KAPP Factory
KAPP Factory, also known as the KAPP Factory Team, was an American competitive paintball team sponsored by KAPP (Kick Ass Paintball Products), a California-based paintball equipment manufacturer.
The team competed in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) and Pan Am Circuit during the early 2000s. Its achievements included winning the inaugural Spyder Cup in 2000, the 2002 NPPL novice 10-man season championship and the amateur division of the 2003 NPPL Las Vegas Open.[1][2][3]
History
[edit]Early competition and 2000 Spyder Cup
[edit]KAPP Factory was associated with the Northern California tournament paintball scene and fielded players with experience in regional and national competition.
The team's best-documented early victory came at the inaugural Spyder Cup, held on 27–28 May 2000 at Three Rivers Paintball near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Organised by Kingman International with assistance from Debra Dion Krischke and Team Effort Events, the competition attracted 99 amateur teams. Participants were required to use mechanical Spyder paintball markers.[1]
The winning KAPP Factory squad consisted of:
- Brian Cole
- Ryan Greenspan
- Alex Fraige
- Kenny Chamberlain
- Yosh Rau
The players had previously competed with teams including KAPP, IronKids and Lofty.
KAPP Factory defeated Strange, OBR I and Machine in the final round, winning by a two-point margin over Strange.
The first-place prize consisted of five Ford Mustang cars valued at approximately US$88,000.[1]
Several members of the winning squad subsequently became associated with the professional team San Diego Dynasty, established in 2001.
2001 season
[edit]KAPP Factory continued competing in national amateur tournaments during 2001.
At the NPPL Chicago Open in June, the team advanced to the amateur semi-finals.[4]
At the Pan Am Circuit finals in Las Vegas, held from 28 November to 2 December 2001, KAPP Factory won the amateur 10-man division.
The team also fielded entries in the five-man competition, finishing fifth in the amateur division and second in the novice division.[5]
2002 NPPL season
[edit]KAPP Factory achieved considerable success in the 2002 NPPL and PSP 10-man season.
At the Los Angeles Open in Corona, California, the team won the novice division. Contemporary reporting described the squad as having been recently rebuilt.[6]
The team subsequently finished second in the novice division at the PSP Las Vegas Open in May, behind Static.[7]
In August, KAPP Factory won the novice division at the NPPL Atlantic City Open in New Jersey, finishing ahead of Naughty Dogs Silver, Gridlock and Justice.[8]
At the 2002 Paintball World Cup in Kissimmee, Florida, KAPP Factory finished second in the novice 10-man division behind Cartel.
Its performances across the season secured the 2002 NPPL novice 10-man series championship.[2]
2002 Pan Am finals
[edit]In December 2002, KAPP Factory competed at the Pan Am Circuit finals in Las Vegas.
The team won the amateur 10-man division, finishing ahead of Check It Factory and Urban Quest I.
A separate entry, KAPP Factory Red, won the amateur five-man competition ahead of Bushwackers WGP and CP Factory.
The organisation also fielded a younger squad, KAPP Kidz, which finished third in the rookie five-man division.[9]
2003 season
[edit]Following its successful 2002 novice campaign, KAPP Factory competed in the amateur division during the 2003 PSP season.[10]
At the inaugural NPPL Super 7 tournament in Huntington Beach, California, in February 2003, the team finished second in the amateur division behind Evil Factory.[11]
Later that month, KAPP Factory placed third in the amateur 10-man division at the Mardi Gras Open in New Orleans.[12]
In April, the team won the amateur division of the NPPL Las Vegas Open, held at Sam Boyd Stadium.
KAPP Factory defeated ViewLoader Allstars in the final to secure the championship.[3]
The team continued competing in national tournaments during 2003, including the PSP Las Vegas Open and NPPL Chicago Open.
Tournament results
[edit]| Year | Tournament | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Spyder Cup | Amateur 5-man | 1st |
| 2001 | Pan Am Las Vegas Finals | Amateur 10-man | 1st |
| 2002 | NPPL Los Angeles Open | Novice 10-man | 1st |
| 2002 | PSP Las Vegas Open | Novice 10-man | 2nd |
| 2002 | NPPL Atlantic City Open | Novice 10-man | 1st |
| 2002 | Paintball World Cup | Novice 10-man | 2nd |
| 2002 | NPPL 10-man season | Novice | Series champions |
| 2002 | Pan Am Las Vegas Finals | Amateur 10-man | 1st |
| 2002 | Pan Am Las Vegas Finals | Amateur 5-man (KAPP Factory Red) | 1st |
| 2003 | NPPL Huntington Beach | Amateur 7-man | 2nd |
| 2003 | Mardi Gras Open | Amateur 10-man | 3rd |
| 2003 | NPPL Las Vegas Open | Amateur 7-man | 1st |
The table lists selected documented results rather than a complete tournament record.
Notable players
[edit]The following players were members of KAPP Factory's 2000 Spyder Cup championship squad:[1]
- Brian Cole
- Ryan Greenspan
- Alex Fraige
- Kenny Chamberlain
- Yosh Rau
The team fielded different line-ups in subsequent seasons, including separate entries in five-man and ten-man competitions.
See also
[edit]- KAPP
- IronKids
- San Diego Dynasty
- Spyder Cup
- Pan Am Circuit
- National Professional Paintball League
- History of tournament paintball
References
[edit]- WARPIG, Bill Mills, "Kingman Spyder Cup", 27–28 May 2000. Contemporary tournament coverage, winning roster and final results.
- WARPIG, "PSP/NPPL World Cup 2002", 19–27 October 2002. World Cup results and final NPPL season standings.
- WARPIG, "NPPL Las Vegas Super 7", 10–13 April 2003. Contemporary coverage of KAPP Factory's amateur championship.
- WARPIG, "NPPL Chicago Open 2001", June 2001. Amateur 10-man semi-final results.
- WARPIG, "Pan Am Las Vegas 2001", 28 November–2 December 2001. Ten-man and five-man results.
- WARPIG, "NPPL Los Angeles Open 2002". Contemporary reporting documenting KAPP Factory's novice victory.
- WARPIG, "PSP Las Vegas Open 2002", 1–5 May 2002. Novice division results.
- WARPIG, "NPPL Atlantic City Open 2002", 21–25 August 2002. Contemporary coverage confirming the novice championship.
- WARPIG, "Pan Am Las Vegas 2002", 4–8 December 2002. Results for KAPP Factory, KAPP Factory Red and KAPP Kidz.
- WARPIG, "PSP Los Angeles Open 2003". Coverage documenting KAPP Factory's move into the amateur division.
- WARPIG, "NPPL Huntington Beach 2003", 7–9 February 2003. Amateur division final results.
- WARPIG, "Mardi Gras Open 2003", 20–23 February 2003. Amateur 10-man final results.