Editing Adam Gardner (section)

=== Early career and All Americans ===

Gardner began playing paintball in 1986 alongside his brother Bill.

The brothers initially participated in recreational games before entering organised tournament competition.

According to their retrospective account published by DLX Technology, they competed at the Wolf's Lair 20-man tournament with a group of approximately 15 other players.

The 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 entered the Line SI tournament series, progressing through the amateur ranks before winning the 1991 Masters Championship in Tennessee.[1]

During the 1990s, the team became one of the leading professional organisations in American paintball, competing against established teams including [[Chicago Aftershock]] and the [[Ironmen]].

The All Americans won multiple major five-player and ten-player championships, including the professional five-player division at the 2000 [[Paintball World Cup]].[1][5]