San Diego Dynasty

San Diego Dynasty, commonly known as Dynasty, is an American professional paintball team based in San Diego, California. Founded in 2001, Dynasty is one of the most successful teams in competitive paintball history, having won major professional tournaments and season championships across the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), Millennium Series and National Xball League (NXL). [1][2]

The team is particularly associated with its blue uniforms and dragon emblem, as well as longstanding players Ryan Greenspan and Alex Fraige. According to its official history, Dynasty has recorded more than 60 first-place finishes at major professional tournaments. [1]

History

Formation and early years (2001–2002)

Dynasty was formed in 2001 following the success of a group of young Californian tournament players, several of whom had previously competed together as the IronKids. The team's formation was organised with the involvement of Chuck Hendsch, a paintball industry executive who became its original captain. Ryan Greenspan and Alex Fraige were among the founding players. [2][3]

The original 2001 NPPL roster included Greenspan, Fraige, Angel Fragoza, Brian Cole, Brad Maughan, Rodney Squires, Kevin Bredthauer, Richard Loughran, Sonny Lopez, Jonny Pershek and Chuck Hendsch. [3]

Dynasty achieved immediate success, winning the professional 10-man division at the 2001 NPPL World Cup in Orlando, Florida, during its first season. [4]

In 2002, Dynasty finished level with the Southern California Ironmen at the top of the NPPL professional 10-man season standings, with both teams recording 229 ranking points. Oliver Lang, who had previously played for the Ironmen, was included on Dynasty's published professional roster that year. [5][6]

NPPL dominance (2003–2006)

The introduction of the NPPL Super 7 series in 2003 marked another successful period for Dynasty. The team won the first two Super 7 professional events, at Huntington Beach and Las Vegas, and went on to secure the inaugural series championship. [7][8]

Dynasty continued to dominate the competition during the following seasons. By the end of 2006, the team had won four consecutive NPPL Super 7 professional season championships, from 2003 through 2006. [9]

The team also competed internationally in the Millennium Series and accumulated European championships alongside its American tournament victories. A 2006 Los Angeles Times profile documented four world championships and three Triple Crown titles, recognising achievements across American, European and international competition. [2]

During this period, Dynasty became one of professional paintball's most recognisable teams, receiving coverage in mainstream newspapers, paintball publications and tournament broadcasts.

Continued success (2007–2019)

Dynasty continued competing at the highest professional level through the NPPL, PSP and international tournaments.

In 2011, Dynasty won the NPPL Surf City Open at Huntington Beach, returning to the top of an event it had dominated during the original Super 7 era. [10]

The following year, Dynasty won the professional division of the 2012 NPPL World Paintball Championships in Las Vegas, defeating Sacramento XSV, who had already secured the series title. [11]

Dynasty won the 2013 PSP professional season championship with 886 ranking points, finishing ahead of Edmonton Impact and Tampa Bay Damage. The title followed a difficult 2012 PSP season and demonstrated the team's continued competitiveness following changes to its roster and coaching staff. [12]

In late 2016, several longstanding Dynasty members and team manager Eric Crandall established Field One Paintball, acquiring assets and designs from Bob Long Technologies. Dynasty announced that it would compete using Field One markers from the 2017 season, establishing a direct relationship between the professional team and its equipment manufacturer. [13]

NXL World Cup championships (2020–2023)

Dynasty achieved another period of sustained success in the NXL during the early 2020s.

The team won four consecutive NXL professional World Cup championships in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The fourth title came against Edmonton Impact at the 2023 World Cup, where Dynasty secured a 3–2 victory in the final. [14][15]

Dynasty also captured the 2023 NXL professional season championship, having won the Sunshine State Major and Lone Star Major earlier that year. [14][15]

Its championship-winning personnel during this period included Ryan Greenspan, Alex Fraige, Yosh Rau, Blake Yarber, Marcello Margott, Arturo Andrade and Oliver Lang, alongside other players and coaching staff. [16]

Recent competition

Dynasty remained active in NXL professional competition through the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Its recorded results include winning the 2024 NXL Las Vegas Major and finishing runner-up at the 2025 NXL Tampa Bay Open. [15]

Notable players

The following players have been associated with Dynasty during significant periods of the team's history:

Ryan Greenspan – Founding member and longstanding professional player.
Alex Fraige – Founding member and team captain.
Oliver Lang – Joined the professional roster by 2002 and played across several championship periods.
Yosh Rau – Longstanding member of the team's championship-winning roster.
Angel Fragoza – Member of the original 2001 professional roster.
Brian Cole – Member of the original 2001 professional roster.
Blake Yarber – Member of the team's later NXL championship rosters.
Marcello Margott – Professional player who played a decisive role in the 2023 NXL World Cup final.
Arturo Andrade – Member of the team's 2020s championship rosters.

[3][6][14][16]

Selected achievements

The following table lists selected major professional titles and results rather than a complete tournament record.

Year	Competition	Achievement
2001	NPPL World Cup, professional 10-man	1st place [4]
2002	NPPL professional 10-man season	Joint series champions with the Ironmen [5]
2003	NPPL Super 7	Professional series champions [7][9]
2004–2006	NPPL Super 7	Professional series champions in each season [9]
2011	NPPL Surf City Open	1st place [10]
2012	NPPL World Paintball Championships	1st place, professional division [11]
2013	PSP professional season	Series champions [12]
2020–2023	NXL World Cup	Four consecutive professional championships [14][15]
2023	NXL professional season	Series champions [14]
2024	NXL Las Vegas Major	1st place, professional division [15]

Legacy

Dynasty has been an influential organisation in professional tournament paintball, maintaining competitive success through the transition from 10-man to 7-man competition and modern X-Ball.

The team has also played a role in paintball coaching, international clinics, sponsorship and equipment development. Its association with Field One Paintball represents an example of professional players participating directly in the design and manufacture of paintball markers. [1][13]

References

External links