competitive paintball, there have been iconic female athletes over the 40-plus year history of the game. From highly skilled players such as Bea Paxson, Tami Adamson, and Keeley Watson, to critical members of the industry like Dawn Mills, Camille Lemanski, and Lauren Kelley, paintball has always welcomed all ages, genders, and types of people as competitive athletes in the game.

Females have been a critical part of the paintball industry since its inception as a sport in the early 1980’s. In fact, the second game of paintball ever played was attended by Debra Dion Krischke, a maverick of the paintball industry who was the first female player ever. Debra was an influential member to paintball as she helped grow the sport at a parabolic rate with her work on The Survival Game and the International Amateur Open. Arguably, the sport may have never grew to the size it has without the tireless efforts of players and industry members like Debra when the game was in its infancy.

Now, nearly 40 years after the first female paintball player walked on the field, on November 13th, the NXL held the inaugural exhibition match to introduce the WNXL to the professional stage. Some of the most skilled female players in the world all converged on the World Cup to battle it out in a 20 minute XBall style match. The teams were rostered by players from all the franchises planned for the 2022 WNXL season, who all came together to play on the two teams, Fire and Ice.

Photo Credit: Rob Moore Flockhouse Fotos

WNXL Athletes Shine During World Cup.

The exhibition match was an intense showcase of the top female players in paintball from the first start buzzer. The game was an Xball match, meaning the two teams would play for 20 minutes, with a 2 minute break in between each point; the team with the most points at the end of the match would win.

From the start, Team Fire was in control and they played a methodical and measured style of play the entire match. Although Ice was the aggressor throughout the game, making huge moves all match long, Fire was able to show a high level of poise. They reacted calmly to every major attack and worked together with strong communication.

It was evident from early on in the match that these women came to play and showed the World just how talented they are. Brittany Wagoner looked really good throughout the match and she had arguably the best marker-skills of any player on the field. Female paintball legend, Tami Adamson of the Femme Fatales was also on the field again as she makes her return to competitive paintball; she didn’t miss a beat and played well from the back line.

During point three of the match, arguably the best move of the day came from Alicia Valdivia making a huge move off the break to the snake brick. She then bounced outside to the snake 50 and scored three eliminations for her team to win the point. Not to be outdone, her teammate Rozy McCurley followed up the next point with a dominant game that helped put Fire ahead early, a lead that they never gave back. Credit also has to be given to the back line of Team Fire; they were able to keep a strong guard throughout the match and counterpunch when needed.

Team Ice fell behind 5-1 by the halfway point in the match and for a moment it seemed as if they may had been defeated. They refused to cede the game to Fire though, and they put up a valiant effort in an attempt to steal back the match. Ardreina Blanco was consistently making her spot on the dorito side for Team Ice during their comeback, and her teammate and sister Kary Blanco, applied pressure through the snake side as the two sisters attempted to carry team Ice back from the brink of defeat.

Ultimately, the poise and calculated style of play from Team Fire was just too much for Team Ice to overcome. Fire was able to secure the victory 7-3 over Team Ice. The crowd was loud and excited throughout, as they cheered on the first official match of the WNXL. It was a great display of top female paintball players and they showed that they can be some of the best paintball athletes in the World.

The MVP of the match has to go to Brittney Vang. Every time she stepped on the field she made impactful plays at critical moments; like during point 5 when she scored multiple eliminations during a heated snake battle to pull out another point for her team. She is absolutely going to be on the radar of every WNXL pro team in the 2022 season and should make a huge impact in her rookie season.

Photo Credit: Kurrite Photography

Players to watch for the 2022 WNXL season.

Kary and Ardreina Blanco:

The sister duo on Destiny is going to be incredibly effective on the attack in 2022. They both showcased their elite ability to make huge moves and get in the face of their opponents during the exhibition match. They will provide an instant top-level attack for Destiny and give us an early indicator that the Bea Paxson led team out of the Midwest will be fighting for a title.

Karla Andrade:

Maybe the most athletic player on the field during the match, Karla has been a staple in the paintball community for a number of years. She will be an athletic and speedy attacker for her team, the Femme Fatales, and should be watched closely as a potential Offensive Player of the Year for the 2022 WNXL season.

Brittney Vang:

Going into this match, Brittney Vang quickly created a simple narrative; she very well be the most feared female snake player in the league next season. She was able to apply consistent pressure through the snake and seemingly always made the smart move. She is on the early watch list for a potential Snake Player of the Year Award in 2022.

Rozy Mccurley:

Rozy has paintball pedigree; she is the wife of one of the best pro paintball players of the 2010s, Brad Mccurley. She has been on the competitive paintball scene for awhile now and has already proven she is a methodical and versatile player. She was all over the field during the exhibition match, and next season with the Heroines, she looks like the perfect candidate for Most Versatile Player of the Year.

Alicia Valdivia

Alicia has already built herself quite the resume playing for the US Women's National Team and impressed immediately at the inaugural WNXL match. Her high paintball IQ was evident throughout the game, as she was a critical counterpunch player for her team. Her style is reminiscent of Alex Fraige and she should be on everyone's watch list for 2022.

Andrea Martinez:

Known affectionately as “Angry” to the paintball world, Andrea brings a level of experience and poise to the WNXL for 2022 that will be critical for the Femme Fatales. She had great marker skills on display all match long and was arguably the best support player on the field. She should be near the head of the race for Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

Brittany Wagoner:

One of the best female players in the games history, Brittany brings a level of marker skill that will be near unmatched in the WNXL. She is a smart and methodical player who plays a similar role to Marcello Margott of San Diego Dynasty. She is also an elite, former Olympic level athlete and should be on everyone's list as a potential Player of the Year in 2022.

Jenn Fulk:

Some players just simply pass the eye-test when they step on to the paintball field; Jenn Fulk is one of those players. She has a smooth and measured style and was diving all over the field during the exhibition match. She has great body control in the snake and her style is really similar to the way Alex Goldman plays. She makes her spot, and plays incredibly calculated.

Photo Credit: Kurrite Photography

The Future of the WNXL looks bright.

The most important factor to take away from the inaugural match of the WNXL is this; the future looks bright for the women’s professional paintball league. The players on the field exhibited high levels of athleticism, paintball IQ, and poise and the 2022 WNXL season looks to be ramping up to be electrifying. For more information on the WNXL, visit the NXL website to learn about the league, its teams, and how to play during the 2022 season. The full match can be re-watched on GoSports.com.

Check out Kurrite Photography to see more photos or to book Kurrite for event photos!

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Icon Interview with Tyler Harmon, The First Iconic Awards Nominee.

11/13/2021

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“So there I am, competing in my first pro game of my first pro event, being yelled at by Bob Long to run up to the center 50 “X” and lock down the snake side! It’s the Mardi Gras Open, the year is 2003, and the field is completely flooded to the point where the water is up to my knees. Without question I trudged up to the “X” and pulled off a big shot on one of my favorite players in the game, Ryan Williams, from Chicago Aftershock. It was my first confirmed pro elimination in the NXL and the rest is history.” From the very start, Tyler Harmon was destined for greatness.

Who is Tyler Harmon?

