I had the pleasure of meeting Phoenix last season while she was guesting on the Dog Soldiers team at the Chicago UWL event. On this day she lived up to her name of Phoenix as she rose through the ashes of her team being shot to advance down the field and shoot out 5 or 6 of those who dared raise their markers in her direction. In an interview to promote positive female players in the game I present to you Sarah Meehan, the Phoenix.
Name: Sarah “Phoenix” Meehan
Age: Old Soul, Young Heart
Occupation: Llama Herder
Marker: CCI Phantom Stock Class with 14′ Hammerhead Barrel
Team: One Woman Army
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Home Field: Sherwood Forest in La Porte, IN
How did you get involved in paintball?
I wanted to play for a while before I had a chance. I was invited to play in a private group, and was immediately sold on the idea that shooting your friends for fun is a great way to spend an afternoon.
For all of those new people who ask does it hurt, what would you say?
Well yes it does hurt, but if you are running around instead of just standing still, you don’t feel the pain as much. If you are still concerned, then there are many options for someone who is playing for the first time. There is protective gear that can be used to cover all the sensitive areas until you are used to how it feels. You can also choose to play in cooler weather so you can wear a sweatshirt or more padding.
Out of all of the sports available why did you choose paintball?
Paintball as a sport is very open-ended. There is room for so many different styles of play as well as different skill sets, and it’s that diversity that is attractive to me. It really is the ultimate real life video game, and I enjoy the challenges that different formats and opponents bring.
To date, what has been your favorite playing experience?
Oh there are so many, but I’ll pick one. This one time I brought a group of my friends out to play a scenario event. I loaned all my gear out, and when a friend’s gun went down, I gave him my last backup to play. I ran to the counter and got a rental Tippmann 98. It was on of the last ones they had left due to the amount of players that weekend, so the one I got was pretty beat up. I went out there with my friend, who was playing for the first time, and most of the field was populated by the other side. I ran right up the side and the two of us pushed the whole force back to their own insertion point. The thirty or so players, including the commander were all in there and nobody wanted to come out to face me. They finally did a count and ran out together. They wasted me quickly, although I shot a couple of them out too. When I was walking off, one of the kids I shot came running up to me and asked to see what gun I was shooting. When he saw “RENTAL” on the side of it he was just blown away. I told him that the gun doesn’t make the player. I remember someone teaching me that lesson a long time ago, and it was a joy to be able to pass that on.
What tips, that you have learned, would you give to fellow players?
It’s crucial to listen and watch those around you. If you want to be a better player you can’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s also important to respect the rules and each other. The only way paintball is going to be around in the future is if it is kept clean and safe now. Each individual has the ability to contribute to the culture that is circulating every day at paintball fields. Respect and safety levels deteriorate when no one bothers to stand up and say “That’s not how we do that.” At the same time, always listen to a ref, even if he or she is wrong. Arguing with a ref is bad sportsmanship. It disrupts the flow of the game, and spreads negativity to those in the vicinity. You should always take your gripes to an off-field discussion when a simple exchange doesn’t resolve the call so that you don’t disrespect the other players.
Other than paintball, what do you do for fun?
I love being outside, so I enjoy biking, skating, hiking, kayaking, and running through the woods. I love reading, drawing, writing, making music, eating, storytelling, making PIEs, painting, watching football and hockey, and playing video/computer games. I’ll play any strategy or word game, even board games. I also am an animator and sculptor, so I enjoy constructing or acquiring puppets, miniatures, models, and found objects. Junking is fun.
When you are outnumbered on the field what is it that you do to stay
in the game?
It depends on the situation, but the less your opponents know about where you are and what are you are doing the better. You want to avoid getting pinned down, play tight behind cover, and remember to watch and listen. Sometimes being outnumbered is an advantage. I run solo at many scenario events. When you are alone and deep behind enemy lines, any sound or movement is a target, and it’s easier to eliminate those targets if you can remain undetected.
Who do you look up to in the sport and why?
I love the diversity of character that the paintball community provides so I admire a lot of different people for different reasons. I think the ones I look up to the most, though, are the ones who play out of pure love, and don’t hesitate to help someone around them who needs it. I look up to players like Robert “Snipe” from Rage In Paint, Chuck “Runnin-man” Noe, and Dave Cilio from ESP.
What has been the funniest off field antics you or someone else has
done that you were a part of?
There was this one time that one of my teammates and I decided to play Giant Jenga. It wasn’t a real game but one we made up using wood planks brought for the campfire. By the end of the game a couple hours later the stack was so high that we needed to stand on top of rocks and other stacks of wood to reach the top. Then, it fell, with hilarious results. There’s a video of it somewhere.
How can the industry attract more women to get involved in paintball?
I believe that some aspects of paintball culture need to change. Women need more visible, strong role models. They need to look and see what the other women ballers out there are doing.
You can find Phoenix running around the fields of Chicago showing the guys on the field that women are equally as good on the paintball field. If you see her stop by and say hello.
Paul Forcier
