California Bushmasters
California Bushmasters was an American tournament paintball team active during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Based in Southern California, the team competed in major national 10-man tournaments, including the Bay City Open, International Masters and Lone Star Open.[1][2]
California Bushmasters received equipment support from Line SI and Pursuit Marketing Inc. (PMI). The team was captained by Gilbert "Gilly" Martinez during the early 1990s.[2][3]
History
[edit]Early competition
[edit]California Bushmasters was an established tournament organisation by 1990, fielding multiple squads in professional competition.
The team participated in the 1990 International Masters in Nashville, Tennessee. A surviving team photograph from the event includes player Steve "Mongo" Brett, who used a Line SI Advantage paintball marker.[4]
The team's precise founding date has not been established.
1990 Bay City Open
[edit]California Bushmasters competed in the 1990 Bay City Open in Northern California, entering both its principal squad and a second team in the professional division.
In an interview published by paintball historian Daniel Bacci in March 2014, former player Danny Guardado recalled joining the Bushmasters after being recruited by Bert Vigil.
Guardado joined the team's B squad for the Bay City Open, his first major tournament with the organisation.
According to Guardado, the B squad finished second in the professional division, ahead of the Bushmasters' principal team.[1]
The team's performance received coverage in the December 1990 issues of Action Pursuit Games, Paintcheck and Paintball Sports International.
Contemporary photographs from these publications were subsequently preserved and reproduced by Bacci.[1]
National competition (1991–1992)
[edit]California Bushmasters continued competing in major American tournaments throughout 1991.
The team participated in the 1991 Lone Star Open in Texas, an event within the RPS/PMI Championship Series organised by Jim Lively and Sam Caldwell.
Historical photographs from the tournament document the team's association with PMI and Line SI.[3]
Gilbert "Gilly" Martinez served as team captain during this period.
The team's 1991 competitive record was included in the World Paintball Federation Quarterly Report, compiled by Steve Davidson.
Published in 1992, the report preserved match statistics from several major 1991 tournaments, including the Bay City Open, Line SI Masters, Pennsylvania Cup and Windy City Open.[2]
At the 1992 Lone Star Open in Dallas, California Bushmasters finished eighth in the open 10-man competition.
The tournament was won by Tour de Force, with the Ironmen second and All Americans third.[5]
The team's subsequent competition history and final season have not been conclusively established.
Equipment and sponsorship
[edit]California Bushmasters was associated with two major American paintball equipment suppliers.
Line SI supplied paintball markers to the organisation during the early 1990s.
Danny Guardado recalled receiving a customised Line SI Bushmaster with a hard-anodised finish and factory-team engraving from company representative Ross Alexander.
Other players, including Steve Brett, used the Line SI Advantage during tournament competition.[1][4]
Pursuit Marketing Inc. (PMI) also sponsored California Bushmasters.
The team's association with PMI is documented in photographs from the 1991 Lone Star Open, preserved in the collection of Gilbert Martinez and published in a historical interview with PMI co-founder Jeff Perlmutter.[3]
Notable players
[edit]Documented players associated with California Bushmasters include:
- Gilbert "Gilly" Martinez – Team captain during the early 1990s and contributor of historical team photographs and tournament records.[2][3]
- Danny Guardado – Former member of The Mafia who joined the Bushmasters in 1990 and competed with the B squad at the Bay City Open.[1]
- Bert Vigil – Bushmasters player who recruited Danny Guardado into the organisation.[1]
- Steve "Mongo" Brett – Player documented with California Bushmasters at the 1990 International Masters.[4]
Selected tournament results
[edit]| Year | Tournament | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Bay City Open | Professional 10-man, B squad | 2nd, according to Danny Guardado's retrospective account [1] |
| 1992 | Lone Star Open, Dallas | Open 10-man | 8th [5] |
See also
[edit]- Bushwackers (paintball team)
- Tour de Force (paintball team)
- Line SI
- Pursuit Marketing Inc.
- List of historically significant paintball teams
References
[edit]- Paintball History – Danny Guardado of The Mafia, California Bushmaster and AGS, Daniel Bacci, 8 March 2014.
- Paintball History – Paintball Stats: World Paintball Federation Quarterly Report, 1991, Daniel Bacci, 17 April 2014.
- Paintball History – Pioneering the Sport of Paintball: The History of PMI with Jeff Perlmutter, Daniel Bacci, 31 January 2023.
- Paintball History – History on the Line SI Advantage with Steve Brett, Daniel Bacci, 22 September 2015.
- ClassicScores – 1992 Lone Star Open, Dallas, Open 10-Man Results.