Sacramento XSV

Sacramento XSV, commonly known as XSV or Excessive, is an American paintball team from California. Formed in 2004 by former professional players from the Los Angeles Ironmen and other teams, XSV became one of the leading competitors in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) Super 7 series during the mid-2000s. [1][2]

Led by Rich Telford, the team won major professional tournaments in the NPPL and Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), including the 2005 NPPL Denver Open and 2006 PSP Chicago Open. It finished second in the NPPL professional season standings in 2004, 2005 and 2006 before winning the 2012 NPPL professional season championship. [3][4][5]

XSV was also closely associated with Planet Eclipse, becoming the manufacturer's first leading American professional team to use the Eclipse Ego paintball marker in 2005. [6]

History

Formation (2004)

XSV was formed following the 2003 professional paintball season, during a period of division between the NPPL and the newly established National Xball League (NXL).

Several players from the Los Angeles Ironmen and other professional organisations left their existing teams to compete outside the restrictions imposed by the original NXL player contracts.

The new organisation was led by Rich Telford and included Micah McGlocklin, Matty Marshall and Nicky Cuba. Thomas Taylor was another early member. [1][2][7]

The team competed under the name Excessive, abbreviated to XSV.

During its first season, XSV participated in the NPPL Super 7, PSP Division 1 X-Ball and the European Millennium Series. [1][2]

The team finished second at the 2004 NPPL Denver Open, losing the professional final to Los Angeles Infamous. [3]

XSV also finished second at the NPPL Las Vegas Open later that season and ended 2004 in second place in the professional Super 7 standings behind San Diego Dynasty. [8]

Rise to professional success (2005)

The 2005 season established XSV as one of Dynasty's principal competitors.

At the season-opening NPPL Huntington Beach Open, XSV reached the professional final against Dynasty, finishing second. [8]

Another second-place finish followed at the Tampa Bay Open. [9]

In July 2005, XSV achieved its first NPPL Super 7 professional tournament victory at the Denver Open, defeating Dynasty in the final. [10]

The team subsequently finished second at both the San Diego Open and Miami Commander's Cup, ending the season as NPPL professional runners-up behind Dynasty. [11]

XSV also competed in PSP Open X-Ball, winning the 2005 Northeast Open and finishing second at the PSP World Cup. [4]

These achievements made XSV one of the most competitive American professional organisations across both seven-player and X-Ball formats.

2006 NPPL and PSP seasons

XSV began the 2006 NPPL season by winning the Huntington Beach Open, defeating Dynasty in two consecutive games in the professional final. [12]

The team followed this victory by winning the Tampa Bay Open, becoming only the second team after Dynasty to win consecutive NPPL Super 7 professional tournaments. [13]

XSV also won the professional X-Ball division at the 2006 PSP Chicago Open. [4]

The team remained the leading contender for the NPPL season championship entering the final tournament at Orange County.

At the Commander's Cup, XSV finished third, while Dynasty won the event. The results gave Dynasty 100 series points against XSV's 98, leaving XSV second overall. [5]

XSV also finished third at the 2006 PSP World Cup. [4]

Continued competition (2007–2011)

XSV continued competing in the NPPL and PSP during the following seasons.

The team remained active in professional NPPL seven-player competition through 2008. At the 2008 Buffalo Open, XSV finished fourth in the professional division. [14]

In 2009, the team competed in the United States Paintball League (USPL), which replaced the original NPPL following its financial difficulties.

XSV also returned to PSP competition, winning the semi-professional X-Ball division at the 2009 Phoenix Open. [4]

The organisation continued competing in professional and divisional tournaments during the following years.

NPPL championship (2012)

XSV returned to championship-winning form during the 2012 NPPL season.

In April, the team won the Surf City USA Open at Huntington Beach, defeating Tampa Bay Damage 3–0 in the professional final. [15]

The team maintained its championship challenge throughout the season.

At the final tournament, the NPPL World Paintball Championships in Las Vegas, XSV finished second behind San Diego Dynasty.

Despite losing the final, XSV secured the 2012 NPPL professional season championship. Tampa Bay Damage finished second in the season standings, followed by Edmonton Impact and Infamous. [16]

The championship was XSV's first documented NPPL professional Super 7 series title.

PSP competition and roster changes (2013–2014)

Following its 2012 NPPL championship, XSV concentrated on the PSP professional X-Ball circuit.

The team competed in the PSP professional division and subsequently the Pro Challengers division, but struggled to reproduce its earlier tournament success. [4][17]

In December 2013, XSV announced that Thomas Taylor would leave the team after ten seasons. Rich Telford, who remained the team's owner and captain, confirmed the departure. Taylor subsequently joined Houston Heat. [17]

Further roster changes followed in 2014.

