Hostile Kids
Hostile Kids (abbreviated HK) was an American tournament paintball team and player community based in Southern California during the early 2000s. Associated primarily with SC Village in Chino, California, the team became known for its young roster, distinctive appearance, competitive performances against established teams and influence on the paintball subculture known as Agg.[1]
The team's origins can be traced to a youth tournament organised by the amateur team Hostile Takeover at Tombstone Paintball in Corona, California. According to former captain Alex Cadalso, players including Scott Kressin, Mark Kressin and Steve Nabi won the tournament and adopted the Hostile Kids identity.[1]
Hostile Kids subsequently expanded by recruiting players from other Southern California teams, including Dead On and Mutiny. Documented members included Alex Cadalso, Cassidy Sanders, Josh Meyers, Bobby Aviles and Vinnie Palmieri.[1]
The team competed in amateur tournament paintball, recording a second-place finish at Cal Jam, sixth and fifth-place finishes at National Professional Paintball League events under the name Check It Factory, and a fourth-place amateur finish at a PSP Pomona ten-player event, according to Cadalso's retrospective account.[1]
Hostile Kids eventually disbanded as a competitive team after members were recruited by professional organisations. Its identity survived through the players and later became the foundation of HK Army, the paintball equipment and apparel company established in 2007.[1][2][3]
| Full name | Hostile Kids |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | HK |
| Type | Tournament paintball team and player community |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Southern California |
| Home field | SC Village, Chino, California |
| Origins | Youth tournament at Tombstone Paintball, Corona, California |
| Formation | Early 2000s; active by early 2002 |
| Captain | Alex Cadalso |
| Original players | Scott Kressin, Mark Kressin, Steve Nabi |
| Other documented players | Josh Meyers, Bobby Aviles, Vinnie Palmieri, Cassidy Sanders, Alex Cadalso |
| Associated teams | Hostile Takeover, Dead On, Mutiny, Check It Factory |
| Tournament formats | Seven-player and ten-player paintball |
| Notable results | Cal Jam amateur runner-up; NPPL Huntington Beach sixth; NPPL Las Vegas fifth; PSP Pomona amateur fourth (player-reported) |
| Associated culture | Agg |
| Later development | HK Army |
| Status | Original competitive team disbanded |
History
Southern California tournament scene
Hostile Kids developed during a period of rapid growth in Southern California tournament paintball.
The region was home to several influential professional teams, including the Ironmen, San Diego Dynasty and Avalanche.
SC Village in Chino was an important centre of tournament training.
The facility's tournament arenas attracted experienced professional players and younger competitors seeking to develop their skills.
According to a historical account written by Dynasty player Alex Fraige, SC Village developed a dedicated tournament complex in 1999. By the following year, the venue had attracted a growing community of teenage tournament players.[1]
Hostile Kids emerged from this environment.
Origins at Tombstone Paintball
Former captain Alex Cadalso traced the origins of Hostile Kids to a youth tournament organised by Hostile Takeover.
Hostile Takeover was a novice and amateur tournament team.
The youth tournament was held at Tombstone Paintball in Corona, California.
The winning team received equipment and clothing supplied through Hostile Takeover's sponsors.
Cadalso identified the original winning players as:
- Scott Kressin
- Mark Kressin
- Steve Nabi
These players became associated with the original Hostile Kids identity.[1]
The precise date of the tournament has not been established.
Expansion of the roster
Hostile Kids subsequently expanded by recruiting players from other teams.
Cadalso stated that the group joined forces with players from Dead On, the second-place team at the original youth tournament.
Additional players included:
- Josh Meyers
- Bobby Aviles
- Vinnie Palmieri
The expanded group prepared to compete in Cal Jam seven-player tournament paintball.
Recruitment from Mutiny
Hostile Kids also recruited players from Mutiny.
Cadalso identified himself and Cassidy Sanders as joining from that team.
This expanded roster represented several existing Southern California player groups.
The team therefore developed through a combination of friendships, local competition and recruitment.
Development at SC Village
Hostile Kids regularly practised at SC Village.
The team became associated with the venue's younger generation of tournament players.
Its members competed against more experienced teams and developed a reputation for their competitive approach.
The team was particularly associated with the informal practice culture surrounding the SC Village tournament arenas.
Iron Kids connection
Similar team identity
Alex Fraige recalled first encountering Hostile Kids in early 2002.
At that time, the players wore black shirts bearing a shield design resembling the emblem used by Iron Kids, a team associated with the Ironmen.
The Hostile Kids version substituted its own name within the shield.
Challenge match
Fraige stated that the similarity created a dispute between the two groups.
Members of Iron Kids challenged Hostile Kids to a match over the use of the design.