Known as one of the most versatile players in the World, Tyler Harmon of Houston Heat has been carving out his legacy in the sport of paintball for nearly 20 years. From his early roots in Modesto, California training under the brutal and demanding presence of the legendary Rich Telford, to his status as one of the best paintball players in the World, Tyler Harmon has been one thing above all else, intense.

Tyler’s ambitions in the game were something that was evident from the earliest points of his playing career; he always demanded more of himself. Nearly twenty years ago, players like Micah Mcglocklin, Oliver Lang, and Yosh Rau were entering the pro league as some of the first teenage players to play the sport professionally and starting a new trend in the traditionally older playing audience. However, when Tyler joined Bob Long’s Assassins at the age of 13, he set a new precedent that has yet to be matched or beaten, and likely never will. He quickly carved out a reputation as an athletic and energetic gun-fighter, and under the watchful eye of Bob Long, he quickly blossomed into one of the best young players in the game.

Now, after nearly 20 professional seasons, Tyler is one of the most feared players in the league among his peers. His incredible versatility and ability to play any position on the field, combined with his elite closing ability has driven him to the top of the paintball world on his team Houston Heat. One of the major candidates to win Icon of the Year, we sat down with Tyler to talk about his ambitions in the game, his upbringing, and how his journey through the sport of paintball changed his life.

A young Tyler Harmon playing for Oakland Assassins, 2005

Talking with Tyler, Early Career.

You grew up in the sport and have been a pro for the majority of your life. What was it like becoming a pro at such a young age? How did you get the opportunity?

I’m so grateful for the game of paintball and all the gifts it has manifested into my life. This is truly one of the greatest sports communities in the world and I’m so excited to watch this amazing sport flourish into the future. I started playing when I was 11 and soon turned pro at the age 13 with Bob Long’s Assassins, which to this day I still pinch myself over. It was pretty crazy to go pro that young and I still hold the world record for the youngest pro paintball player.

I would not have been able to accomplish this feat of going pro so young without the tremendous support of my family, friends, and local paintball community. I got the opportunity to try out for the Assassins because Bob Long and the team would always come out to Manteca, California to train at the park I would play at religiously with my team Twisted Factory. Somehow, Bob was able to watch me play and I got invited to take my game to the next level. When I went to the tryouts I had a great day of paintball and was able to make some big moves and eliminate players almost twice my age who had been pro for years. I’ll never forget how excited I was on that day when Bob said I had made the team and would be playing for the Oakland Assassins, who at the time were one of the top teams in the world.

What was it like traveling the country when you were 13/14 years old, playing with one of the best teams in the league?

It was a lot of work I’m not going to lie! I was still in school as an 8th grader when I went pro and had to get good grades in order to play so I would always be doing my homework on a plane or at the hotel to maintain my GPA and keep the dream alive of playing pro paintball. I was able to maintain a 3.5-4.0 GPA all throughout high school and 2 years of college and will always cherish those memories. My dad traveled with me from the age of 13 until I was about 18 to every event and practice. We had the best times ever hanging out and running around trying to win pro events! I’m so grateful for all of the timeless support from the paintball community and my family to be able to still be playing top-level pro paintball at the age of 32.

Playing with Giants.

You trained with guys like Rich Telford and Bob Long early in your career, what was that experience like? Do you think you were able to learn things that can no longer be learned in the current formats during the 10 man and 7 man era?

The experience of playing alongside guys like Rich Telford, Bobby Long, Oliver Lang, Chris Lasoya, and countless others has been nothing short of a miracle that I will always be so thankful for. You learn something unique and applicable from each of these player's styles that I’ve been so fortunate enough to be able to constantly incorporate into my own style. I carry a piece of all the paintball greats with me and truly value all of the paintball players that have come before me with tremendous honor. One of my main goals in this game is to make sure the pioneers who came before me live on forever.

I definitely think being able to play 10-man, 7-man, woodsball, and countless other formats has shaped me into a well rounded player with an index of paintball awareness that is hard to recreate unless you dive into all those different play styles. I’m always advocating for players to get off the airball field and play big games, woodsball, and just have fun playing paintball. When you play some of these different formats of paintball you are going to learn valuable lessons that will transfer onto the airball field and help you be a better overall player. Get out there and have some fun playing all forms of paintball, and naturally you are going to learn new skills that will take you to the next level. You truly have to enjoy the process and dedicate your existence to the craft and that’s when the magic happens.

From the start you were closing games and dominating players more than twice your age. What about your upbringing made you able to operate, and succeed in, such high pressure situations on the pro field?

I would definitely have to attribute my success in the pro paintball scene to my parents, the Oakland Assassins, and Twisted Factory for training me proper. My father is an Army Ranger from Iowa and my mom is a full-hearted lover from Santa Cruz California so I got the best of both worlds at home. Having both of their unique styles of parenting truly gave me an eclectic framework of thought processing that has allowed me to navigate the pro paintball game from a young age. I love my parents with all my heart, I owe it all to them and the amazing paintball community that has raised me in this awesome game.

Photo by Rob Moore

Going Out on His Own.

When Bob Long’s teams collapsed and you were suddenly without a team, was it a bit scary to be venturing out into the larger world of teams outside of Bob Longs umbrella? It had to be a bit intimidating since you were raised in his camp.

It was definitely a little bit intimidating (no pun intended) at first trying to find a new home once the Bob Long camp closed down. I soon found out that over the course of my 8 years with Bobby I had made friends with dozens of other pro players and was fortunate enough to be able to play with countless top pro teams after the Bob Long chapter had closed. These opportunities would not have been possible without my relentless hunger to play at the top of my game and always be the best community member I can in this great sport. I think that’s one of the biggest lessons anyone can takeaway from this interview is to genuinely care about the people around you and play with a full heart. Teams are always going to want to pick up a player that truly cares about the process of being a great player/teammate, working hard, and spreading good energy to chase down those big gold trophies.

During the period of the late NPPL, you moved around a bit between a few different teams. What was it about Dynasty that made you feel at home? You ended up playing there for a lot of years and really created an iconic identity for yourself there on the way to earning multiple World Titles and more than a dozen event wins.

I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to play for some of the most iconic names in paintball prior to making the move to Dynasty and requesting a tryout. Ever since I was a kid, it was always a dream of mine to play for Dynasty and I finally reached a point in my career where the stars aligned and that became a reality in the beginning of 2013. We went on to win multiple events and the 2013 series World Title during my first season with the team and that was just the beginning of a tremendous 8 year run! I will always be immensely grateful for my time with Dynasty and will never forget all of the great memories we shared together.

Looking Ahead, The Future is Brighter than Ever.

How has the experience been transitioning into your new role with Heat. Did leaving Dynasty sort of feel the same as when you eventually pulled away from Bob Long? Was it hard to depart from Dynasty?

