The 2023 Summit Awards hosted at the Sahara Casino Resort have concluded and it was, as many pros said, "the best paintball event I've ever been at". Nearly 1000 people gathered at the Azilo Outdoor Courtyard at the Sahara featuring the second biggest screen in Vegas sitting at 220 feet long, and watched in amazement at the many offerings of the night. Whether they were roaming the massive venue, sitting in a private cabana with bottle service, or telling stories with the most legendary players in the game, the event was buzzing with camaraderie and love for paintball.
All we have in this game is each other; whether you are a seasoned pro, divisional player, photographer, or even just a casual fan, we can all contribute in some way to make the sport better each day. On Sunday Night after the NXL Las Vegas Open, the Major League of Paintball made a major contribution with the biggest show and party in all of paintball. In partnership with Iconic Paintball, the MLPB did something truly groundbreaking, focused fully on creating a magical night for paintball fans everywhere.
The night opened with the off-field and industry awards after a red carpet entry by NXL pros, media members, and the industries biggest companies. It then transitioned in the Hall of Icons created by Ryan Greenspan and Quinn Nadu focused on memorializing the games most legendary players with their jacket introduction ceremony to the Hall of Icons newest members for 2024 comprised of 10 players.
The final segment of the night featured the on-field awards, honoring the sports best players of the 2023 season as voted on by the coaches/owners of the league. I have been in the game for 20 seasons, and it made me so proud to be a paintball player standing at the Summit Awards and see how far we have come.
Table of Contents
On-Field Awards | |
Icon of the Year | Marcello Margott |
Offensive Player of the Year | Chris Schehr |
Defensive Player of the Year | Marcello Margott |
Defensive Player of the Year | Jason Edwards |
Snake Player of the Year | Keith Brown |
Dorito Player of the Year | Chris Schehr |
Flex Player of the Year | Ryan Greenspan |
Breakout Player of the Year | Nic Rippel |
Breakout Team of the Year | New York Xtreme |
Rookie of the Year | Archie Barnes |
Coach of the Year | Kevin Bredthauer |
Team of the Year | San Diego Dynasty |
Game of the Year | TonTons vs. Dynasty, World Cup. |
Divisional Team of the Year | PaintballFIT |
WNXL Pro Team of the Year | Chesapeake Cheetahs |
WNXL Player of the Year | Jenn Fulk |
European Player of the Year | Axel Gaudin |
WNXL EU Player of the Year | Mina Amundsen |
European Team of the Year | Toulouse TonTons |
WNXL EU Team of the Year | Drakaina |
Pro Team Supporters of the year | Granny Heaters |
Classic Awards | |
Classic Team of the Year | Image |
Classic Player of the Year | Demetri Ninios |
Classic Amateur Team of the Year | Louisville Asylum |
Classic Amateur Player of the Year | Zac Williams |
Classic International team of the Year | ARMADA |
Classic Ambassador of the Year | Will Arroyo |
Classic Sportsmanship team of the year | Desert Edge |
Classic Team Ambassador of the Year | The Misfits |
Referee Awards | |
Referee of the Year | Alicia Garcia |
Most Improved Referee of the Year | Daniel Molineros |
Head Referee of the Year | Andrew Howe |
Scorekeeper of the year | Roderick Mitchell |
Excellent Achievement Award | Robert "Buddha" Daniels |
Media | |
Brand Content of the Year | Ryne Broshears |
Media Newcomer of the Year | David Hauck |
Dual Threat (Photo & Video) of the Year | George Fava |
Off Field Content of the Year | Zyzek Barro |
Off Field Content of the Year | Dylan Fout |
Storyteller of the Year | Mikko Huttunen |
Innovator of the Year | Oliver Lang |
Videographer of the Year | Brian Wolfe, Verbhal |
Photographer of the Year | Dan Shelley, ShellDa Photos |
Creator of the Year | Marcello Margott - Play the Game Podcast |
Creator of the Year | Tyler Harmon - Play the Game Podcast |
YouTube Channel of the Year | Matt The Gym Rat |
Scenario Games | |
Scenario Paintball Person of the Year | Wolf |
Producer or Game Creator of the Year | Super Game Series |
Scenario team of the Year | Swamp Monkeys |
Scenario Big Game of the Year | Super Game |
Scenario lifetime achievement award | "Tdevil" Gabriel Frias |
General of the year | Phil Ramirez Team Cobra |
Industry | |
Mega Park of the year - West Coast | SC Village |
Mega Park of the Year- East Coast | Skirmish Paintball |
Tournament Park of the Year | Paintball Fit |
Best Online Store | Lone Wolf Paintball |
North East Store of the year | Paintball Wizard |
Midwest Store of the year | PB Sports |
West Coast Store of the year | Extreme |
Southwest Store of the year | Pro Edge |
South East Store of the year | Paintball Central |
Best new Park or most improved park | Pinnacle Paintball Park |
North East Field of the year | P&L |
Midwest Field of the year | Vintage |
West Coast Field of the year | Capital Edge |
Southwest Field of the year | Fun on the run |
South East Field of the year | Tikis |
On-Field Awards
Breakout Player of the Year - Nic Rippel 18.8% of total votes, 5 first place votes.
