UB Mayhem members have been dodging lightning-fast balls of paint and competing in tournaments nationwide for four years now, giving students the opportunity to participate in a growing competitive and recreational sport.
"It's a big adrenaline rush," said UB Mayhem President Matt Key, a senior computer science major.
An estimated 5.4 million people played paintball last year, according to www.paintball.com.
As the popularity of paintball grows on both a novice and professional level, it promises more attention nationwide. UB Mayhem hopes to lead UB into the world of paintball while breaking down stereotypes, according to Key.
"Getting shot does hurt but it isn't excruciating pain, just a bit of a sting," Key said.
Proper gear, including facemasks and padded clothing, are easy ways to keep paintball safe, although masks can't stop everything from seeping through.
"If you've played for any length of time you get paint your mouth," Key said. " It's not toxic but it tastes nasty."
Although paintball is not an official sport recognized by the NCAA, other colleges across the country compete with teams made up of people from all ages and skill level, Key said.
UB Mayhem travels to Rochester, Syracuse and Pennsylvania for matches and tournaments. The team placed fourth at a Penn State tournament last year and Key hopes to do as well, if not better, this season.
One of the few downsides to being a team member is paying for tournaments and travel expenses out of pocket; however, the team raises money through fundraisers and poker tournaments. Mayhem is officially recognized by the Student Association.
Women are encouraged to participate as the team currently only has one female member.
There are only a few different types of games and objectives in each competition, but for the most part the goal is to eliminate all members of the opposing team.
Speedball, the only type of paintball played professionally, is a more challenging and fast-paced game for experienced players. Courses are set up so each team has an equal amount of cover and fields are generally small in size at about half a football field, Key said.
"Woodsball" is more recreational and involves potentially unequal playing fields as the game is played in a large wooded area with different bunker coverage on each side. Capture the flag is a common variation of this game, according to Key.
"It's hard to find places to train as a team because UB has a strict gun policy," Key said. "If we could have a couple of guns on file with the UB Police, it would be much easier to coordinate practices."
The gun dilemma also makes it difficult for the paintball team to purchase equipment available in a central location for future members according to Chris Barone, a senior mechanical engineering major.
The team occasionally hosts open play for students wishing to get acquainted with the sport without the expense and commitment of buying their own guns and equipment. They also plan to host a tournament on Oct. 11. The team practices and holds matches locally at Hot Shots, located at 3325 Genesse St. It holds meetings Thursdays at 6 p.m. in 145 Student Union.
Additional reporting by Renata Teplitskaya, Staff Writer
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