The experience of playing alongside all the guys on Heat has been so much damn fun and I couldn’t ask to be surrounded by a better group of people. Parting ways with Bobby and Dynasty we’re completely different situations because Bobby had to close the doors on his operations and it forced me to move into another organization. Whereas I parted ways with Dynasty due to personal reasons that involved me thinking about what’s best for my career/ family (sending the utmost love to my beautiful wife Sarah and my sons Theo and Max I love you guys). The transition over to Houston Heat has been nothing short of seamless and completely natural. I feel like I’ve been on this team for years already and I’ve known all of the guys on the team for a large portion of my career. I’ve been playing against all of the Heat guys for a long time, so we already had a really well-rounded idea of how each other plays which makes the transition extremely easy. I’m so blessed and excited for the future with this organization. I feel so lucky to have the support I do from the Smith family, HK ARMY, and DLX technologies as we move into the future and chase those big chips!

You have achieved some monumental feats, won World Championships, and played with arguably some of the best players ever. What do you feel is the most critical moment of your paintball career thus far?

I whole-heartedly believe that the most critical moments of my paintball career thus far are found right here in this very moment. I’m playing for one of the strongest paintball teams ever fielded and we are hungrier than ever to flip the game on its head and take the pro paintball circuit to new heights. I’m grounded in the present moment and feel so humbled by the opportunities I have to chase these world championships with Houston Heat. Paintball has allowed me to connect with people from all over the world and I’m forever moved by the love I receive from the paintball community on a daily basis. I play this game for the love of all paintball players across the globe. Thank you to all the people out there who have supported me on this amazing journey! Lets keep having fun playing paintball globally and I hope to see you all at an event soon!

Photo Credit: Verbhal Photo, Brian Wolfe.

Tyler Harmon, Nominee for Icon of the Year.

For the entirety of the 2021 NXL season, Tyler has been one of the most effective and consistent players in professional paintball. His tireless ability to close games for his team, his elite poise on the field, and positional versatility are the biggest reasons he has earned a nomination for the Icon of the Year award, which recognizes the best player in professional paintball in the 2021 season. Each event, when Houston Heat needs a clutch play in the biggest moments, Tyler has answered. His ability to win low body situations, 1v1s, and swiftly change the games momentum has been nothing short of elite and we're proud to announce Tyler as the official first nomination of the inaugural Iconic Awards.

You can watch Tyler compete in the final NXL event of the season at World Cup, where his team is currently undefeated and battling for their 3rd World Cup Title in 4 seasons, as well as the coveted Season Championship. Catch it all on GoSports.com.

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Anywhere but Here. Relegation Looming.

11/6/2021

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Photo Credit: Rob Moore, Iconic Paintball

It’s the biggest event of the year, plain and simple. The World Cup of Paintball hosted by the National Xball League is just a few short weeks away and major professional programs are facing uncertainty leading into the final event of the year. With the threat of relegation from the pro ranks a constant pressure on ac Dallas, Columbus LVL, Sacramento DMG, and the MLKings all year, the World Cup has the potential to be a life raft that can float them to safety, or the anchor that drags them into the depths. Threatened with the danger of playing their final pro event in Kissimmee, Florida in just a few weeks, the one thought on these four teams' minds going into World Cup is simple; anywhere but here.

Relegation and its effect on the NXL Pro Division.

   After a shortened season in 2020 due to COVID-19 and a temporary freeze on the relegation rules, the NXL is back to the normal rule-set in which the lowest ranking pro team will be relegated from the pro division, and the top semi-pro team will be promoted in their place. Throughout the history of the NXL since 2015, relegation has played a part in shaping the landscape of the NXL and creating new professional programs that have impacted the league upon their arrival to the division.
   Most recently, we saw Scottsdale Elevation relegated from the pro ranks at the conclusion of the 2019 season, a year in which they placed last in four out of five events. Their relegation saw most of their roster fade away from the pro division, with the exception of Hao Vanta, who joined DMG, and Marc Berolo, who has since become an effective and athletic snake player for Seattle Thunder.
   The departure of Elevation from the pro division also saw the addition of ac Diesel after an incredibly successful season in the semi-pro division. Greg Pauley built and brought together the old Texas Storm core, and with elite coaching, they were able to play consistently and finish in the top five of every event of the season. It wasn’t known at the time, but their inclusion in the pro division would make waves, and in less than two seasons, they have become a fiercely aggressive and competitive program built around Mark Johnson, Clint Johnson, and Benjamin Heninburg.

Photo Credit: Verbhal

Columbus LVL, Current Season Rank: 17. Total Points: 155

Columbus LVL has been in the pro division for a few seasons, and during that time they have shown flashes of brilliance. Their attack heavy style of play mixed with an athletic and versatile roster has benefitted them greatly on fast fields, but they still lack the crucial veteran experience needed to slow down the game.

Dan Schonauer and the rest of the LVL crew is really starting to find their identity though, and could potentially play as the dark horse spoiler team to the major programs at the World Cup. Their deep Sunday trip at the Windy City Major looks to be enough for them to avoid relegation, but if they perform poorly at the World Cup, they are still at risk of potentially falling into the last place spot.

How they avoid relegation:

LVL certainly benefited from the fast and aggressive layout in Chicago. To avoid relegation they will need to find a way to slow down their game effectively to beat the veteran teams of the division. If they are able to place 6th or higher, they guarantee their safety from relegation without any help from other teams. However, if they aren't able to place that high, they will need both ac Dallas and the MLKings to finish 14th place or worse to guarantee their safety.

Photo Credit: Enrique Gonzalez

Sacramento DMG, Current Season Rank: 18, Total Points: 132

DMG hasn’t quite had the year they had hoped for going into the 2021 season. Built around the versatile and effective Boyum brothers, their roster is the most balanced and experienced among the four teams facing relegation. They have shown flashes of great play this season but they seem to lack the firepower needed to beat the top teams at their own game and typically favor an aggressive style in order to overwhelm more experienced opponents. Currently, their 13th place finish in Philadelphia is helping to buoy their hopes in the season point standings, and alongside LVL, are the least likely of the four teams to see relegation come to pass.

How they avoid relegation:

DMG needs to do a few simple things in order to avoid being pushed out of the pro division. If they are able to finish in the top 5, they completely secure their spot and avoid demotion into the semi-pro division. However, based on the season so far that may be a tall task. If they are unable to secure a top 5 finish, they will need ac Dallas to finish 17th or worse in order to guarantee their safety. DMG seems to have one of the most promising young cores of all the teams facing relegation, and would benefit greatly by remaining in the pro division and developing this roster.

Photo Credit: Rob Moore, Iconic Paintball

MLKings, Current Season Rank: 19, Current Points: 116

The MLKings are the longest standing organization of the four teams facing relegation, with professional roots in Europe stretching all the way back to 2013. As a team, the MLKings have struggled the last few seasons in the US NXL league, but they have had bright spots and gave tough matches to top pro teams, proving they belong in the pro division in the process. They certainly have the most seasoned roster of the four teams and a genuine elite player in Kyle Barry. Their other veteran star, Greg Montalvo, should be incredibly motivated to retain his pro status and will likely be a major point of attack for the MLKings at Cup.

How they avoid relegation:

Like ac Dallas, the MLKings face the biggest uphill battle in defending their pro spot, but their 26 point lead in the season standings over ac helps their cause. To avoid relegation they will need to complete one simple task; ensure they place better than ac Dallas in the final event. They can completely guarantee their safety from demotion if they place 3rd or higher. In a more realistic scenario, even if ac Dallas puts in their best result of the season and places 15th, the MLKings would only need to place 17th or better to avoid relegation.

