FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

  

CONTACT:

Dan Saunders aka. Danger Dan

Team Desert Edge

801-755-9226

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www.teamdesertedge.com

  

4^th Place & 5^th Place at SPPL Utah Qualifier.

  

The SPPL Utah Qualifier was the most anticipated event in the Team’s planned events for the 2007 year. The team felt like they did well in their first year of the tournament in 2006, but one game in 2006 gave Desert Edge ever more determination to improve their game tremendously over the next year, it was a complete slaughter from Team Run. Since last year’s event the team has held bi-weekly practices on several fields, organized multi-team scrimmages in SPPL format, and joined the local Speedball Circuit, the UXPL to refine their skills.

When the time came for the much anticipated event in September 2007, the team realized, they had done all the preparations they could. Now it was time to simply have fun! That is exactly what Desert Edge did. Their strategy was to get to know the other teams as much as possible. Not to find out how they played the game, but so they knew and were friends with their opponents keeping their attitudes in-check at each game.

Several teams ended up short-handed and needed more players in order to compete. Desert Edge was more than happy to lend an able body. One game Team Run had far too few players to compete. Knowing that forcing them to forfeit would ultimately bump Team Desert Edge ahead, they loaned some of their players to Team Run so they could remain in the competition. This of course knocked the Desert Edge score down the rankings. Later that day, Team Run once again ended up beating Desert Edge much worse than anticipated.

Having two teams entered, the group had two chances to prove them selves. The two key games of the weekend were against Team Forest Fire, and Paraplegic Turtles. The game against Forest Fire must have been the closest game in SPPL history. After Forest Fire took the Swing Base at the break, it was Desert Edge’s main objective to take that base into their possession. Forest Fire held the Swing Base for just over half the game. Desert Edge knew if they didn’t act quickly, the game would be completely in the hands of Forest Fire. After 34 minutes into the game, the colors of the Swing Base Flag finally changed. Desert Edge had no plans to stop there. On the left and right sides of the field, Desert Edge players pushed their way through the thick brush and speedily wrapped the outer perimeter and completely surrounded the opponent’s home base. After eliminating the remainder of Forest Fire’s players and pulling their flag, the horn blew, and the game was over. It was quite a site as the teams embraced each other with thanks for the best game of paintball both teams have ever played.

After the refs double and triple-checked the scores, the Team Captains were brought together to find out, Desert Edge lost the game by ONE POINT. This placed the team in 5^th place.

Now the team had one more chance to show what they could do. Desert Edge now had to face Paraplegic Turtles, a group of Paintball veterans, and former professionals. Desert Edge possessed their home base flag the entire game, and only held the Swing Base for a short period at the beginning. They were simply out matched against the experience of the Turtles. Keeping communication and movement at their main focus, Desert Edge managed to make several Commander kills which almost out weighed losing the Swing Base. With less than a 15 point spread, Paraplegic Turtles won, Placing Desert Edge in 4^th.

Desert Edge was happy with how they placed, but even happier with how they played, and the new friends they had met. Apparently the Desert Edge attitude had been noticed. Teams and referees continually came and thanked Desert Edge for their presence at the event. When the awards were given, the kindest words of respect were offered as Team Desert Edge accepted the Sportsmanship Award.

Team Desert Edge would like to thank the SPPL who treats Sportsmanship with such high respect. The team only hopes to influence the sport by their attitudes and by showing how much can be achieved by honorable play both ON and OFF the field.

  

Written by:

Tim Saunders aka. T-Bone

Team Desert Edge