Team Image: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 02:29, 22 October 2026

Team Image, also known as Image, is an American professional paintball team established in 1995 by Tom Maliszewski, with roots in Maryland and Northern California. The team competed in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), winning the amateur World Cup in 1995, the professional 10-man World Cup in 1997 and the professional Boston Open in 1999.[1][2][3][4]

After its original period of professional competition ended in the early 2000s, Image returned to tournament paintball in 2018. The revived team has competed in classic mechanical paintball events, winning the International Classic Paintball League (ICPL) Old Bay Classic amateur division in 2021 and the ICPL Classic Cup professional division in 2025.[1][7][9]

History

Formation and early success (1995–1996)

Team Image was formed in 1995 following the departure of brothers Tom and Richie Maliszewski from the All Americans, an established American professional tournament team.[1][11]

The new organisation combined players from the eastern and western United States, particularly Maryland and Northern California.

Among its early recruits were Dave "Opie" Thomas and Billy Ceranski, who joined during the summer of 1995.

Image won the amateur division at the 1995 NPPL World Cup, according to Thomas's published career history.[2]

The team subsequently won the professional NPPL New York Cup in 1996.[2]

Professional competition (1997–2001)

Image became an established professional 10-man team during the late 1990s.

On 26 October 1997, Image won the NPPL World Cup professional 10-man championship at Paintball World in Kissimmee, Florida.

The team finished the final round with 300 points, ahead of Chicago Aftershock (215), the Southern California Ironmen (130) and the All Americans (31).[3]

Image subsequently won the 1999 NPPL Boston Open, held at S.L.A.M. Paintball in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, from 27 to 29 August.

The competition incorporated wooded, Hyperball and Sup'Air playing fields.[4]

In June 2000, Image finished second at the NPPL Chicago Open at Badlandz Paintball in Crete, Illinois.

The team scored 122 points in the professional 10-man finals, finishing three points behind the Ironmen.[5]

A published 2001 NPPL professional roster identified Lane Wright as team captain, alongside players including Richie Maliszewski, Brian Fow, Richmond Italia, Andy Kopcok, Mike Mrok, Rod Staudinger, Dave Thomas and Brad Waterman.[6]

According to a later historical account published by DYE Paintball, the team's original professional programme ended around 2001.[1]

Return to competition (2018–2021)

Team Image returned to organised tournament competition in 2018, during the renewed interest in classic 10-man and mechanical paintball.[1]

The revived organisation incorporated players from Maryland and Pennsylvania, with continuing involvement from Tom and Richie Maliszewski.

In 2019, Image finished second at the Iron City Classic.[7]

In June 2021, the team won the amateur 10-man division of the ICPL Old Bay Classic in Chesapeake City, Maryland.

Image defeated Mutiny 22–7 in its final match to secure the championship.[7]

Following the victory, Image entered ICPL professional competition later in the 2021 season.[8]

ICPL professional competition (2022 onwards)

Image continued its participation in the ICPL professional division in 2022.

At the Old Bay Classic in May 2022, the team completed the preliminary rounds with seven wins and one draw.

Image advanced through the elimination rounds, defeating Aftershock and progressing to the three-team professional final alongside KAPP Factory and Los Angeles Infamous.

Image recorded draws against Infamous and KAPP Factory in the final round, while KAPP Factory secured the championship.[8]

In early 2025, Image won the ICPL Classic Cup professional 10-man division.

The team finished the preliminary rounds with 592 points, the highest total among the 18 professional teams.

Image subsequently advanced through a semi-final group containing Infamous and MVPS Dark Ops before winning the championship against AC Empire and Team Smoke.[9]

Equipment and sponsorship

Team Image has maintained a longstanding relationship with DYE Paintball.

During the team's original professional era, its players used DYE equipment, including the manufacturer's Boomstick barrel system.