Photo Credit: Rob Moore, Iconic Paintball

ac Dallas, Current Season Rank: 20, Current Points: 90

ac Dallas has had a very tough rookie season in the pro division of the NXL. At the start of the year, Greg Pauley had high hopes for this roster that was created from the D2 team, PBFit. But those hopes were quickly crushed by the reality of the pro division; it is incredibly hard to win against the best paintball athletes in the World. They have not found much success thus far through three events, winning just 1 of their 12 total matches they have played thus far. They will need to come into the World Cup and assert themselves in a fairly dominant fashion, or else this experiment with the old PBFit roster in the pro division may be over before it truly begun.

How they avoid relegation:

Of every team facing relegation, ac Dallas has, by far, the toughest road to stay in the pro division. In order to avoid being demoted down into semi-pro they have a few roads; a first place finish at World Cup will all but guarantee their safety, although it would also require the MLKings to finish 3rd place or worse. In a more realistic scenario, they will need to secure a placing of 18th or higher, while the MLKings would need to finish in last place for them to avoid losing their pro spot. However, in almost any scenario, placing in the bottom two spots will guarantee their elimination from the pro division.

The Biggest Test is coming.

On the fields of the NXL World Cup the fate of one of these four teams will be decided and the waves created through relegation will ripple across the pro league for years. Will the young and aggressive LVL have another Cinderella performance? Will ac Dallas be able to lock in and have their first great performance of the season on the games biggest stage? Tune in on GoSports.com to see all the action from the final NXL event of the year and see who will keep, and who will lose, their pro spot!

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2021 World Cup Power Rankings, War Concludes in Kissimmee.

11/5/2021

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The final event of the National Xball league season is less than one week away, and after a hard fought season, the season title race is closer than ever. The Windy City Major was an exciting and dramatic event that drastically altered the Power Rankings for World Cup after the cinderella runs of LVL, NRG, and Uprising, as well as the complete dominance of Dynasty. Also at stake are the professional paintball lives of teams such as ac Dallas, the MLKings, and DMG. The World Cup should be nothing short of incredible with all that is at stake, and this should truly be a photo finish.

1. San Diego Dynasty (Previous Rank: 3)
Player to watch: Marcello Margott

After a dominant win at the Windy City Major behind an inspired performance by veteran, Alex Fraige, Dynasty is looking like they are peaking at just the right time. Dynasty has improved on every event this season, and with a fully healthy roster they should be primed to become repeat winners at the World Cup. Their near unbreakable blue wall composed of Marcello Margott, Ryan Greenspan, and Yosh Rau on the backline has been their strength throughout the year, and with the attack heating up this team may be the most balanced in the pro division. Look for Marcello Margott to be a key player for Dynasty; with a layout that appears to be so aggressive, Marcello will be critical for lane control and off-the-break strategy as he looks to continue his Defensive Player of the Year level of performance at Cup.

2. Edmonton Impact (Previous Rank: 1)
Player to watch: Alex Goldman

Impact is coming off one of their worst performances over the last 3 seasons with a 10th place finish at the Windy City Major. However, all season long they have been incredibly consistent with finals appearances in every other event they played this season. Alex Goldman is still having perhaps his best season ever and his ability to assert his will on opponents has been nothing short of incredible to watch. With the many options for this snake on the World Cup layout, Goldman should be effective and exciting to watch throughout the weekend. There are some questions around why the poor performance occurred in Chicago, but this is still an elite NXL team and

3. Los Angeles Infamous (Previous Rank: 5 )
Player to watch: Cody Mickowski

Infamous has been both exciting and at times, frustrating, during the 2021 NXL season. They have found ways to consistently finish near the top of the division, with multiple deep Sunday runs, but they always seem to fall just short of an event win. They have arguably one of the top coaches in the league in Travis Lemanski, and their veteran core of Thomas Taylor, Cody Mickowski, and Kali Rudolph will be key in another run at the finals for Infamous. For fans of fast paced and aggressive play, Infamous perhaps does that better than any other team in the league, especially when they utilize the vast versatility of the young Harrison Frye. Cody Mickowski has looked dominant all year, and the confidence this team shows in him is quite evident. With top attacker, Greg Siewers, playing in the final event of his illustrious career, will he walk off the pro field forever with one more win, or will they fall short as they have all season?

4. Houston Heat (Previous Rank: 2)
Player to watch: Tyler Harmon

Heat is coming off a bit of an odd event in Chicago; they were completely unbeatable in the prelims, but then came up short against an ailing and under-manned Baltimore Revo roster. The 2021 season has certainly been erratic for the powerhouse professional program, but if one thing is certain, it’s that this team is built to win World Cups. They have proven this time and time again, with two World Cup Championships over the last three seasons. Heat always comes to play at the World Cup and look to be the team that everyone needs to fear, as they are hungry for another win after an under-performing year. Tyler Harmon has shown incredible versatility this season after his transition from Dynasty to Heat, and he should be a key piece in any finals run we see from Houston. Todd Martinez has been showing he is still an elite strategist from the coaching pits and his staunch dedication to scouting has proven to be a key asset this season for Heat.

5. San Antonio X-Factor (Previous Rank: 8)
Player to watch: Shon Saucedo

After starting the first two events well below their potential, X-Factor came into the Windy City Major with something to prove. After adding two new players just before the event, they looked like a complete team. They have attackers at all levels of the field, and the elite guard that is held by Archie Montemayor, Raney Stanczak, and Demetri Ninios was a tall task for nearly every pro team to overcome in Chicago. Shon Saucedo, the team's newest addition, provided something we haven't seen in a long time for X-Factor, a reliable backup to Billy Bernacchia in the snake. His ability to attack through the snake side of the field freed up Billy to play a bit more aggressively and we saw an X-Factor team that was elite all event. This team should be able to bring it all together and end the year strong at the World Cup, especially behind the potential final event from one of the games biggest legends, Archie Montemayor, as we heard on the Play the Game Podcast from Archie himself.

6. Baltimore Revo (Previous Rank: 13)
Player to watch: Chris Schehr

Revo may just have all the cards lining up for a dark horse run at a World Cup title. They were able to show resilience in Chicago with huge wins over major pro programs Heat and Impact, and they are about to get a huge boost. After losing star player Stephen Omara to injury last event, he will be back in the starting lineup for Baltimore and he will provide a huge boost to an already surging team. Frank Antetemaso also returns for Revo and should add an aggressive spark to the dorito side as well. The emergence of Chris Schehr as an elite attacker has proven to be key for Revo this year, and with a finally healthy roster, pro teams across the division should fear a Sunday matchup against Revo.

7. Moscow Red Legion (Previous Rank: 4)
Player to watch: Leonid Smotrov

For most fans and players watching Red Legion at Chicago, it was a bit of a confusing performance. As soon as the layout was posted, many fans speculated on a Russian win with how aggressive the field would play. The reality in Chicago was quite different, as the Red Legion posted a 1-3 record in the prelims and missed Sunday. The addition of Diego and Andres Gallego should take a bit of the attack burden off Smotrov and Malloy, but if the Red Legion wants to have a shot at the World Cup, they need to lean into their elite attackers. Leonid Smotrov has been a bit underwhelming this season for Moscow, but his elite ability is undeniable, and he is still easily one of the best players in the World. The Red Legion should come into this event hungry, but can they rekindle that aggressive and relentless style fans have come to love?

