Editing Bill Gardner (section)

== Playing career ==

=== Formation of the All Americans ===

Gardner began playing paintball with his brother Adam during the 1980s.

According to the brothers' account published by DLX Technology, they initially competed in recreational games before entering the Wolf's Lair 20-player tournament.

Their team finished second behind the PMI Piranhas, receiving a US$10,000 prize.

The experience encouraged the brothers to establish the All Americans as a dedicated tournament team.[1]

The All Americans subsequently competed in the Line SI tournament series, progressing through the rankings before winning the 1991 Masters Championship in Tennessee.

The organisation became one of the leading American professional paintball teams during the 1990s, competing against [[Chicago Aftershock]], the [[Ironmen]] and other established teams.[1]

=== Professional competition ===

Gardner remained an active professional competitor during the team's successful tournament campaigns.

At the 1999 Skyball tournament in Toronto, Canada, contemporary WARPIG records listed him on the All Americans Blue roster alongside Adam Gardner, George Davison, Frank Halliman, Dan Kerszencwejg and Hans Semelsberger.[7]

He was also documented as the All Americans' captain during the late 1990s.

A 1997 WARPIG video archive identified Gardner as both team captain and president of Smart Parts during an interview about the company's Shocker electronic marker.[8]

The All Americans won numerous major five-player and ten-player tournaments during this period, including the professional five-player division at the 2000 [[Paintball World Cup]].[1][9]

=== NPPL captaincy ===

The official 2001 NPPL professional roster identified Gardner as captain of the All Americans.

The roster included Adam Gardner, [[Frank Connell]], Mark Biletnikoff, Jason Green, Dan Kerszencwejg, Roddy MacDonald and other established professional players.[3]

The All Americans won the professional ten-player division at the 2001 NPPL Chicago Open, held at [[Badlandz Paintball Field]] in Crete, Illinois.[10]

Gardner remained listed as team captain on the published 2002 NPPL professional roster.[11]