Following Image's return to classic paintball competition, DYE announced renewed support for the team and its participation in ICPL and NXL mechanical events.[1]

For its 2025 ICPL Classic Cup victory, Image competed using DYE DSR+ markers fitted with mechanical trigger frames.[9]

In September 2026, DYE announced special-edition MXR markers developed in association with Team Image.

The markers were offered in Dark Image PGA Dust and Dark Image PGA Polish finishes, featuring camouflage-patterned designs associated with the team's identity.[10]

Selected tournament results

Year	Tournament	Division	Result
1995	NPPL World Cup	Amateur	1st [2]
1996	NPPL New York Cup	Professional	1st [2]
1997	NPPL World Cup	Professional 10-man	1st [3]
1999	NPPL Boston Open	Professional 10-man	1st [4]
2000	NPPL Chicago Open	Professional 10-man	2nd [5]
2019	Iron City Classic	Classic 10-man	2nd [7]
2021	ICPL Old Bay Classic	Amateur 10-man	1st [7]
2025	ICPL Classic Cup	Professional 10-man	1st [9]

Notable players

Players associated with Team Image during its original professional period included:

Tom Maliszewski – Founder of Team Image.
Richie Maliszewski – Founding member and professional player.
Dave "Opie" Thomas – Player from 1995 to 2000, subsequently associated with Baltimore Trauma.
Lane Wright – Captain of the published 2001 NPPL professional roster.
Richmond Italia – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
Andy Kopcok – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
Rod Staudinger – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
Brian Fow – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
Mike Mrok – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
Brad Waterman – Member of the 2001 professional roster.

[1][2][6]

