New book by Larry Connors Click here Improve your trading - See how
The Omaha-based team Vicious won the Paintball Sports Promotions Division I XBall World Cup at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Sunday in Orlando, Fla. The team received $10,000 in prize money from a tournament that drew more than 300 teams from the United States and countries such as Canada, Mexico, Russia, England and Sweden.
Of Vicious' 11 team members, including player-coach Greg Pauley, 37, eight are originally from Omaha, and range from ages 17 to 22.
To get to the title, Vicious had to go through RNT ALLSTARZ, the top team in Division I, which had won the first four tournaments of the year and had defeated Vicious head-to-head five straight times. Vicious prevailed 7-1 in the semifinals.
"Every one of us went into that game knowing we were going to play the best paintball of our lives," said Bryan Bortol, 17, son of team owners Karen and Carl Bortol.
They defeated Palm Beach Fibers in the championship round 7-4, charging back from an 0-3 start.
"It's one of the best feelings of my life," Bryan Bortol said. "Our team has been pressing and growing up with each other every year."
Part of Vicious' success is due to their strategy of "laning," in which gunners fire into their opponents' anticipated running lanes. This tactic allowed Vicious to win nearly half of their one-point-rounds in around 10 seconds, painting all five members of the opposing team.
As a paintball team hailing from the Midwest, Vicious is a rare talent. The majority of teams that compete at national events are from coastal states, and they have the advantage of warm weather and close proximity with professional teams. Three of the final four teams in Division I were from Florida. However, Vicious has finished atop its division each of the past three years.
Many paintball competitions feature four divisions based on experience, from Division IV, beginner-level talent, to Division I, one step below professional. Vicious won the Division III series title in 2006 and Division II series in 2007. This year marks Vicious' first World Cup championship, and, according to team member Chris Hooker, it's their biggest achievement.
"This is the biggest tournament of the year," Hooker said. "It has the most teams and takes place at the biggest venue. And we can say we're the champion for the next sixth months."
Will Vicious advance to the professional level next year?
"Well, they did just beat everybody in the world," Karen Bortol said.
--Vicious roster: Bryan Bortol, Omaha Northwest; Chris Hooker, UNO; Allan Moriarty, University of Colorado; Paul Naylon, Iowa State; Parker Rosenthal, Metro Community College; Zach Sherman, UNO; Josh Voss, Metro Community College; Andy Horvath, Western Michigan; Stefen Delgado, Purdue; Tyler Spiece, Central Missouri. Timothy Stanczk and Alex Goldman, from Aftermath of California, guested for Vicious because of injuries.
--Contact the writer: 444-1201, sports@owh.com
To see more of the Omaha World-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.omaha.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Omaha World-Herald, Neb. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index
About TradingMarkets | Contact | Advertise | Careers | Link to Us | Site Map | Help | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Testimonials | Feedback
The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.
It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.
HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.
The Connors Group, Inc.
15260 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 2200
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
© Copyright 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.