8. Tampa Bay Damage (Previous Rank: 9 )
Player to watch: Jason Edwards

Damage, quite simply, hasn’t looked great this season. After a strong opening performance in Florida, placing third, they haven't been able to finish in the top ten since and have struggled. The rumor is that the LJ Woodley experiment may be over in Tampa Bay, and this could mean a return to the core style of grinding play we saw for years from this Edward's brother led squad. Jason Edwards is the unquestioned leader, and he has a fierce drive to prove to the rest of the pro league that Damage still belongs in the games elite tier of teams. The World Cup snake looks like it will play very aggressive and Damage needs to unleash Keith Brown and allow him to dominate that side of the field. He is one of the game's best snake players and should perform well. Bryan “Agent” Smith has also been quietly having a great season and always seems to step it up to another level at the season's final event.

9. Los Angeles Ironmen (Previous Rank: 11 )
Player to watch: LJ Parrish

The Ironmen are an interesting team this season; they are loaded with young talent and led by veteran star players Nick Slowiak and John Jackson. However, they have yet to put up a decent event finish and have been average all season in their results. Nikki McEvers' seat may be heating up a bit, but a strong showing at the World Cup would help to secure her role as head coach long-term. This organization has one of the most historic reputations built on excellence, but years of mediocrity has been catching up to the Ironmen. They need another keystone win to build this young roster upon, and that is exactly what LJ Parrish can help them do at Cup. LJ is one of the league's fastest rising, star attackers and he needs to be utilized to his full ability. Fans got to see a small piece of that ability when he guested with Impact at the Golden State Minor event, can the Ironmen get the same level of performance out of him?

10. Seattle Thunder (Previous Rank: 6)
Player to watch: Corey Field

After posting two top 6 finishes to open the season, and looking like they finally had made their breakthrough to the upper tier of the pro league, Thunder regressed greatly in Chicago, posting a 16th place finish. They couldn’t seem to get anything going in the Windy City, and that was partially due to the injury sustained by the team's best player, Corey Field. His presence on the field is critical to Thunder’s success, and his return to the lineup for the World Cup will have a massive effect on their performance. This team is elite off the break, and their ability to control zones has been unmatched this year. Thunder has been able to endure years of poor play, but another disappointment at the World Cup would be a major setback for this rising program. Will they be able to return to form and make a run at the title?

11. San Diego Aftermath (Previous Rank: 7)
Player to watch: Joe Barrett

While we have seen a rapid improvement from Aftermath this season, they are still a fairly inexperienced team in the pro division. This has been evident by their inconsistent performance thus far this year; they have posted a top four finish, as well as finished outside the top ten twice. However, that inexperience is fading quickly and coach Mike Hinman has been nothing short of brilliant this year. He has found a way to bring this core of young players together and rally them behind their charismatic and talented leader, Joe Barrett. Joe should be a critical piece behind a deep Sunday run by San Diego, and his ability to stand guard and close games has been critical, alongside strong performances from Thomas Kim and Josh Hallberg. This team could play the spoiler for many top programs, but can this young team overcome the veterans of the pro league?

12. NRG Elite (Previous Rank: 16)
Player to watch: Jared Lackey

NRG Elite was one of the bigger surprises of the Windy City Open, but their great performance was overshadowed a bit by LVL. This could lead to teams underestimating NRG, and that would be a big mistake as they are just starting to peak at the perfect time. Beyond the great performance in Chicago lies a team that is learning to play well together and developing the level of poise needed to succeed in the pro division. Jared Lackey and Zak Giger have played well for them, and they have found an identity built on a controlled but aggressive style. Another strong performance at Cup and the conversation may start to change rapidly on the previously lower tier team. Can they build on the successes in Chicago and prove they belong?

13. Columbus LVL (Previous Rank: 19)
Player to watch: Dany Schonauer

One of the biggest jumps in the rankings we have seen all year, Columbus LVL has finally truly arrived in the pro division. Their coming out party in Chicago was the storyline of the event and if they are able to just simply sustain the wild aggression they showed at the Windy City Major, they just may very well be on to something special. The first two events of the season saw LVL play a bit too conservative and they may have been questioning themselves; the most recent event showed they can be fearless and assertive behind players like Dany Schonauer, Sam Silberg, and Justin Politi. Dave Pando is cooking up something great in Columbus, can he and head coach Robbie Goldsmith continue to get the most out of this young but talented roster?

14. New York Xtreme (Previous Rank: 10)
Player to watch: Will Hennessy/Jerry Caro

After a very promising showing in Philadelphia, NYX was beginning to look like they had finally found their winning recipe to become a top team. However, a regression in Chicago and general struggle to close matches may be raising some questions on whether they have the right ingredients or not to truly be a top professional paintball team. They are loaded with talent from top to bottom, but have yet to bring it all together. As always, this team runs through their superstar player, Haris Hussain, and if he is able to heat up quickly, the rest of New York’s elite attack should rally behind him. The key to their success or failure may be found through Willy Hennessy and Jerry Caro. Both of these players have shown elite flashes of talent, can both of them play at their best and help hoist NYX into the top of the pro division?

15. ac Diesel (Previous Rank: 12)
Player to watch: Grayson Gladstone

After opening the season with a 6th place finish in Florida, ac Diesel has been on a slow regression all season long. They have struggled to field the same roster each event and that appears to be causing a bit of struggle for them. Mark Johnson is still one of the league's best leaders, and his counterpunch ability combined with the fast style of Diesel should play very well on the aggressive World Cup layout. Former Dynasty player, Grayson Gladstone, was added to the roster a few weeks ago and he should fit in well with this team. He is an aggressive attacker who consistently makes his spots and he should provide a spark on either side of the field for ac. However, Diesel still needs to prove they can put all their weapons to good use and give a solid placing at the final event of the season.

16. Seattle Uprising (Previous Rank: 17)
Player to watch: Alex Gray

Seattle Uprising joined LVL and NRG as the biggest surprise teams of the Windy City Open when they snuck into Sunday at 2-2, and then were able to defeat the Ironmen to advance into the top 8. It may have been the result of a bit of an easy schedule, but it would be foolish to doubt this team at the World Cup. No matter how their season goes, Uprising always seems to step up on paintball's biggest stage. Although they missed the event due to COVID last season, they placed 6th the season before at Cup and are consistently taking on the role of spoiler for major pro programs. Alex Gray made his long-awaited return to the Uprising roster at Chicago and he should prove critical at the final event, alongside veterans James Creek, Brandon Olsen, and the rest of the dedicated core. Will Seattle once again make a Cinderella run?

17. MLKings (Previous Rank: 18)
Player to watch: Greg Montalvo

The MLKings had to sit back and watch in horror at Chicago, as everyone around them outplayed their rank and rose up. Team owner, Charlie Givens, has spent a lot of time and resources on this program and he is facing relegation as they sit in 19th place for the season. Like we have seen in the past, this team shows flashes of great play, but seems to struggle in closing out matches. Greg Montalvo and Kyle Barry have to be ready to come into the World Cup and play to the high level that they are capable of and save the season, and potentially their status, as professional players in this league. Expect Greg to play some of the best paintball of his career, as he has made it clear he isn’t going to face relegation quietly. Will the MLKings get their turn in the spotlight and save their program?

