Ready, Set, Paint On!

As the first 10 seconds tick away, Blake Conner, a semi-pro paintball competitor based in Polk County, knows it’s go time. Before the paint starts flying, Blake’s voice cuts through the anticipated chaos, calling out codes and directing his teammates with the strategy they need to execute their defensive and offensive plays.

“Paintball is an adrenaline-heavy game, and when I’m playing, it’s with four of my best friends, who I’m not going to let get shot,” said Blake. “So at the start of each game, I get really hyped up with confidence to win it and defend my guys against the other team.”

It was a December night when seven-year-old Blake was first introduced to paintball. His parents had gathered their staff for a thrilling Christmas party at the paintball field across the street from their auto shop, B&K Auto Repair Inc. in Winter Haven. After that night, paintball quickly became more than a new experience for Blake; it became his dream to compete professionally. Before entering tournaments, paintball grew into a family activity.

“Yeah, my whole family used to play, everyone except my mom,” said Blake. “So from the ages of 9 and 10, my dad, my brother, my sister, and my cousin would go across the street and play with each other.” Eventually, Blake was old enough to enter into his first tournament and put his skills to the test. “My first actual Speedball tournament was when I turned 10, and ever since, I’ve been in love.”

Once Blake moved into competitive speedball, his dad, brother, and a family friend formed their own team: the Mini Skulls, a name inspired by how small they were at the time. Blake played with the Mini Skulls until 2021, then continued to compete with other teams like Damage Control. The transition marked the beginning of his journey from a young player discovering the sport to a competitor determined to make a name for himself in paintball.

In 2024, his paintball career took another step forward when he competed in the Maximum Velocity Paintball Series (MVPS). Through the series, his team earned a spot in the MVPS AllStar Tournament, where Blake was selected to represent them. At that tournament, he met Ryan Corothers, another young player who would become one of Blake’s closest friends and teammates.

When Blake first met Ryan, he didn’t know the connection would eventually lead him to joining Legacy Factor, a semi-pro team coached by Ryan’s dad, Matthew Corothers.

Legacy Factor practices at Legacy Sports Park in North Lakeland, a fitting place for Blake to continue pursuing his professional paintball dreams. “People can rent equipment there and play, but it’s mainly known for its historic field,” Blake said. “It’s been there since before I was born, and it’s the spot to get better at paintball.”

Originally known as Central Florida Paintball, the park has been a staple in Central Florida’s paintball community since the early 2000s. It has served as a training ground for players and teams, including professionals from across the state.

With guidance from coach Matthew Corothers, his cousin Max Rooney, a pro player for Chicago After Shock, and the support of Jason “FK” Edwards, a professional player with Tampa Bay Damage and coowner of Legacy Sports Park, Blake and his teammates have earned first-place and runner-up finishes while working toward the professional ranks. Through Legacy Factor, Blake has competed in tournaments in Aruba, Ohio, and Europe, gaining experience against players from different teams and backgrounds.

For Blake, competing overseas fulfilled a longtime dream. “It’s always been a dream of mine in paintball, just to go play Europe. And if you are in any type of way into paintball, you should,” Blake said. “I’m also grateful for the local pros who help a lot, especially Jason Edwards, who dropped down from pro to play semi-pro with us in all the Europe tournaments.” During NXL Europe UK, Blake competed with Manchester Firm, giving him the opportunity to experience paintball on an international level.

Another major opportunity came when Blake pursued a place on Team USA for the Nations Cup of Paintball, which he describes as “the world cup of paintball.” The path began with a paintball combine, where players demonstrated their abilities in hopes of advancing to the next stage. Blake placed first, earning the opportunity to travel to Texas for tryouts. “The tryouts were rough. It’s a lot of paintball with fast drills and only two pods on your back,” Blake said.

Following tryouts, selected players traveled to Boston to practice together before heading to Paris for the United Paintball Federation World Championships. Blake won the gold in the U19 2026 division.

In the speedball format Blake plays, teams navigate a field of inflatable bunkers, working to create an opening to reach and hit the opposing team’s buzzer before time expires or their team is eliminated. The style evolved from the traditional game of capture the flag, replacing the flag with a buzzer that makes scoring easier for spectators to follow.

“It’s all about reading the game,” Blake said. “I’m reading the other team, seeing what they’re doing around their start box and in the field. Then I am passing that information along to my teammates to do their job, which will in result impact the game.”

For players just starting out, Blake encourages them not to let the fear of getting hit keep them from enjoying the sport. “The worst thing in this game is when you first start and you’re scared and you get shot. Just try and get over that quickly,” he said. “I promise you it makes the game way more fun too.”

Beyond competition, paintball has given Blake a community of friends who have grown alongside him. “In 2018 and 2019, we all started coming up at around the same time,” Blake said. “We were all on different teams, but our parents would force us to introduce ourselves to each other, and then we became friends.”

Despite the friendships that bring players together, once the match begins, Blake approaches the opposing team with a different mindset: H.A.T.E., a slogan from Jason Edwards that stands for Heart, Attitude, Teamwork, Execution. “Hate each other for 60 minutes,” Blake said. “And then you’re best friends after it. So that’s what I think of when I go to play a match against anyone.”

Through competing, traveling and building relationships through the sport, Blake is still working toward his next milestone: reaching the professional level. Rather than waiting to be recruited, Blake hopes to earn his place by winning the series and proving himself through semi-pro competition.

For now, he continues to compete and coach through paintball organizations, including the Maximum Velocity Paintball Series and USXBL, while working toward his bachelor’s degree. When asked about how long he sees himself playing paintball, Blake’s answer was simple: to keep playing for as long as he can. “I just love this game,” Blake said.

Catch a National X-League Paintball game yourself, by attending the 2026 NXL World Cup in Kissimmee, Florida, from Nov. 11 to 15.