overall in the Elite division , commenting on his teammates as they marched into battle .
And this was how the Eastern Paintball League kicked off its 2023 season on April 29-30 with the Garden State Cup . Forty-six teams faced off for two days of modern-day gladiator spectacle that didn ’ t disappoint .
Quietly , amongst the fanfare , a special squad of young ladies made their premier at the event .
The Liberty Belles , a squad of 14-U female ballers , are the latest machination of Steve Ross , coach and co-founder of Montressor ’ s Marauders .
I was standing inside the net under the unseasonably warm sunshine waiting for the next point to start in a match between Albany Powersurge and Knuckles Down , and decided to catch some quick video . As I took my secondary camera out and started filming the teams walking in full bravado to their start box , I heard a voice behind me .
“ Unsung heroes ,” he said . I turned to face him .
“ That ’ s what this is all about ,” he went on . “ It ’ s the best adrenaline rush in the world . We do it for glory . All of us , in some way or another , that ’ s why we ’ re here .”
That was Justin Whidby from Knuckles Down , a D4 squad that ended up placing fourth
After World Cup , Ross took a look at the Marauders organization and realized that he had foundational building blocks for something . There were three core female players - Sydney Nates , Alexis Giaccio , and Lilly Cohen . With the addition of Jasmine Rumrill and Mattie Davenport , they had an instant team . And locally in Upstate New York , Ross had begun practicing with his own “ bonus ” daughters as well .
He saw an opportunity and a need , and he jumped on it .
After the jerseys were designed , Ross named Abby Bunnell the head coach .
“ Abby was the perfect fit ,” Ross said . “ She has a special bond with these young women already . They already call her ‘ Mom ’. So it just made sense .”
Bunnell was shocked when she heard about the appointment as coach .
070 paintball . media magazine