Camp Pendleton Legion

Camp Pendleton Legion… they formed their team during the spring/summer of 2008 with 7 guys that just showed up every weekend to play advanced walk-ons.  They decided to see how they would fare in an actual tournament and entered into the final event of the VSS (Velocity Summer Series).  They thought they would do pretty good and well, they didn’t.  They only won 3 games but those that played that day and are still playing today (Brandon Sweeney, Garrett Gillette, Brian Gillette, and Andrew Vinton)  saw that they had the potential to be a good team.

After VSS, as a team they decided to start practicing as much as possible and playing against better teams at their home park (The Paintball Park @ Camp Pendleton) in hopes of getting better.  Then, putting their focus on playing in the XPSL mainly, they put together what they thought was a pretty strong 7-man roster (a roster that had 9 people on it).  But then, as we all know, the XPSL and NPPL were no more and they were not sure as to what league(s) they would be playing in in 2009.  With the uncertainty of where they would be playing they still kept their focus on getting better as a team and then Shawn Walker comes out with the RPL, a 5-man league.  They right away decided to focus on playing in the RPL and getting all of our sponsors together.

Starting 2009 and RPL #1 is here, Bakersfield, CA.  They showed up with an 8-man roster for a 5-man event (not the easiest thing in the world).  After the first day in our first tournament together, they found themselves seeded first going into Sunday.  They had won all but one game that Saturday.  Winning their first match on Sunday they were feeling pretty good about their chances and then, a wall.  Dropping their semi-final match in two games they found themselves playing for 3^rd and 4^th, and they were not looking to place 4^th.  They won the 3^rd and 4^th match, taking ^3rd and also setting up a nice little rivalry with another team.  Having taken 3^rd in our first event they felt good but knew they still had some work to be done.

In the weeks following Bakersfield and getting ready for RPL #2 in Victorville, CA; Captains Brandon Sweeney and Brian Gillette began discussing a vision they both had for paintball.  That vision was how can they bring Christ into paintball? and how can we let others know about him.  It was a vision that they felt would take some time to put into motion but one they both were dedicated into seeing through.  Both Brandon and Brian work in the Youth Ministry at their churches (Brandon being a volunteer staff member of 7 years and working on becoming a Pastor, and Brian being the Director of Student Ministry at his church).

Victorville, CA; RPL #2 was a fun and different tournament.  Fun because, well, its paintball.  Different because they now had a new element to deal with once the event was over with.  Legion having made it into Sunday seeded 3rd this time was focused on trying to take the whole thing.  Winning both the quarter finals match and semi finals match in 3 games they were headed into the finals for 1^st and 2^nd.  They came out of Victorville with a 2^nd place finish and sitting in a 3 way tie for 1^st place overall.  But now it was time to deal with that new element.

After the Victorville RPL event they lost 3 players (their snake player, snake corner, and a mid player).  That was hard because they all had become friends and they all still are, but now they had to replace some good players.  This is where things for Legion took a big turn in a different direction.  While searching for new players Brandon and Brian continued to talk about the vision of the team and God being God decided to make something happen.  Garrett, Brian’s brother suggested that now should be the time where we take Legion and turn it into that faith based team.  Loving the idea, Brandon and Brian decided that we should listen to God and move on that.

The new mission of the team would now be to reach the world of paintball for Christ.  But the big question is how to we go about doing that.  The easy answer and what they felt to be the right one was through words and action on/off the field.  Knowing that not everyone on the team was a believer they also knew that they had to set new ground rules.  No they weren’t going to ask or force anyone to convert and become a Christian but they did want to bring a certain level to sport.

You see, in the beginning one of the biggest things for the members of Camp Pendleton Legion was not just to get better as players and as a team but to also help build the sport of paintball in anyway possible and bring new teams into the sport (then of course came the faith based idea later).  With a couple new players and the same but much more difficult focus, Legion began to get ready for RPL #3 in Oceanside, CA.

When the Oceanside event arrived the team were pretty amped and looking again to win it all, but also now keeping in mind a new mission.  Not having a very good Saturday, they went into Sunday seeded 7^th overall for that event and they knew they had a lot of work ahead of them the next day.  With Sunday now here they knew it was time to step it up if they were going to make into the finals for the 3^rd event in a row, and step it up they did.  Winning the Prelims, Quarter Finals, and Semi Finals matches in 2 games each and once again into the finals for 1^st and 2^nd.  After taking the finals match to a really close 3^rd game, we took 2^nd for the second straight event.

With 2 more events to go in the RPL, they still have our work cut out for them, but they believe that by the grace of God they can win the overall series title.  Looking forward with the goal now, they have to always remember that they are only where they are as a team because of God.  If they continue to keep themselves humble and give all the glory to Him, God will continue to bless them in the way He wants to.

Camp Pendleton Legion is here for a purpose; to reach others for Christ.  They plan on now doing this in many different ways along the way.  Having youth events at the park , supporting local and global ministries that help spread the love of God to those that do not know Him and need help, and of course by their actions on/off the field.  Responding to Jesus’ call in Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” and in Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.

Camp Pendleton Legion is a team that is dedicated to winning.  They practice hard every week with one goal in mind, to get better….  You cant play paintball on the weekends and expect to get better.. Paintball is something they do all week, to be the best you must train, their team members are always running, swimming, and working out to get stronger and faster.

Current 2009 Roster

Brandon “Preacher”  Sweeney (captain)

Brian Gillette (captain)

Garrett “G-Dub” Gillette (founder)

Josh Marine

Andrew Vinton

Jalal “Jester” Soltani

Tyrus “Ty” Cabrera

Cody DuFon

Jonathan “JP” Kennedy

Camp Pendleton Legion’s 2009 Sponsors

The Paintball Park @ Camp Pendleton

Sunday Clothing

Paintball Rack

JT Sports

Pit Row BBQ

Ramp’d Photography

Money Paintball

O-Ring Monkey

Custom Products

As we go into the final two events of the RPL CP Legion we are focused on one goal.  To be the best team we can be.  We want teams to like us, but hate to play us.  We have a saying that we stand by  “NO EXCUSES, NO EXPLANATIONS, HIGH EXECUTION, HIGH EXPECTATIONS. GET IT DONE!