NOMINEES FOR Supporter of the Year
Josh HOWE, HK Army.
In a word, Josh Howe is a grinder. He is one of the most critical members of the HK Army staff and is truly one of the key pieces that makes the HK team program one of the most successful in the World. Josh can typically be seen at the HK booths at nearly every major paintball related event in the country and his tireless efforts helped the HK Army teams win four of the last six professional events, the last two pro season titles, and dozens of event wins in the divisional ranks. Josh is also the warehousing supervisor, event coordinator, and very much so the "wear every hat" guy for HK Army.
Victor Gamboa, G2 Sports.
Throughout paintballs history, every great team has had an incredible staff supporting it; for San Diego Dynasty, the leader of that staff is Victor Gamboa. Victor is the "anything and everything" guy for San Diego and his role both at events and practices for Dynasty is a major reason they were able to win two events in the 2021 season. The way Victor utilizes video at practices has been credited as a major piece of the success of Dynasty by every player on the team this year. Victor is also the owner of G2 Paintball Athletics and helps athletes all over the country find their true potential in the sport of paintball and achieve above the level they thought they could.
Danette Smith, Houston Heat.
Beyond what happens on the national stage, beyond all the drills and conditioning, all the preparation, is the true driving heart of the Houston Heat program, "Momma D". Danette Smith is the wife of Houston owner, Sarge Smith, and has been credited as one of the key emotional leaders of the Houston Heat team. When players need to sort out things mentally, or just need someone for advice, Danette is always there to support and guide the professional players of Houston Heat. She is a critical piece behind one of the greatest runs in paintball history, and it is especially impressive due to the traditionally high difficulty of keeping "super teams" together in the professional sports world.
Corynn Kesteleyn.
Corynn is a self described "pod beast" and one of the best pit crew leaders in the sport of competitive paintball. She has helped some of the best divisional teams in the world in the pits and provides a level of efficiency often not seen outside of the pro pits. She is one of the people that helps define the incredible level of community and atmosphere around the divisional game and her contributions to many teams throughout the year should not be overlooked. She is also an outspoken and vocal presence on social media in regards to competitive paintball, which helps to create a larger conversation on how the major leagues can continue to adapt and change.
Matt Engles, National XBall League.
Matt Engles is the man behind the NXL Media team, and is the Head of Marketing for the National Xball League. He tirelessly works at events and throughout the year on promoting the sport of paintball on the largest competitive stage on earth. All the top graphics, score tracking, and stories from the NXL are produced through Matts guidance and he is a critical member of the paintball industry and paintball media as a whole. You won't see him walking around events often because he is typically spending 14-16 hours a day in the on-site media HQ working on providing top level content and direction for the NXL social media and beyond.