References

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Team Image''' is an American tournament [[paintball]] team established in 1995 by Tom Maliszewski, with roots in Maryland and Northern California. The team became a leading competitor in the [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL), winning the 1997 professional 10-man World Cup and the 1999 Boston Open. Following the end of its original professional programme, Team Image returned to tournament competition in 2018 and subsequently participated in classic mechanical paintball events.[1][2][3]
+'''Team Image''', also known as '''Image''', is an American professional [[paintball]] team established in 1995 by [[Tom Maliszewski]], with roots in Maryland and Northern California. The team competed in the [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL), winning the amateur World Cup in 1995, the professional 10-man World Cup in 1997 and the professional Boston Open in 1999.[1][2][3][4]
+After its original period of professional competition ended in the early 2000s, Image returned to tournament paintball in 2018. The revived team has competed in classic mechanical paintball events, winning the [[International Classic Paintball League]] (ICPL) Old Bay Classic amateur division in 2021 and the ICPL Classic Cup professional division in 2025.[1][7][9]
 == History ==
@@ Line 6: / Line 8: @@
 === Formation and early success (1995–1996) ===
-Team Image was formed in 1995 following the departure of Tom and Richie Maliszewski from the [[All Americans]], one of the leading American professional teams of the period.[1][4]
+Team Image was formed in 1995 following the departure of brothers Tom and [[Richie Maliszewski]] from the [[All Americans]], an established American professional tournament team.[1][11]
+The new organisation combined players from the eastern and western United States, particularly Maryland and Northern California.
-The new organisation brought together players from the eastern and western United States, including Maryland and Northern California.[1]
+Among its early recruits were Dave "Opie" Thomas and Billy Ceranski, who joined during the summer of 1995.
-The team achieved immediate success at the 1995 World Cup, winning the amateur competition. Former player Dave "Opie" Thomas subsequently identified this victory in his published career history.[5]
+Image won the amateur division at the 1995 NPPL World Cup, according to Thomas's published career history.[2]
-Thomas, who joined Image in the summer of 1995 alongside Billy Ceranski, also credited the team with winning the professional NPPL New York Cup in 1996.[5]
+The team subsequently won the professional NPPL New York Cup in 1996.[2]
 === Professional competition (1997–2001) ===
-Team Image established itself among the leading American professional teams during the late 1990s.
+Image became an established professional 10-man team during the late 1990s.
+On 26 October 1997, Image won the NPPL World Cup professional 10-man championship at Paintball World in Kissimmee, Florida.
+The team finished the final round with 300 points, ahead of [[Chicago Aftershock]] (215), the Southern California Ironmen (130) and the All Americans (31).[3]
+Image subsequently won the 1999 NPPL Boston Open, held at S.L.A.M. Paintball in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, from 27 to 29 August.
+The competition incorporated wooded, Hyperball and Sup'Air playing fields.[4]
+In June 2000, Image finished second at the NPPL Chicago Open at Badlandz Paintball in Crete, Illinois.
+The team scored 122 points in the professional 10-man finals, finishing three points behind the Ironmen.[5]
+A published 2001 NPPL professional roster identified Lane Wright as team captain, alongside players including Richie Maliszewski, Brian Fow, Richmond Italia, Andy Kopcok, Mike Mrok, Rod Staudinger, Dave Thomas and Brad Waterman.[6]
+According to a later historical account published by [[DYE Paintball]], the team's original professional programme ended around 2001.[1]
+=== Return to competition (2018–2021) ===
+Team Image returned to organised tournament competition in 2018, during the renewed interest in classic 10-man and mechanical paintball.[1]
+The revived organisation incorporated players from Maryland and Pennsylvania, with continuing involvement from Tom and Richie Maliszewski.
+In 2019, Image finished second at the Iron City Classic.[7]
+In June 2021, the team won the amateur 10-man division of the ICPL Old Bay Classic in Chesapeake City, Maryland.
+Image defeated Mutiny 22–7 in its final match to secure the championship.[7]
+Following the victory, Image entered ICPL professional competition later in the 2021 season.[8]
-Its most significant early professional victory came at the 1997 NPPL World Cup in Kissimmee, Florida, on 26 October 1997.
+=== ICPL professional competition (2022 onwards) ===
-Image won the professional 10-man finals with 300 points, finishing ahead of [[Chicago Aftershock|Aftershock]] (215), the [[Ironmen (Southern California)|Southern California Ironmen]] (130) and the [[All Americans]] (31).[2]
