Editing Billy Wing


'''Billy Wing''' is an American former professional [[paintball]] player, coach and equipment developer. He is best known for his longstanding association with the [[Ironmen (Southern California)|Southern California Ironmen]] and [[Los Angeles Ironmen]], and his subsequent work in research and development at [[DYE Precision]].[1][2]

Wing competed professionally from the 1990s through the early 2010s, winning multiple tournaments with the Ironmen, including the 2007 and 2008 [[National Xball League]] (NXL) World Cup championships.[3][4]

After retiring from regular professional competition, he remained involved with the Ironmen as a team manager and coach and continued developing paintball equipment for DYE.

In 2024, Wing was inducted into the [[Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons]].[5]

== Playing career ==

=== Southern California Ironmen ===

Wing was a member of the Southern California Ironmen during the late 1990s.

Contemporary photographs from the 1998 [[NPPL World Cup]] in Orlando, Florida, document Wing competing against Rage while representing the Ironmen.[6]

He remained with the organisation during the early 2000s, appearing on its official [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL) professional rosters in 2001 and 2002.

The 2001 roster listed Wing alongside [[Shane Pestana]], [[Oliver Lang]], [[Matty Marshall]], [[Micah McGlocklin]], [[Yosh Rau]], [[Rich Telford]] and [[Bryon Benini]].[7]

At the 2001 NPPL Chicago Open, contemporary reporting documented Wing advancing on the right side of the field during a match against [[Ground Zero]].[8]

The Ironmen won the professional ten-player division at the 2002 NPPL Chicago Open, held at [[Badlandz Paintball Field]] in Crete, Illinois.[9]

=== Professional X-Ball ===

Wing continued competing for the Ironmen as professional tournament paintball expanded into X-Ball competition in 2003.

At the 2003 PSP Las Vegas Open, WARPIG documented a one-on-one encounter between Wing and [[Ron Nelson]] of the Oakland Assassins.

The match illustrated Wing's involvement in the new professional format, which required players to compete in repeated points rather than traditional single-game elimination matches.[10]

Wing remained associated with the Ironmen throughout their transition to the DYE-sponsored Los Angeles organisation.

=== World Cup championships ===

Wing was a member of the Los Angeles Ironmen during the team's successful NXL campaigns of the late 2000s.

The Ironmen won the 2007 NXL World Cup championship at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Florida.

The team successfully defended its championship at the 2008 [[Paintball World Cup]], defeating the Philadelphia Americans in the final.[3][4]

Official tournament records confirm Wing's inclusion on the Ironmen's 2008 World Cup roster, alongside Oliver Lang, [[Mike Paxson]], [[Nicky Cuba]], [[Marcello Margott]], Scott Kemp and other established professional players.[11]

Wing continued playing professionally during the following seasons and appeared on the Ironmen's published 2009 roster.[12]

== International competition ==

Wing also participated in international tournaments and player development activities.

In May 2008, he travelled to São Paulo, Brazil, for an event in the [[Circuito Sudamericano de Paintball]] (CSP).

Wing competed as a guest player for Jungle Boys, while fellow Ironmen player Xalo Almeida also joined the team.

During the event, Wing and another DYE representative conducted technical training sessions for South American players and paintball equipment technicians.[13]

In July 2009, Wing was announced as an instructor at the Los Angeles Ironmen Pro School in Kirkkonummi, Finland.

The two-day clinic also included Ironmen players Mikko Huttunen and Xalo Almeida.[14]

== Team management and coaching ==

Wing retired from regular professional competition around 2011, subsequently becoming involved in management and coaching activities with the Ironmen.

In an April 2012 interview with Social Paintball, he discussed his decision to stop playing professionally after approximately 15 years.

Wing cited the physical demands of competition and the time required for professional training as reasons for stepping away from regular tournament play.

At the time, he was identified as the Ironmen's general manager and coach, although he also acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining the commitment required for full-time coaching.[2]

Wing continued working with the organisation during subsequent seasons.

DYE Paintball's official 2016 team announcement identified him as head coach of the Los Angeles Ironmen.

The roster included Mike Paxson, Scott Kemp, [[Bobby Aviles]], Greg Siewers and other professional players.[15]

He subsequently held team management responsibilities, including player recruitment and roster development.

In February 2017, DYE identified Wing as Ironmen team manager in its announcement of the signing of Keith DeVit.[16]

== Equipment development ==

Wing has worked extensively in paintball equipment research and development at DYE Precision.

During his professional career, he was closely associated with the company's electronic paintball markers and tournament equipment.

At the 2003 Paintball World Cup, WARPIG photographed Wing demonstrating the DYE DM4 Matrix marker at the manufacturer's trade show display.[17]

Following his retirement from regular competition, Wing continued working on equipment design and development.

DYE has identified him as a senior development manager, with responsibilities including marker design and testing.

=== BWing21 trigger ===

Wing designed the BWing21 trigger for the [[DYE DSR]] electronic paintball marker.

The trigger incorporated a lower finger position intended to improve leverage, together with raised contact points designed to provide greater tactile feedback.