18. TMG Outlaws (Previous Rank: 14)
Player to watch: Christian Collins

The Outlaws continue to be the victim of roster churn, as they put out yet another new lineup at the Windy City Major. They performed poorly in Chicago and were never really in any of their matches, and the results showed this with a last place finish. Solid play earlier in the year has all but guaranteed they are not at risk of losing their pro spot to relegation, but the Outlaws desperately need a solid performance to help build on this new roster going into the 2022 season. Rookie pro, Christian Collins has been one of the few consistent pieces for TMG this season and he continues to improve with each passing event. Jeremy Salm needs to find a way to assert this program onto the pro division, but can he lead this young and inexperienced roster to a Sunday berth?

19. Sacramento DMG (Previous Rank: 15)
Player to watch: Shane Howe

DMG has had a rocky season in the professional division. After entering the 2021 season with high expectations for this roster, they have performed poorly and have lacked the attacking firepower needed to excel in the NXL pro division. They are a mere 26 points ahead of ac Dallas in the season rankings and are certainly in the hot seat when it comes to relegation. Their 13th place finish in Philadelphia may have been just enough to keep them in the pro league, but they need a strong finish at the World Cup after fighting for their lives all season. Shane Howe is going to be the player to watch; the ageless assassin is the oldest starter in the professional league and he should find a ton of success in this aggressive snake side at Cup. Look for the Boyum brothers to play well if DMG has any hope of staying in the pro division.

20. ac Dallas (Previous Rank: 20)
Player to watch: Colt Luckau

ac Dallas has not looked good this season, plain and simple. They need to find a way to quickly acclimate this roster to the speed of the pro game and desperately need an attacking presence on this roster. They were finally able to win their second match of the season in Chicago, but they need to come into the World Cup looking to make a run into Sunday. They have a hard road ahead of them to avoid relegation, but that road starts with Colt Luckau. He has been the best player for ac Dallas this season, and with how congested the center of the field is at World Cup, he should be able to float around and create eliminations from the middle of the field. The question is, can the rest of ac Dallas find their pace on the attack as well and save this team from an all but guaranteed relegation?

Don’t miss the final event of the season in Kissimmee, Florida from November 11th-14th at the NXL World Cup! Catch all the action live on GoSports.com and watch as all the major storylines conclude on this wild and exciting season of professional paintball.

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AC: Diesel Adds Former Dynasty Pro, Grayson Gladstone, for NXL World Cup

10/27/2021

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Photo Credit to Kurrite Photography. kurrite.com

Grayson Gladstone, formerly of San Diego Dynasty, has found a new home in the pro division for World Cup after he was recently added to the ac: Diesel roster. He was seen practicing with the team this past weekend and appeared to be a good fit with the program immediately.

Coach Pauley liked what he saw.

Coach Greg Pauley had been scouting Grayson for some time; “Grayson played ICPL with us last year, we also watched him play Ultimate Shootout and he played well there along with watching him play a few events with Dynasty.”

Typically, professional rosters are locked for the World Cup and bar any pro player trades or additions for the final event. But, circumstances were unique for this addition. Greg Pauley explained how they were able to add him; “He didn’t play Chicago with Dynasty, so per NXL pro rules, he was not on a professional roster in Chicago and was available by the rules to play cup with us.”

An Aggressive and Versatile Attacker

After opening his rookie season in the pro division for San Diego Dynasty, the team and Grayson parted ways just one week before the Windy City Major. After spending one event playing with semi-professional team, Kyiv United, Grayson is back in the professional ranks and looking to once again make his mark as an aggressive attacker.

On the addition, Grayson added “AC Diesel is an organized camp that’s full of young talent and a high-level experience. They’re a group that loves playing paintball and putting in the work to make each other better. So far I’m enjoying the group on and off the field, and I’m super excited to work with these guys in preparation for World.”

See Grayson and the rest of the ac: Diesel team on November 11th in Kissimmee, Florida at the NXL World Cup and on the GoSports.com live webcast!

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Unbounded, A Dynasty Story from the Windy City Major.

9/20/2021

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Victory. Photo by Rob Moore.

It’s quiet. As I sit here on yet another red eye flight across the country, I ponder on dedication; a virtue that is all too familiar with professional paintball team San Diego Dynasty. Their commitment to excellence over the last twenty years of paintball has been nothing short of astonishing. I wonder how many red eye flights this team has seen in their more than 70 event wins and dozen plus series titles? Likely too many to count, but within that dedication lies the true drive of this organization. It isn’t the feeling of victory after a long and grueling event, nor the elation of lifting up the first place trophy and check, but the dedication to one another as both friends and brothers united through the sport of paintball. Their shared drive to achieve paintball greatness through each-other has taken them on a journey through one of the most historic and dominating runs in all of professional sport’s history.

Hidden away from the bright lights of the professional football field, or halls of hardwood on the NBA courts lies a different kind of field, a paintball field, which has been largely dominated by a single organization for twenty years. Sure, there have been other great professional teams throughout the history of this sport, but none more committed to the drive for excellence than Dynasty. The NXL Windy City Major saw Dynasty add another win to the long scroll of event victories and championship titles as a paintball organization. The core roster of Alex Fraige, Ryan Greenspan, and Yosh Rau have been here since the start and are, arguably, one of the greatest sports teams of all time.

Ryan Greenspan basking in his zinc sunscreen. Photo by Quinn Nadu.

Dynasty started their event like so many others, with each other, having fun and joking around the same way now as they did when they were merely teenagers with a dream. That isn’t to say they didn’t prepare, as Dynasty has one of the most interesting dynamics in the entirety of team sports in their preparation. While most teams tend to have a hierarchy or structure in which a coach delegates his strategy, Dynasty is a democracy. All players and the coaches give their input in the direction and strategy of the team, and in that dynamic lies their success. They are known for their elite ability to control opposing teams from the first horn and their preparation before the event is critical when the pressure is high and a finals victory is in the balance. Ryan, Marcello, Alex, and Yosh seem to be the most vocal when it comes to strategy and its implementation on the field, but its coach Kevin Bredthauer who has the job of dictating lineups, play calls, and reactively coaching against the opposing team. It's a well-oiled machine in which each player is a key component in its operation.

While at the event with Dynasty, one factor of their success that is noticeable was their bond as teammates; almost like brothers. They never leave each other's side throughout the day and are constantly talking, joking around, and strategizing when at the field and the hotel. It's a bit unique, as I often walk around the pro pits and see few other professional teams fraternizing in the way that Dynasty does.