The team recruited Shane Howe and Clint Johnson from Texas Storm and Jamirsen Ezell from T1, while Riley Sullivan departed. [18]

XSV continued competing in PSP Pro Challengers throughout 2014, with its final recorded PSP appearance that season at the World Cup in October. [4]

Later divisional competition

The XSV organisation subsequently continued in divisional tournament paintball.

In 2017, Planet Eclipse published a retrospective describing the original professional team's history and confirming that a new generation of XSV players was competing in divisional tournaments with its support. [6]

Tournament records document Sacramento XSV competing in Division 3 X-Ball in the West Coast Paintball Players League (WCPPL) during 2018.

In 2019, the team competed in Division 2 WCPPL events and the semi-professional division of the NXL World Cup. [4]

XSV won the Premier Open X-Ball division at the 2020 WCPPL West Coast Challenge.

The team continued to appear in NXL semi-professional competition through 2022, including the Sunshine State Major and Lone Star Open. [4]

Notable players

Players associated with significant periods of XSV's professional history include:

Rich Telford – Founder, owner and captain.
Micah McGlocklin – Founding player and former Los Angeles Ironmen member.
Matty Marshall – Founding player and later professional paintball commentator.
Nicky Cuba – Founding player and prominent member of the championship-era roster.
Thomas Taylor – Longstanding player from the team's formation through 2013.
David Williamson – Member of the professional roster.
Neil Eberle – Professional player during the team's early success.
Nicky Vegas – Member of the early professional organisation.
Rusty Glaze – Professional player during the team's PSP competition.
Dave Bains – Member of the 2006 professional roster.
Riley Sullivan – Professional player during the early 2010s.

[2][4][7][17][18]

Selected tournament achievements

Year	Competition	Division	Result
2004	NPPL Denver Open	Professional 7-man	2nd place [3]
2004	NPPL Super 7 Series	Professional	2nd overall [8]
2005	NPPL Denver Open	Professional 7-man	Champions [10]
2005	PSP Northeast Open	Open X-Ball	Champions [4]
2005	NPPL Super 7 Series	Professional	2nd overall [11]
2006	NPPL Huntington Beach Open	Professional 7-man	Champions [12]
2006	NPPL Tampa Bay Open	Professional 7-man	Champions [13]
2006	PSP Chicago Open	Professional X-Ball	Champions [4]
2006	PSP World Cup	Professional X-Ball	3rd place [4]
2006	NPPL Super 7 Series	Professional	2nd overall [5]
2009	PSP Phoenix Open	Semi-Pro X-Ball	Champions [4]
2012	NPPL Surf City USA Open	Professional	Champions [15]
2012	NPPL World Paintball Championships	Professional	2nd place [16]
2012	NPPL Professional Series	Professional	Series champions [16]
2020	WCPPL West Coast Challenge	Premier Open X-Ball	Champions [4]

Equipment and sponsorship

XSV played an important role in the introduction of the Eclipse Ego, the first complete electronic paintball marker developed by British manufacturer Planet Eclipse.

At the 2004 NPPL Denver Open, Planet Eclipse approached Rich Telford about sponsoring XSV with its forthcoming marker.

According to the manufacturer's historical account, the team agreed to use the Ego before seeing the finished product. [6]

XSV entered the 2005 season as Planet Eclipse's first major American professional team sponsored to use the Ego.

The team's competitive success helped promote the new marker, while feedback from its professional players contributed to subsequent product development. [6]

Planet Eclipse later produced XSV-associated versions of its markers and continued supporting the organisation following its return to divisional competition. [6]

Media

XSV was the subject of the 2007 documentary film Heroes for a Day: The XSV Story, produced by Monkey With a Gun and directed by Patrick Spohrer.

The documentary followed the formation and development of the team over approximately two years, documenting its training, travel, tournaments and internal relationships.

The film featured Rich Telford, Nicky Cuba, Matty Marshall, Micah McGlocklin, Nicky Vegas, David Williamson, Thomas Taylor and Neil Eberle.

Matty Marshall also contributed to the screenplay. [2]

The film received coverage from contemporary paintball publications and remains available through Major League Paintball's digital video archive. [19]

Legacy

XSV was one of the principal challengers to San Diego Dynasty during the mid-2000s NPPL Super 7 era.

Its formation represented a notable response to the restrictions of the original NXL franchise system, allowing former NXL professionals to compete across several tournament circuits. [1][2]

XSV's 2005 and 2006 tournament victories, followed by its 2012 NPPL professional championship, established a significant competitive record.

The team's association with Planet Eclipse was also important to the commercial introduction and development of the Ego marker, which subsequently became one of the leading electronic markers in professional paintball. [6]

Its history was further documented through Heroes for a Day, which provided contemporary coverage of the team's development and professional playing environment. [2]

References

External links