Lockout (paintball team)
Lockout is an American tournament paintball team originating in Rochester, New York. Established in 1990, the organisation became a leading competitor in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), winning consecutive professional 10-man tournaments in 2000. Following the end of its original professional programme in 2003, Lockout was revived in 2013 and returned to national 10-man competition.[1][2]
History
[edit]Early years (1990–1999)
[edit]According to the team's published historical account, Lockout was established in Rochester, New York, in 1990.[1]
The team competed in amateur and semi-professional tournaments throughout the 1990s. Lockout appeared in the July 1992 National Paintball Statistics and Ranking Society rankings, published in Paintcheck magazine, in tenth position among permanently ranked teams.[1]
Lockout competed in the amateur divisions of the 1996 NPPL World Cup in Orlando, Florida, reaching the 10-man semi-finals.[3]
By 1999, Lockout had entered the NPPL professional division. At the Dallas tournament that year, the team led the professional preliminary rankings and subsequently finished fourth.[4]
Professional tournament victories (2000)
[edit]The 2000 NPPL season marked Lockout's most successful documented period in professional competition.
At the NPPL Los Angeles Open, held at SC Village in Corona, California, from 10 to 12 March 2000, Lockout won the professional 10-man division.[5]
The team followed this victory by winning the Smart Parts NPPL tournament in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 5–6 May 2000.
Lockout finished ahead of Avalanche, Rage and Ground Zero in the professional standings, securing consecutive tournament victories.[6]
The team entered the 2000 NPPL World Cup as a contender for the season championship. However, the Southern California Ironmen won the World Cup and secured the overall NPPL professional series title.[7]
Later professional competition (2001–2003)
[edit]Lockout continued competing in the NPPL professional division after its 2000 successes.
The published 2001 NPPL professional roster identified Wally Donner as team captain. Other listed players included Mitch Karn, Dalton Hansen, Kevin Hopkins, Steve Hopkins, Paul O'Malley, Chad Ruhl, Ben Rushing and Travis Seetin.[8]
In 2002, Lockout finished thirteenth in the NPPL professional 10-man season rankings.[9]
According to the organisation's retrospective history, the original professional programme continued until 2003, when the team ceased operations.[1]
Revival and classic 10-man competition
[edit]Lockout was revived in 2013 by former members of the original professional team.[1]
The revived organisation concentrated on traditional 10-man paintball, competing in the International Classic Paintball League (ICPL) and World Classic Paintball League (WCPL).
A WCPL team profile published in the early 2020s identified Rob Cole, a former Lockout professional player and captain, as the organisation's owner. The team operated from GRC Paintball in Angelica, New York.[1]
The organisation developed separate American and Canadian squads. Its American programme included a national competition roster and a development roster known as the Family Roster.
Matthew Piotrowski was identified as captain of the American national squad, with Curk McMichael serving as head coach.[1]
Selected tournament results
[edit]| Year | Tournament | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | NPPL Dallas | Professional 10-man | 4th [4] |
| 2000 | NPPL Los Angeles Open | Professional 10-man | 1st [5] |
| 2000 | NPPL Pittsburgh | Professional 10-man | 1st [6] |
| 2002 | NPPL season standings | Professional 10-man | 13th overall [9] |
See also
[edit]- National Professional Paintball League
- International Classic Paintball League
- List of historically significant paintball teams
References
[edit]- WCPL – Team Profiles: Lockout.
- WARPIG – NPPL 2001 Professional Rosters.
- WARPIG – 1996 NPPL World Cup, 10-Man Results.
- WARPIG – Dallas 1999 NPPL, 10-Man Semi-Finals and Final Rankings.
- WARPIG – DYE Precision Los Angeles Open, 10–12 March 2000.
- WARPIG – Smart Parts NPPL Pittsburgh, 5–6 May 2000.
- WARPIG – 2000 NPPL World Cup and Season Championship.
- WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Professional Team Rosters.
- WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Professional Season Rankings.