The Panther, Blake Yarber. Photo by Quinn Nadu

They started the event against the Los Angeles Ironmen. Veteran front player, Alex Fraige plays a critical role from the start and collects over a dozen eliminations while on the field for Dynasty. Not since the departure of Angel Fragoza have we seen Alex in the snake as the first attacker with such regularity. He is running with purpose, making the crucial snake bunker off the break and asserting his will. Alex has an interesting dichotomy in his personality. I don’t think I have ever quite seen a player who is able to instantly turn his competitive switch on and off in the way Alex does. On the field, he is fraught with an incredible level of fiery passion, yelling out each of his eliminations as he speeds down the field. But, the second he steps off the field, he goes right back to his calm, relaxed, and comical self, making jokes and sharing stories. Alex found another gear for this event, and in my opinion, played maybe the most effective tournament of his career since Huntington Beach 2005 at the NPPL. Win number one, 7-4.

The second game against the scrappy and tenacious squad of ac Diesel may have had a different narrative, but much of the same result; more Dynasty dominance. Blake Yarber and Mike Urena are the enforcers of this team without question. They bully their way down the field; Mike in the snake and Blake in the center, and punish opponents mercilessly. When the guard of Dynasty is pierced, Blake is always quick to take off down the field and sway the momentum back in Dynasty’s direction. A fun moment occurs mid-match; Alex Fraige runs full speed while pointing at an opponent yelling “Hey I shot that guy” as he aggressively dives into the snake. Another 7-4 win, one step closer to the goal of winning the event.

Blake Yarber, enforcing the center. Photo by Rob Moore.

Primarily, attackers of the professional paintball league tend to get all the credit. They are the ones making huge moves, racking up eliminations, and getting all the glory akin to a running back or wide receiver on the football field. But, without guys like Marcello Margott, Yosh Rau, and Ryan Greenspan, a team like Dynasty would never be able to achieve all that they do. From the back line of the field, they wage a nuanced war of strategic laning and rigorous communication that often doesn’t fill the stat sheets, but provides critical support that is absolutely needed to win a pro event. These support players affect the game on multiple levels; from their break shooting to assert their will on the opponent, to ensuring their players are in the right position, they are the consistent driver that leads Dynasty to greatness.

The first match of Saturday starts, and the MLKings come out firing against Dynasty, quickly earning a 2-1 lead and looking in control. More often than not, when things began to turn against Dynasty on the field, they look towards Ryan Greenspan and Marcello Margott to put up their iconic Blue Wall along the back line and combine for one of the most elite defensive guards in professional paintball. This proved especially potent during point four against the MLKings. Risking a multiple point deficit, one of the hardest things to overcome in paintball, Marcello sprung into action. Immediately off the break he was applying pressure from the back line on the way to two eliminations. Then, in a brilliant move akin to fine art in motion, he won a 1v1 against Kyle Barry to close out the point and tie the game. It was this moment that turned the tides and Dynasty went on to win the match 6-2, never allowing MLKings to score another point.

Marcello holds guard. Photo by Rob Moore

As the sun begins to set on Saturday, and the impending darkness starts to creep in over the iconic Gaelic Park in Chicago, Dynasty is facing off against one of their long-time rivals. This time it is the Red Legion, affectionately known as, simply, “The Russians”. The Red Legion’s ruthless and unrelenting style of play often overwhelms their opponents. Their coaching is among the game’s elite and their ability to scout and dismantle teams has earned them a feared reputation in the NXL. Their style has led to nearly two dozen event wins for their program. But, none of that matters to Dynasty; they treat the Red Legion like any other opponent and never give them a chance to win the match. Ryan Greenspan is especially impactful in this game, while Dalton Vanderbyl seems to be counter-punching down the dorito side at will. Not even one of the historically greatest teams in professional paintball has found a way to slow down “The Dragon”, San Diego Dynasty. It's a 7-3 win for Dynasty and a perfect 4-0 record in the preliminary round.

Saturday night comes, and while many teams are preparing for the finals, or playoff day, at the Windy City Major, Dynasty treats this time a little differently.They get back to the hotel late and use a bit of extra time as the night wanes on to bond and enjoy each-others company. They have been here, at this moment, finals eve, nearly one hundred times before; they know what they need to do. They grab some food and enjoy the company of each-other, smiling and laughing, as they all strategize their own war on tomorrow's game-plan in their heads.

Mike Urena and Victor Gamboa sharing their excitement. Photo by Rob Moore.

As the morning starts on yet another NXL finals day, the field is bustling with players. They all share the same excited, yet nervous feeling as they mentally prepare for a grinding day of play with hopeful anticipation of a 1st place trophy. Dynasty is quite intriguing in this regard; one would think after more than 70 pro wins that the feeling of victory has become normalized for them; the reality is quite the opposite. They are still as excited at the prospect of winning an event today as they were 20 years ago, sharing war stories from the weekend with each other as the dew blanketed over the paint covered grass begins to burn away in the morning sun.

Their path to the finals begins with NRG Elite. The young and rapidly improving program is coming off the best preliminary round showing in their short history as a pro organization. For Dynasty, this team reveals flashes of their own start in the early 2000’s, just a bunch of friends trying to take over the paintball world. However, its NRG's first Sunday ever, and the inexperience of the NRG team is evident. Dynasty dismantles the red hot team on their way to another 7-3 win.

The team takes time to gather together after their quarter-finals win and begins to watch the remaining teams in the playoff mix to see who their next opponent will be in the semi-finals. But, while Eric Crandell, Victor Gamboa, and Kevin Bredthauer watch with a refined and stern focus, the players on the Dynasty roster are with each other, joking around, and sharing stories from the previous match. Watching the Dynasty modus operandi is interesting; they hang on every word of their fellow teammates as if they weren’t even on the field while the story unfolded and have expressions of shock and excitement when the “big move” is broken down. Their appreciation for one another and bond through this game is admirable, and is a shining example for which every team in this game should strive for.

The always reliable Dalton Vanderbyl. Photo by Rob Moore.

Los Angeles Infamous walks out onto the semi-finals field. After dispatching the previous five opponents easily, they have no plans of seeing their finals run end here. The "Skeleton Squad" has been an intense rival to Dynasty for the majority of their organization's history. Thomas Taylor knows this rivalry especially well, as he spent the majority of his career battling Dynasty for supremacy of the pro paintball world with both the team he started, XSV, and his current team Infamous. For the first time this event, Dynasty looks breakable. The ferocious and razor sharp attack waged by Infamous is met, blow for blow, and the Dynasty backline refuses to break guard. Marcello Margott was especially critical for Dynasty, consistently shutting off the field and stemming the bleeding caused by the relentless onslaught of Los Angeles Infamous. Ryan Greenspan continues to be arguably the best utility player in this league, and he fills the voids left in Dynasty's guard seamlessly all match. It may be the best game of the weekend, and moves Dynasty into yet another finals match. The semi-finals score, 5-3.

Blake Yarber ponders over a field of victory. Photo by Quinn Nadu

While the divisional teams of the NXL are battling for their own respective podium finishes, Dynasty is off game-planning for San Antonio XFactor, one of the best teams in the pro division. They are quick to respect the elite coaching of Ryan Brand and his ability to rapidly diagnose and respond to opponent’s game-plans. But, even the best game planning in the world may not be able to slow down this team. They know each other. They know every move, every response, and every intention of one another, formed through decades of friendship and battle on the paintball field. The match starts and Dynasty is in control immediately. It is evident the game plan is built around isolation of XFactor’s best players, Billy Bernacchia and Archie Montemayor. By focusing on removing the support around these players, they force Billy and Archie into uncomfortable situations. They both respond admirably, but the Dynasty pressure is just too much to handle. XFactor wasn’t willing to go down easily and puts up a strong resistance, but ultimately Dynasty wins the match 7-4.

