My Unforgettable Weekend at the National Xball League Mid Atlantic Open in Dover Delaware

This past weekend, I had the chance to experience the event firsthand. From the long drive to the intense matches and reconnecting with old friends, the weekend was packed with memorable moments. Here’s a detailed look at my time at the event, the people I met, and the games that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

The Journey to the Venue

Thursday started with a 1.5-hour drive to the venue. The location was a bit tricky to find, and I missed the turn into the venue multiple times. Eventually, I found the dirt road leading to what looked like a farm. After parking the car, I faced a solid walk to the venue, passing by vendors and stopping to chat with my buddies Zane and Dyland. The atmosphere was already buzzing with excitement.

Visitors approaching the vibrant "Welcome to the NXL" sign at an outdoor event surrounded by lush greenery and a sky dotted with clouds.

Early Matches and Team Smoke’s Triumph

My buddy Mike played in the 3-on-3 Xball tournament. I got to meet Mike, Tom, Danny, and some other familiar faces like Will, Mat, and Rodney, who I would get to know better over the weekend. Team Smoke dominated the preliminaries and semifinals, setting up a thrilling final against War.

The final was intense. Team Smoke took a 2-1 lead, but War tied it up, forcing overtime. The overtime was a one-on-one showdown. I told Mike to take the one-on-one since he was playing great, but he insisted on sitting out the last point. Mike demanded the one-on-one and clinched the win, securing gold for Team Smoke. The celebration was electric, and I quickly ran over to Dyland to pick up some custom gear I had made.

Celebrating with my new friend Will after Smokes ' 3-man win in Amateur Xball, posted up with the F Cancer Banner for our friend Danny Manning!

Friday’s Bigger Battles and Reconnecting with Friends

Friday was a bigger day with more teams competing. I reconnected with many past paintball friends, including Ryan, Tommy, and the Stanton brothers. Just before the NY Aces played, I took a picture with them. It seemed like I brought some good luck because they went 2-0 after that.

I also had a chance to talk with Alan about his experience in the pro ALLstat game, which was fascinating. Later, I helped Team Smoke in the 5-man mechanical tournament. They fought hard and took second place, losing only to Image, a strong group from Maryland, where I spent some time.

One of the most meaningful moments on Friday was reconnecting with Mark, my close friend from the Philippines. His wife recently passed away from cancer, and I gave him a T-shirt and a “F Cancer” goggle strap I had made. Mark is family to me, and supporting him felt important during this tough time.

My friend Alan and I. Alan played the Pro All-Star Game!

Saturday’s Final Day and Support for the Philippines Team

Saturday brought more exciting games. I watched my friends compete and helped out the Philippines team in the 7-man tournament. Unfortunately, their day didn’t go as planned, but they bounced back to place 3rd in the 10-man tournament the next day. It was inspiring to see their resilience and teamwork.

After that, I went back to hang out with Team Smoke and help if needed. They did not; they were a finely tuned machine and took home 1st in 7-man Mechanical, raising their total to 3 medals: two 1st-place and one 2nd-place in the events they entered!

I want to thank all my friends who I got to talk to and watch play. I love this game till next time.

Ps Special shout-out to my Pamilya who have helped me grow and become a better person.

Jonathan "Waldo" Rullan

Me and the Medal Magnet Mike Riccardi after a great weekend