Breakout Team of the Year, New York Xtreme 29.6% of total votes. 13 first place votes.
Coach of the Year, Kevin Bredthauer. 23.8% of total votes. 10 first place votes.
Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Jason Edwards and Marcello Margott. Tied 21.66% of total votes.
European Player of the Year, Axel Gaudin. 50.90% of total votes.
Divisional Team of the Year, PbFit SemiPro. 52.84% of total votes.
NXL Team of the Year, San Diego Dynasty. 40.48% of total votes.
European Team of the Year, Toulouse TonTons. 56.74% of total votes.
Flex Player of the Year, Ryan Greenspan. 22.14% of total vote. 7 first place votes
Game of the Year, TonTons vs. Dynasty World Cup Semis. 24.55% of total votes
Icon of the Year, MVP, Marcello Margott. 26.66% of total votes. 9 first place votes.
Snake Player of the Year, Keith Brown. 22.14% of total votes. 8 first place votes.
Dorito Player of the Year, Chris Schehr. 23.8% of total votes. 7 first place votes.
Markus Nielsen Offensive Player of the Year, Chris Schehr. 22.38% of total votes. 7 first place votes.
WNXL Player of the Year, Jenn Fulk, 36.96% of total votes.
WNXL Team of the Year, Chesapeake Cheetahs
WNXL EU Player of the Year, Mina Amundson
WNXL EU Team of the Year, Drakaina
Classic Awards
ICPL Amateur Player of the Year, Zac Williams
Classic Amateur Team of the Year, Louisville Asylum
Classic Sportsmanship Team of the Year, Desert Edge.
Classic International Team of the Year, Armada.
ICPL Team of the Year, Image.
Classic Team Ambassador of the Year, The Misfits
ICPL Player of the Year, Demitri Ninios
Classic Ambassador of the Year, Will Arroyo. (not pictured)
Referee Awards
Scorekeeper of the Year, Roderick Mitchell
Referee of the Year, Alicia Garcia
Most Improved Ref of the Year, Daniel Molineros.
Referee Excellent Achievement Award, Robert Daniels.
Head Ref of the Year, Andrew Howe with his team.
Media Awards
Brand Content of the Year, Ryne Broshears.
Off-field Content of the Year, Zyzek Barro and Dylan Fout.
Storyteller of the Year(Visual Media) Mikko Huttenen
Innovator of the Year, Oliver Lang.
Videographer of the Year, Brian Wolfe
Photographer of the Year, Dan Shelley
Creator of the Year, Play the Game Podcast, Marcello Margott and Tyler Harmon
Youtube Channel of the Year, Matt the Gym Rat.
Media Newcomer of the Year, David Hauck.
Dual Threat Media Member of the Year, George Fava.
Scenario Awards
Scenario Player of the Year, Wolf.
Scenario Team of the Year, Swamp Monkeys.
Scenario General of the Year, Phil Ramirez, Team Cobra.
Scenario Lifetime Achievement Award, Gabriel Frias
Producer of the Year and Big Game of the Year, Supergame Brian Barno, Dan Bonebrake.
Industry Awards
Mega Park of the Year, West Coast. SC Village.
Midwest Field of the Year, Vintage Paintball.
Midwest Store of the Year, PBSports.
Northeast Field of the Year, P&L Paintball.
Southeast Store of the Year, Paintball Central.
Southwest Store of the Year, Pro Edge Paintball.
Southwest Field of the Year, Fun on the Run Paintball.
Tournament Park of the Year, Paintball Fit.
West Coast Field of the Year, Capital Edge Paintball Park.
West Coast Store of the Year, Extreme Paintball.
Online Store of the Year, Lonewolf Paintball
Mega Park of the Year, East Coast, Skirmish Paintball.
Northeast Store of the Year, Paintball Wizard.
Best New Paintball Park, Pinnacle Paintball Park.
Southeast Field of the Year, Tikis Paintball