DYE subsequently released the design as freely downloadable files for three-dimensional printing.

The company also produced aluminium versions of the trigger through its DYE LAB product range.[18]

== Recognition ==

Wing has been recognised for his professional playing career, leadership within the Ironmen organisation and contributions to paintball equipment development.

In November 2022, Paintball Nerd published an interview covering his professional career and work at DYE.[19]

In 2024, he was inducted into the [[Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons]].

The induction recognised his achievements with the Ironmen, versatility as a professional player and subsequent involvement in equipment research and development.[5]

== Selected achievements ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Tournament
! Achievement
! Team
|-
| 2002
| NPPL Chicago Open
| Professional 10-man champions
| [[Ironmen (Southern California)|Ironmen]]
|-
| 2007
| [[Paintball World Cup]]
| NXL champions
| [[Los Angeles Ironmen]]
|-
| 2008
| [[Paintball World Cup]]
| NXL champions
| [[Los Angeles Ironmen]]
|-
| 2024
| [[Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons]]
| Inducted
| Individual
|}

''This table lists selected documented achievements rather than a complete tournament record.''

== See also ==

* [[Ironmen (Southern California)]]
* [[Los Angeles Ironmen]]
* [[DYE Precision]]
* [[DYE Matrix]]
* [[Dave Youngblood]]
* [[Shane Pestana]]
* [[Oliver Lang]]
* [[Mike Paxson]]
* [[Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons]]

== References ==

# [https://www.iconicpaintball.com/class-of-2024 Iconic Paintball, "Hall of Icons: Class of 2024". Official induction biography documenting Wing's professional career and DYE involvement.]
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/04/18/exclusive-interview-billy-wing-of-dye-and-the-la-ironmen/ Social Paintball, Lawrence Abernathy, "Exclusive Interview: Billy Wing of DYE and the LA Ironmen", 18 April 2012.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2007/worldcup/index.shtml WARPIG, "PSP World Cup 2007", 23-28 October 2007. Contemporary coverage confirming the Ironmen's NXL championship.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2008/worldcup/index.shtml WARPIG, "PSP World Cup 2008", October 2008. Contemporary coverage confirming the Ironmen's second consecutive championship.]
# [https://www.iconicpaintball.com/class-of-2024 Iconic Paintball, "Class of 2024". Official Hall of Icons induction record.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplcup98/gallery/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL World Cup 1998 Photo Gallery". Contemporary photographs identifying Wing competing for the Ironmen.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/proroster.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL 2001 Professional Rosters". Official Ironmen professional roster.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/chicago/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Chicago Open 2001", 20-24 June 2001. Contemporary coverage documenting Wing's performance against Ground Zero.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/chicago/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Chicago Open 2002", 19-23 June 2002. Professional tournament results.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2003/vegas/index.shtml WARPIG, "PSP Las Vegas Open 2003". Contemporary report documenting Wing's match against Ron Nelson.]
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/VQ3jf85tqOTqDoNV PBLeagues, "Los Angeles Ironmen at World Cup 2008". Official professional roster.]
# [https://seburo.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-pro-teams-line-ups.html SEBURO, "2009 US Pro Team Rosters", 6 February 2009. Published Los Angeles Ironmen roster.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/csp/2008/brazil/ WARPIG, "Circuito Sudamericano de Paintball Brazil 2008". Contemporary tournament coverage documenting Wing's participation and DYE technical classes.]
# [https://thisispaintball.wordpress.com/category/dye-percision/ ThisISPaintball, "Los Angeles Ironmen Pro School 2009". Contemporary announcement of the Finland coaching clinic.]
# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/114633155-ironmen-2016-roster DYE Paintball, "Ironmen 2016 Roster", 17 March 2016. Official team roster identifying Wing as head coach.]
# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/keith-devit-joins-ironmen DYE Paintball, "Keith DeVit Joins Ironmen", 27 February 2017. Official announcement identifying Wing as team manager.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/tradeshows/worldcup03/index10.shtml WARPIG, Bill Mills, "World Cup 2003 Trade Show Photo Gallery". Contemporary coverage identifying Wing with the DYE DM4 Matrix.]
# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/collections/triggers/products/bwing21-dsr-trigger-open-source-free-download DYE Paintball, "BWing21 DSR Trigger". Manufacturer documentation identifying Wing as designer.]
# [https://paintballnerd.com/blogs/interviews/fun-five-interview-with-billy-wing Paintball Nerd, "Fun Five Interview with Billy Wing", 3 November 2022.]

== External links ==

* [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/04/18/exclusive-interview-billy-wing-of-dye-and-the-la-ironmen/ Billy Wing interview, Social Paintball, 2012]
* [https://paintballnerd.com/blogs/interviews/fun-five-interview-with-billy-wing Billy Wing interview, Paintball Nerd, 2022]
* [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/ DYE Paintball official website]
* [https://www.iconicpaintball.com/class-of-2024 Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons, Class of 2024]

[[Category:Paintball players]]
[[Category:American paintball players]]
[[Category:Professional paintball players]]
[[Category:Paintball coaches]]