Iron Kids won the match.
Fraige later described the incident as part of the developing relationship between the two teams.
Shared tournament culture
The incident demonstrates the importance of team identity within Southern California tournament paintball.
It also illustrates how younger teams drew inspiration from established professional and junior organisations.
Hostile Kids continued using its distinctive identity after the encounter.
Tournament competition
Cal Jam
Hostile Kids competed in Cal Jam seven-player tournament paintball.
The expanded roster included players recruited from Dead On and Mutiny.
According to Alex Cadalso, the team achieved a second-place finish in the amateur division.[1]
The precise event year and official tournament results require independent verification.
Check It Factory
Hostile Kids also competed under the name Check It Factory.
Cadalso reported that the team entered two National Professional Paintball League events under this name.
These were:
| Event | Division | Reported placing |
|---|---|---|
| NPPL Huntington Beach | Amateur | 6th |
| NPPL Las Vegas | Amateur | 5th |
Cadalso stated that financial difficulties prevented the team from completing the season.[1]
The exact season year has not been established from the surviving interview alone.
PSP Pomona
A core group of Hostile Kids players also competed at a Paintball Sports Promotions event in Pomona, California.
The tournament used a ten-player format.
Cadalso reported that the group finished fourth in the amateur division.[1]
The complete roster and official result remain to be independently verified.
Practice competition
Hostile Kids regularly competed against more experienced teams during practice sessions at SC Village.
Cadalso recalled that the team developed a reputation for defeating teams within its division.
He also described the group as capable of providing challenging practice opposition for professional players.
These accounts are firsthand recollections rather than independently recorded tournament results.
Players
Alex Cadalso
Alex Cadalso was captain and spokesperson for Hostile Kids.
He was recruited from Mutiny.
Cadalso provided a retrospective account of the team's formation, competitive history and eventual breakup in an interview conducted by Alex Fraige.[1]
His testimony is an important primary source for the team's history.
Mark Kressin
Mark Kressin was identified as one of the original Hostile Kids players.
He participated in the youth tournament that established the team's identity.
Kressin later became associated with the commercial development of HK Army.
He has also been publicly identified by the nickname Mr. H.
Scott Kressin
Scott Kressin was identified by Cadalso as a member of the original winning team at Tombstone Paintball.
He should be distinguished from Brandon Kressin, who is named in later accounts of HK Army's commercial founding.
The available evidence does not establish whether Brandon participated in the original Tombstone tournament.
Steve Nabi
Steve Nabi was another original Hostile Kids player.
Cadalso identified him as a member of the team that won the youth tournament at Tombstone Paintball.
Nabi was also named among the founders of HK Army in a 2025 retrospective industry article.[3]
Josh Meyers
Josh Meyers joined Hostile Kids during its expansion.
Cadalso identified him among the players recruited for Cal Jam.
A 2025 industry article also identifies Josh Meyers as one of HK Army's founders.[3]
Bobby Aviles
Bobby Aviles was identified as a member of the expanded Hostile Kids roster.
He joined during the period when the team was preparing for Cal Jam.
Vinnie Palmieri
Vinnie Palmieri was another documented member of the expanded roster.
Cadalso identified him among the players who joined for Cal Jam competition.
Cassidy Sanders
Cassidy Sanders joined Hostile Kids from Mutiny.
He later became a paintball videographer associated with HK Army.
In a 2012 interview, Sanders described himself as an original member of the Hostile Kids community.[2]
He recalled that the team gradually lost players to professional organisations.
Sanders subsequently returned to the community after several former members had developed HK Army into a clothing company.
Documented membership
| Name | Historical role | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Scott Kressin | Original player | Alex Cadalso interview |
| Mark Kressin | Original player; later HK Army figure | Alex Cadalso interview |
| Steve Nabi | Original player | Alex Cadalso interview |
| Alex Cadalso | Captain and spokesperson; recruited from Mutiny | Alex Fraige interview |
| Cassidy Sanders | Player recruited from Mutiny; later videographer | Cadalso and Sanders interviews |
| Josh Meyers | Expanded tournament roster | Alex Cadalso interview |
| Bobby Aviles | Expanded tournament roster | Alex Cadalso interview |
| Vinnie Palmieri | Expanded tournament roster | Alex Cadalso interview |
This table identifies documented members rather than a complete roster for a particular tournament.
The team's membership changed over time.
Mentors and supporters
Todd Martinez
Alex Cadalso identified Todd Martinez as an important influence on his development.
Martinez provided equipment and guidance during Cadalso's early career.
He also helped arrange practice sessions between Hostile Kids and Avalanche.