As Dynasty takes a victory lap around the now battered and paint slick field at Gaelic Park, they find themselves being drawn together. They embrace as a team, and from that mass of victory, Alex Fraige is hoisted upon his teammates shoulders; Alex smiles in jubilation the same way he did all those years ago on Lofty, with these same teammates beside him. Alex was brilliant all weekend for San Diego Dynasty and secured the MVP for the event. By my count, he racked up nearly 60 eliminations throughout the weekend and had one of the best events for an individual player in recent memory. But, all that doesn’t matter to the incredibly humble Alex Fraige. He has fought and struggled, seen triumph and tragedy, all with his brothers on the field. He sheds tears of happiness as his lips mouth the words "This one's for Dreamy."

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The Elite 1v1 Tour Builds on What Makes the Game Great.

Clear Goals and a Focus on Growth in the Game.

The Duel

The Joust

Telling Stories

The Full White Paper and Constitution

1) ​Jacob Edwards, Tampa Bay Damage, 27 Years Old

2) Stephen Omara, Baltimore Revo, 29 Years Old

3) Demetrius Ninios, San Antonio XFactor, 29 Years Old

Brandon Cornell, Edmonton Impact. 26 Years Old.

4) Leonid Smotrov, Red Legion, 24 Years Old

​5) Axel Gaudin, Edmonton Impact, 29 Years Old

​6) Mike Zuppa, Edmonton Impact, 28 Years Old

​7) Mike Urena, San Diego Dynasty, 27 Years Old

​8) Sam Silberg, Los Angeles Infamous, 29 Years Old

​9) Kyle Barry, MLKings, 28 Years Old

​10) Connor Kelley, Houston Heat, 20 Years Old

​11) TJ Danner, San Antonio XFactor, 29 Years Old

​12) Ceelos Cortez, Baltimore Revo, 29 Years Old

​13) Pat Kraft, New York Xtreme, 29 Years Old

​14) Trent Nitta, Los Angeles Ironmen, 19 Years Old

​15) Damian Vazquez, San Diego Dynasty, 26 Years Old

​16) Kyle Nicholaou, Los Angeles Ironmen, 28 Years Old

​17) Ryan Hall, Los Angeles Infamous, 27 Years Old

​18) Ben Challenger, Los Angeles Infamous, 26 Years Old

​19) Mark Baginski, ac Diesel, 24 Years Old

​20) Jerry Caro, New York Xtreme, 28 Years Old

​21) Graham Arnold, Seattle Uprising, 29 Years Old

​22) George McClean, New York Xtreme, 23 Years Old

​23) Tim Stelzl, New York Xtreme, 23 Years Old

2​4) Jonah Jamroz, Los Angeles Infamous, 24 Years Old

​25) Will Hennessy , New York Xtreme, 29 Years Old

​26) Grayson Gladstone, San Diego Aftermath, 27 Years Old

​27) Mark Frans, Austin Notorious, 21 Years Old

​28) Brandon Trujillo, San Diego Aftermath, 18 Years Old

​29) Chris Caputo, Brooklyn Bears, 24 Years Old

​30) ​ Jenn Fulk, Heroines, 29 Years Old

Divisional Players to Watch Under 30

​1) Colt Luckau, PBFit Semi Pro, 23 Years Old.

​2) Dominic Devivo, Noobies Semi Pro, 24 Years Old

​3) Jackson Frey, Blast Camp Semi Pro, 21 Years Old

​4) Ben Sloffer, Vegas Golden Misfits, 18 Years Old.

​5) John Schappaugh, Blast Camp Semi Pro, 26 Years Old

The First NFT in Paintball History has been Minted.

A new opportunity for Creators.

Utilizing the Blockchain to create secure and verifiable ownership.

​Women have been critical throughout the game’s history.

​WNXL Athletes Shine During World Cup.

​Players to watch for the 2022 WNXL season.

​The Future of the WNXL looks bright.

Who is Tyler Harmon?

Talking with Tyler, Early Career.

Playing with Giants.

Going Out on His Own.

Looking Ahead, The Future is Brighter than Ever.

Tyler Harmon, Nominee for Icon of the Year.

Relegation and its effect on the NXL Pro Division.

Columbus LVL, Current Season Rank: 17. Total Points: 155

Sacramento DMG, Current Season Rank: 18, Total Points: 132

MLKings, Current Season Rank: 19, Current Points: 116

ac Dallas, Current Season Rank: 20, Current Points: 90

The Biggest Test is coming.

Coach Pauley liked what he saw.

An Aggressive and Versatile Attacker

1) Jacob Edwards, Tampa Bay Damage, 27 Years Old

5) Axel Gaudin, Edmonton Impact, 29 Years Old

6) Mike Zuppa, Edmonton Impact, 28 Years Old

7) Mike Urena, San Diego Dynasty, 27 Years Old

8) Sam Silberg, Los Angeles Infamous, 29 Years Old

9) Kyle Barry, MLKings, 28 Years Old

10) Connor Kelley, Houston Heat, 20 Years Old

11) TJ Danner, San Antonio XFactor, 29 Years Old

12) Ceelos Cortez, Baltimore Revo, 29 Years Old

13) Pat Kraft, New York Xtreme, 29 Years Old

14) Trent Nitta, Los Angeles Ironmen, 19 Years Old

15) Damian Vazquez, San Diego Dynasty, 26 Years Old

16) Kyle Nicholaou, Los Angeles Ironmen, 28 Years Old

17) Ryan Hall, Los Angeles Infamous, 27 Years Old

18) Ben Challenger, Los Angeles Infamous, 26 Years Old

19) Mark Baginski, ac Diesel, 24 Years Old

20) Jerry Caro, New York Xtreme, 28 Years Old

21) Graham Arnold, Seattle Uprising, 29 Years Old

22) George McClean, New York Xtreme, 23 Years Old

23) Tim Stelzl, New York Xtreme, 23 Years Old

24) Jonah Jamroz, Los Angeles Infamous, 24 Years Old

25) Will Hennessy , New York Xtreme, 29 Years Old

26) Grayson Gladstone, San Diego Aftermath, 27 Years Old

27) Mark Frans, Austin Notorious, 21 Years Old

28) Brandon Trujillo, San Diego Aftermath, 18 Years Old

29) Chris Caputo, Brooklyn Bears, 24 Years Old

30) Jenn Fulk, Heroines, 29 Years Old

1) Colt Luckau, PBFit Semi Pro, 23 Years Old.

2) Dominic Devivo, Noobies Semi Pro, 24 Years Old

3) Jackson Frey, Blast Camp Semi Pro, 21 Years Old

4) Ben Sloffer, Vegas Golden Misfits, 18 Years Old.

5) John Schappaugh, Blast Camp Semi Pro, 26 Years Old

Women have been critical throughout the game’s history.

WNXL Athletes Shine During World Cup.

Players to watch for the 2022 WNXL season.

The Future of the WNXL looks bright.