Micah McGlocklin

Micah McGlocklin is an American former professional paintball player, team founder and paintball field operator. He is best known for his career with the Southern California Ironmen and for founding Sacramento XSV, one of the prominent American professional tournament teams of the 2000s.[1][2]

McGlocklin competed in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), National Xball League (NXL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) and European Millennium Series. He was a member of the Ironmen during their 2002 NPPL professional 10-man championship season and subsequently helped establish XSV in 2003.[2][3]

He is also the owner and operator of Davis Paintball, a commercial paintball facility in Davis, California.[4]

Paintball career

Early professional career and Ironmen

McGlocklin entered professional tournament paintball during the 1990s, becoming part of a younger generation of players competing at the sport's highest level.

He was a member of the original Ironmen organisation following its division in late 1996, remaining with the team associated with Dave Youngblood and Shane Pestana rather than Bob Long's Ironmen.

At the 1998 NPPL Chicago Open, contemporary WARPIG coverage documented McGlocklin playing for Dave Youngblood's Ironmen against Bob Long's team. The match was the first tournament meeting between the two organisations following their separation.[1]

McGlocklin remained with the Southern California Ironmen through the early 2000s.

Published NPPL professional rosters confirm his participation with the team in both 2001 and 2002.[5][6]

2002 NPPL championship

The 2002 season was among the most successful of McGlocklin's professional career.

McGlocklin later recalled serving as co-captain of the Ironmen during the season, which included victories at the NPPL Chicago Open and a European tournament in Amsterdam.[2]

At the Chicago Open, held from 19 to 23 June 2002, the Ironmen won the professional 10-man competition. Contemporary tournament coverage documented McGlocklin playing during the professional finals, including the team's match against San Diego Dynasty.[3]

The Ironmen and Dynasty subsequently finished joint first in the 2002 NPPL professional 10-man season standings.

The championship represented the final season of the established professional NPPL 10-man structure before major changes to American professional paintball competition.[7]

Los Angeles Ironmen and X-Ball

In 2003, the Ironmen entered the newly established National Xball League under the name Los Angeles Ironmen.

McGlocklin was part of the team's original NXL playing group alongside players including Rich Telford, Yosh Rau, Billy Wing, Andy Kopcok and Matt Marshall.[7]

The original NXL operated as a restricted professional competition. Player agreements limited participation in competing tournament organisations, including the NPPL Super 7 and Millennium Series.

McGlocklin later explained that these restrictions were a major reason for his departure from the Ironmen following the 2003 season.[2]

Founding of XSV

During the 2003 off-season, McGlocklin organised the formation of Sacramento XSV, also known as Excessive or XSV.

The new team brought together established professional players who had departed the Los Angeles Ironmen, Chicago Aftershock and other organisations.

McGlocklin was involved in recruiting players, securing sponsorship and developing the team's identity.[2]

According to his later account, the purpose of founding XSV was to regain the freedom to compete internationally and across multiple tournament organisations, rather than specifically to challenge Dynasty.

McGlocklin also designed the team's original 2004 jersey, incorporating the California state bear, gold colouring, nautical stars and a pirate ship. He later explained that he had initially considered naming the team Mutiny.[2]

XSV entered professional competition in 2004. Contemporary WARPIG reporting identified McGlocklin, Rich Telford, Matty Marshall and Nicky Cuba among its established professional players.[8]

The team's early development and subsequent rise in professional competition were documented in Heroes for a Day: The XSV Story, a paintball documentary produced by Monkey With A Gun Productions.

The film featured McGlocklin alongside other XSV players, following the team's tournament competition and development.[9]

Later competition

McGlocklin continued participating in professional tournament paintball during the second half of the 2000s.

A published NPPL professional roster for the 2006 Commander's Cup listed him with New York NRG.[10]

He subsequently appeared on Sacramento XSV's registered professional roster for the 2007 PSP Chicago Open, held from 20 to 24 June 2007.[11]

In January 2009, contemporary paintball reporting described McGlocklin as semi-retired and reported his involvement with XSV at the 2008 NPPL Asian Invitational in Malaysia.[12]

Davis Paintball

Outside professional tournament competition, McGlocklin became involved in paintball field ownership and operation.

He has operated Davis Paintball, located near Davis, California, since 2004.

The facility offers recreational paintball and organised group activities, with multiple playing fields accommodating different experience levels.

A 2015 CBS San Francisco article identified McGlocklin as the facility's owner and noted his extensive experience in both professional competition and commercial paintball operations.[4]

His involvement in Davis Paintball has continued beyond his principal professional playing career.

Recognition

McGlocklin has been recognised in retrospective coverage of professional paintball during the 1990s and 2000s.

In 2024, he appeared on the Paintball Passport podcast hosted by Joe Barrett, discussing his Ironmen and XSV careers and his experiences travelling internationally for paintball tournaments.[13]

He was also included among the nominees announced for the 2025 Hall of Icons, an initiative recognising professional paintball players and their contributions to the sport.[14]

References

WARPIG – 1998 NPPL Chicago Open. Contemporary coverage of the first tournament meeting between the two Ironmen organisations.
Davis Paintball – 2004 XSV Throwback Jersey. Historical account written by Micah McGlocklin covering the Ironmen, the creation of XSV and its original jersey.
WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Chicago Open. Tournament report, 19–23 June 2002.
CBS San Francisco – Best Paintball in Bay Area. Published 2015.
WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Professional Rosters.
WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Professional Rosters.
WARPIG – Heroes for a Day, The XSV Story. Review by Bill Mills, covering the Ironmen championship, introduction of the NXL and formation of XSV.
WARPIG – 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach Open. March 2004 tournament coverage and XSV team background.
WARPIG – Heroes for a Day, The XSV Story. Documentary review identifying McGlocklin among the featured XSV players.
pbhub.de – NPPL Orange County Commander's Cup. Contemporary forum reproduction of the October 2006 NPPL professional team rosters.
PBLeagues – Sacramento XSV, 2007 Chicago Open. Official tournament registration and roster record.
S E B U R O – January 2009 Paintball Reporting. Contemporary reporting concerning XSV and McGlocklin's playing status.
Paintball Passport – Episode 10: Micah McGlocklin. 3 March 2024.
Iconic Paintball – Hall of Icons 2025 Nominees Revealed.

External links