These sessions gave the younger team opportunities to compete against established professional players.[1]
Markus Nielsen
Cadalso identified Markus Nielsen as a supporter and friend of the team.
Nielsen was associated with the Southern California professional paintball community.
His involvement provided another connection between Hostile Kids and established players.
Steve Quan
Steve Quan was also identified as a mentor and supporter.
Cadalso credited Quan with providing advice and helping members understand the requirements of competitive paintball.
Professional practice environment
The team's development was closely connected to the concentration of professional players at SC Village.
Regular exposure to experienced competitors provided opportunities for learning and development.
This environment helped younger players progress into higher levels of competition.
Playing style
Aggressive competition
Hostile Kids developed a reputation for aggressive tournament play.
Its members were associated with a fast-paced style of competition.
Fraige described the team as talented but sometimes overly willing to operate near the boundaries of tournament rules.
This was Fraige's assessment and should not be interpreted as proof of specific rule violations.
Streetball culture
The team was closely associated with informal tournament practice at SC Village.
This environment was sometimes described as streetball.
Players competed in practice games against teams of different experience levels.
The atmosphere emphasised frequent competition and individual reputation.
Youth identity
Hostile Kids represented a younger generation of tournament players.
Many members were teenagers during the team's early development.
The team's identity reflected the changing demographics of competitive paintball.
Agg culture
Origins
Hostile Kids became closely associated with the paintball slang term Agg.
The term referred to a combination of appearance, equipment, attitude and playing style.
It developed a meaning beyond ordinary aggressive play.
Clothing
Hostile Kids members adopted distinctive clothing and equipment styles.
Their appearance was influenced by skateboarding, streetwear and other action-sports cultures.
Headbands, casual clothing and personalised equipment became associated with the group.
Team identity
The Hostile Kids name and shield became important elements of the team's visual identity.
The group developed a recognisable style within the Southern California tournament scene.
Wider influence
Agg terminology spread beyond Southern California through online paintball communities.
Forums such as PBNation helped popularise the term.
The association between Hostile Kids and agg became an important part of the group's legacy.
Paintball media
Tournament photography
Hostile Kids were photographed and filmed during their competitive activities.
Their distinctive clothing and playing style made them recognisable subjects within the Southern California paintball scene.
David Quittman
David "Quittski" Quittman was a paintball videographer associated with the original Hostile Kids community.
The historical archive maintained by Iconic Paintball identifies Quittman as an early filmmaker who documented the group during the 2000s.[4]
His work contributed to the preservation of Hostile Kids footage.
818 Productions
Quittman's early paintball video work was associated with 818 Productions.
The surviving footage is relevant to the history of paintball media and tournament culture.
It may also provide additional evidence for identifying players, equipment and event participation.
Cassidy Sanders
Cassidy Sanders later became known for his paintball video production.
His work connected the original Hostile Kids community with the development of HK Army's promotional media.
In a 2012 interview, Sanders described returning to paintball after several years away and contributing his creative skills to the developing clothing company.[2]
Decline of the original team
Recruitment by professional teams
Hostile Kids developed during a period when professional teams actively recruited younger players.
As individual members gained experience, some attracted interest from established organisations.
According to Fraige and Cadalso, the loss of players contributed to the team's eventual breakup.[1]
Financial limitations
Cadalso also identified financial difficulties as a significant obstacle.
The team could not afford to complete every tournament season.
This limited its ability to establish a consistent record at major events.
Disbandment
Fraige's historical account states that the original Hostile Kids team disbanded as members moved into professional competition.
The article was later republished in May 2008.
The original publication date and exact year of disbandment have not been independently established.
Continuing identity
Although the original competitive roster dispersed, former players continued identifying with the Hostile Kids community.
The name survived as a shared identity and later as a commercial brand.
Transition to HK Army
From team to brand
The original Hostile Kids group preceded the commercial development of HK Army.
According to Cassidy Sanders, several former members developed the HK Army clothing business while he was away from paintball.[2]
When Sanders returned, he became involved in promotional media.
Commercial establishment
HK Army identifies 2007 as its founding year.[5]
A 2025 industry article names Mark Kressin, Brandon Kressin, Jason Pineda, Steve Nabi and Josh Meyers as the founders of the commercial brand.[3]
These individuals should not automatically be treated as the complete founding roster of the original competitive team.
Apparel
HK Army initially became associated with headbands and clothing.
Its products reflected the styles popularised by the original Hostile Kids community.
Expansion
The company subsequently expanded into paintball equipment.
Its product range came to include goggles, harnesses, loaders, protective equipment and other accessories.
Separate histories
Hostile Kids and HK Army share a common identity but represent different stages of development.
Hostile Kids was originally a competitive player group.
