UWP Paintball Club members to compete at nationals
PLATTEVILLE - Paintball: the relatively new sport that's rapidly gaining popularity in the United States and worldwide. It combines all the fun and thrill of a full-scale water gun fight with a spirited game of capture the flag ... except, of course, that the guns are actually loaded with paintballs which explode upon impact, marking players that have been 'shot.' There's also quite a bit of skill, planning and agility normally involved to participate in such a competition. "It's really an adrenaline rush," says Alex Bencke of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Paintball Club. Paintball is a sport that's been around commercially since the early 1980s. It has since flourished as an industry and playing fields can be found all around the globe, with amateur and professional tournaments held across the United States and Europe. A multitude of different games and playing styles have branched off from the original game, which resembles a strategic form of capture the flag.
UWP's Paintball Club was revived three years ago and now practices in two areas, both in Madison. When the weather is warmer, they play at Apocalypse Paintball, but when winter strikes, they head over to Dedicated, a full service indoor paintball playing field and store.
Last year, the final National Collegiate Paintball Association ranking for UW-Platteville's Paintball Club was eighth, while they were ranked number one in the UW System. Their team took seventh at the 2004 nationals out of approximately 40 other teams, an impressive place considering that it was their first year attending.
This year, one of their teams, consisting of five UWP students, will travel to Florida on April 15 to compete at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Matthew Cook, Derek Nelson, Zachary Kroll, Chad Reuschlein and Scott Schoenmann will all be competing for UW-Platteville. Alex Bencke will also be traveling along as a back-up player and cameraman.
UWP's Paintball Club currently has around 30 members. To join, new members must pay dues of $20 and must also purchase their own equipment. However, the club uses fundraisers to earn money for trips, and they also get group discounts on supplies. In the next few weeks, they will be selling T-shirts on campus and holding a brat fry. "It's a bit expensive, but it's a great sport, definitely worth it," explains Kroll. "It's really starting to catch on, you see more of it on T.V. now. Paintball is really unique, most people who try it stick with it." Kroll will be graduating with a degree in criminal justice. He is the son of Chris and Cassie Kroll of Wausau.
Bencke will be graduating with a degree in civil engineering. He is the son of Todd and Karen Bencke of Wisconsin Rapids. To get more information on the UWP Paintball Club, visit their website at http://www.plattevillepaintball.com.
Contact: Alex Bencke, UWP student, (608) 342-2697,benckea@uwplatt.edu Zachery Kroll, UWP student, (608) 342-2127,krollz@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Kym Bliven, Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,blivenk@uwplatt.edu
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