+Image continued its participation in the ICPL professional division in 2022.
-The victory established Image as a World Cup-winning professional team during a period when the Ironmen, Aftershock and All Americans were among the dominant organisations in American tournament paintball.
+At the Old Bay Classic in May 2022, the team completed the preliminary rounds with seven wins and one draw.
-On 27–29 August 1999, Image won the NPPL Boston Open at S.L.A.M. Paintball in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The tournament included wooded, Hyperball and Sup'Air fields.[3]
+Image advanced through the elimination rounds, defeating Aftershock and progressing to the three-team professional final alongside [[KAPP Factory]] and [[Los Angeles Infamous]].
-Image remained competitive in 2000, finishing second behind the Ironmen at the NPPL Chicago Open, held at Badlandz Paintball in Crete, Illinois, in June.[6]
+Image recorded draws against Infamous and KAPP Factory in the final round, while KAPP Factory secured the championship.[8]
-The team's 2001 NPPL professional roster listed [[Lane Wright]] as captain. Other players included Richie Maliszewski, Brian Fow, Richmond Italia, Andy Kopcok, Rod Staudinger, Dave Thomas and Brad Waterman.[7]
+In early 2025, Image won the ICPL Classic Cup professional 10-man division.
-The original professional programme ended around 2001, according to a later historical account published by equipment manufacturer DYE.[1]
+The team finished the preliminary rounds with 592 points, the highest total among the 18 professional teams.
-=== Return to competition (2018–present) ===
+Image subsequently advanced through a semi-final group containing Infamous and MVPS Dark Ops before winning the championship against AC Empire and Team Smoke.[9]
-Team Image returned to tournament paintball in 2018, concentrating on classic formats associated with the resurgence of mechanical paintball competition.[1]
+== Equipment and sponsorship ==
-The revived organisation included players from Maryland and Pennsylvania, with support from original team members Tom and Richie Maliszewski.
+Team Image has maintained a longstanding relationship with [[DYE Paintball]].
-In 2019, Image finished second at the Iron City Classic, according to a retrospective published by the International Classic Paintball League (ICPL).[8]
+During the team's original professional era, its players used DYE equipment, including the manufacturer's Boomstick barrel system.
-On 21 June 2021, the ICPL reported that Image had won the amateur 10-man division at the Old Bay Classic. The team defeated Mutiny 22–7 in its final match to secure the championship.[8]
+Following Image's return to classic paintball competition, DYE announced renewed support for the team and its participation in ICPL and NXL mechanical events.[1]
-The revived team subsequently maintained a relationship with [[DYE Precision]], which announced renewed equipment support for Image's participation in mechanical events organised by the ICPL and [[National Xball League]] (NXL).[1]
+For its 2025 ICPL Classic Cup victory, Image competed using DYE DSR+ markers fitted with mechanical trigger frames.[9]
-DYE later released a special-edition MXR marker associated with Team Image, reflecting the organisation's continued participation in tournament paintball.[9]
+In September 2026, DYE announced special-edition MXR markers developed in association with Team Image.
+The markers were offered in Dark Image PGA Dust and Dark Image PGA Polish finishes, featuring camouflage-patterned designs associated with the team's identity.[10]
 == Selected tournament results ==
@@ Line 55: / Line 91: @@
 |-
 | 1995
-| NPPL World Cup
+| [[NPPL World Cup]]
 | Amateur
-| 1st [5]
+| 1st [2]
 |-
 | 1996
 | NPPL New York Cup
 | Professional
-| 1st, reported by Dave Thomas [5]
+| 1st [2]
 |-
 | 1997
-| NPPL World Cup
+| [[NPPL World Cup]]
 | Professional 10-man
-| 1st [2]
+| 1st [3]
 |-
 | 1999
 | NPPL Boston Open
 | Professional 10-man
-| 1st [3]
+| 1st [4]
 |-
 | 2000
 | NPPL Chicago Open
 | Professional 10-man
-| 2nd [6]
+| 2nd [5]
 |-
 | 2019
 | Iron City Classic
 | Classic 10-man
-| 2nd [8]
+| 2nd [7]
 |-
 | 2021
 | ICPL Old Bay Classic
 | Amateur 10-man
-| 1st [8]
+| 1st [7]
+|-
+| 2025
+| ICPL Classic Cup
+| Professional 10-man
+| 1st [9]
 |}
 == Notable players ==
-Players associated with Team Image during its original professional era included:
+Players associated with Team Image during its original professional period included:
 * '''Tom Maliszewski''' – Founder of Team Image.
-* '''Richie Maliszewski''' – Founding member and professional player.
+* '''[[Richie Maliszewski]]''' – Founding member and professional player.
-* '''Dave "Opie" Thomas''' – Player from 1995 to 2000, later associated with [[Baltimore Trauma]].
+* '''[[Dave Thomas (paintball player)|Dave "Opie" Thomas]]''' – Player from 1995 to 2000, subsequently associated with [[Baltimore Trauma]].
-* '''Lane Wright''' – Listed captain of the 2001 NPPL professional roster.
+* '''Lane Wright''' – Captain of the published 2001 NPPL professional roster.