HK Army became a commercial equipment and apparel company.
The company's continued operation does not mean that the original tournament team remained active.
Later use of the HK identity
Hollywood HK
A March 2008 report by Bear D'Egidio described a team known as Hollywood HK.[6]
The report identified participants including:
- Mark Kressin
- Jason Pineda
- Scott Kressin
- Bear D'Egidio
- Steve Nabi
It also identified James Thomislon as a team manager and fitness trainer.
The report concerned a charity appearance involving entertainment and sports personalities.
Tournament participation
The same March 2008 archive identified Damien Ryan and Jason Calef as players associated with Hollywood HK.
Both also participated with RNT All Starz at PSP Phoenix.
The source reported that RNT All Starz won Division 1 X-Ball at that event.[6]
These activities demonstrate that the HK identity continued to be used by players after the original Hostile Kids roster dispersed.
However, Hollywood HK should not automatically be treated as the same competitive team as the original Hostile Kids.
Historical significance
Southern California player development
Hostile Kids was part of the generation of young tournament players who developed at SC Village during the early 2000s.
The team illustrates the importance of practice facilities and informal competition in developing players.
Amateur tournament competition
The team competed in significant amateur events.
Its reported results include a Cal Jam runner-up finish and appearances in NPPL and PSP competition.
Professional recruitment
Hostile Kids provides an example of a competitive amateur team losing members to professional organisations.
The group's breakup reflected both the opportunities and difficulties faced by emerging tournament teams.
Paintball fashion
Hostile Kids helped popularise the style associated with agg culture.
Its visual identity influenced the broader tournament paintball community.
Paintball media
The group was documented by early paintball filmmakers, including David Quittman.
Its members also contributed to later paintball video production.
HK Army
The team's most enduring commercial legacy was the development of HK Army.
The company grew from the original community into an internationally distributed equipment and apparel brand.
Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1999 | SC Village develops dedicated tournament arenas, according to Alex Fraige |
| 2000–2001 | Younger tournament player community grows at SC Village |
| Early 2000s | Hostile Kids forms following youth tournament at Tombstone Paintball |
| Early 2002 | Alex Fraige recalls encountering Hostile Kids wearing its distinctive shield |
| Early 2000s | Team expands through players from Dead On and Mutiny |
| Early 2000s | Hostile Kids competes at Cal Jam |
| Early-to-mid 2000s | Team competes under Check It Factory name at NPPL events |
| Early-to-mid 2000s | Core players compete at PSP Pomona ten-player event |
| Mid-2000s | Original roster disperses as players move to professional teams |
| 2007 | HK Army founded as a commercial brand, according to company history |
| March 2008 | Hollywood HK documented in Southern California |
| May 2008 | Alex Fraige's Hostile Kids history republished online |
| 2012 | Cassidy Sanders describes original Hostile Kids history in interview |
| 2025 | Industry retrospective identifies five HK Army commercial founders |
See also
- HK Army
- Agg
- Alex Cadalso
- Mark Kressin
- Scott Kressin
- Steve Nabi
- Cassidy Sanders
- Josh Meyers
- Alex Fraige
- Todd Martinez
- SC Village
- Iron Kids
- Hostile Takeover
- Check It Factory
- Hollywood HK
- San Diego Dynasty
- Avalanche
- PBNation
- Paintball in California
- History of tournament paintball
References
- "From Street Rats to World Class Pros — The HK Army", Alex Fraige, republished by ThisISPaintball, 12 May 2008. Historical account of Hostile Kids incorporating an interview with captain Alex Cadalso, including the team's origins, players, tournament results and disbandment.
- "Cassidy Sanders Interview", ProPaintball interview, reproduced 19 May 2012. Firsthand account of Sanders's participation in the original Hostile Kids and the later development of HK Army as a clothing company.
- "HK Army Skull Paintball Goggles", Paintball Media Magazine, February 2025, page 67. Retrospective account naming five founders of the commercial HK Army brand.
- "Nostalgia", Iconic Paintball. Historical paintball media archive identifying David Quittman's association with the original Hostile Kids community and 818 Productions.
- "About HK Army", HK Army. Official company history identifying 2007 as the brand's founding year.
- "Bears Cup — March 2008", Bear D'Egidio, March 2008. Contemporary posts documenting Hollywood HK participants and connections with other tournament teams.
- "SC Village Invents Speedball", SC Village. Official historical account of the venue's role in developing competitive paintball.
- "The Legendary Teams of SC Village", SC Village. Retrospective overview of influential teams associated with the venue.
- "On Agglettes", Andrew Levick, Social Paintball, 20 January 2012. Commentary on the relationship between Hostile Kids, agg culture and HK Army.