-* '''Richmond Italia''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
+* '''[[Richmond Italia]]''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
 * '''Andy Kopcok''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
 * '''Rod Staudinger''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
-* '''Brian Fow''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.[1][5][7]
+* '''[[Brian Fow]]''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
+* '''Mike Mrok''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
+* '''Brad Waterman''' – Member of the 2001 professional roster.
+[1][2][6]
 == See also ==
@@ Line 109: / Line 154: @@
 * [[All Americans]]
 * [[Chicago Aftershock]]
-* [[List of historically significant paintball teams]]
+* [[DYE Paintball]]
 == References ==
-# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/image-joins-the-dye-family DYE Paintball – Image Joins the DYE Family].
+# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/image-joins-the-dye-family DYE Paintball, "Image Joins the DYE Family". Manufacturer account of Team Image's history, original formation and return to competition.]
-# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/wc97/finals10man.shtml WARPIG – 1997 NPPL World Cup, Professional 10-Man Final Scores, 26 October 1997].
+# [https://eclipsehq.blogspot.com/2018/03/lets-talk-50cal-chat-with-gi-sportz.html Planet Eclipse, "Let's Talk 50cal: A Chat with GI Sportz' Dave 'Opie' Thomas", 21 March 2018. Includes Thomas's career history and tournament victories with Image.]
-# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/boston99/index.shtml WARPIG – NPPL Boston Open, 27–29 August 1999].
+# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/wc97/finals10man.shtml WARPIG, "1997 NPPL World Cup: 10 Man Semi-Finals and Final Scores", 26 October 1997.]
-# [https://www.automags.org/forums/forum/automag-owners-forums/paintball-talk/122630-history-of-paintball Paintball 2Xtremes – 81 Moments That Shaped Paintball, June 2005, reproduced on Automags.org].
+# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/boston99/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Boston Open 1999", 27–29 August 1999. Contemporary results identifying Image as professional champions.]
-# [https://eclipsehq.blogspot.com/2018/03/lets-talk-50cal-chat-with-gi-sportz.html Planet Eclipse – Let's Talk 50cal: A Chat with GI Sportz' Dave "Opie" Thomas, March 2018].
+# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplchicago00/10fin.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Chicago Open 2000: 10 Man Final Scoreboard", June 2000.]
-# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/npplchicago00/10fin.shtml WARPIG – NPPL Chicago Open 2000, Professional 10-Man Finals].
+# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/proroster.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL 2001 Professional Rosters". Published Image roster identifying Lane Wright as captain.]
-# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/proroster.shtml WARPIG – NPPL 2001 Professional Team Rosters].
+# [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/post/image-wins-icpl-old-bay-classic-amateur-10-man-division NXL Classic Paintball, "Image Wins the ICPL Old Bay Classic Amateur 10-Man Division", 21 June 2021.]
-# [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/post/image-wins-icpl-old-bay-classic-amateur-10-man-division NXL Classic Paintball – Image Wins the ICPL Old Bay Classic Amateur 10-Man Division, 21 June 2021].
+# [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/post/kapp-factory-nearly-perfect-in-icpl-old-bay-classic-win-behind-forster-and-squires NXL Classic Paintball, "KAPP Factory Nearly Perfect in ICPL Old Bay Classic Win Behind Forster and Squires", 28 May 2022.]
-# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/team-image-x-dye-mxr DYE Paintball – Team Image × DYE MXR].
+# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/image-wins-icpl-classic-cup DYE Paintball, "Image Wins ICPL Classic Cup", 4 February 2025.]
+# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/team-image-x-dye-mxr DYE Paintball, "Team Image × DYE MXR", 24 September 2026.]
+# [https://www.automags.org/forums/forum/automag-owners-forums/paintball-talk/122630-history-of-paintball Paintball 2Xtremes, "81 Moments That Shaped Paintball", June 2005. Historical account reproduced on Automags.org, documenting the Maliszewski brothers' formation of Image.]
 == External links ==
+* [https://www.facebook.com/ImagePaintballTeam Team Image on Facebook]
 * [https://www.instagram.com/imagepaintball/ Team Image on Instagram]
-* [https://www.facebook.com/ImagePaintballTeam Team Image on Facebook]
+* [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/wc97/index.shtml WARPIG: 1997 NPPL World Cup]
+* [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/ International Classic Paintball League]
 [[Category:Paintball teams]]
-[[Category:American paintball teams]]
-[[Category:Professional paintball teams]]
-[[Category:Historical paintball teams]]

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