Being pelted by an object going 300 feet per second is probably not the first choice of extracurricular activity for many University students. However, for the nine-man UGA Paintball Club, it is just another part of their pulverizing week.

Paintball became an official University club sport in 2000, and the team began actively participating in tournaments and competitions around the country. The team won the SEC Championship last year, and plans on going to a national competition during the spring to conclude their season.

Though small in numbers and notoriety, the group already has big accomplishments and even bigger aspirations.

Vice President Garrett Lotane, a sophomore from Watkinsville, said the team has big goals, but they might have to put them on hold this season.

“This year is a rebuilding year due to a loss of several key senior players from last season,” Lotane said.

He said the main goal at the start of each season is to put together a competitive team.

Fulfilling his duties as vice president, Lotane is responsible for recruiting and working with all the new players to catch them up to speed.

New to the team is freshman Seth Boulet, from Sharpsburg. This past summer, he built a paintball course on one acre of his family’s land for his friends to play on for fun.

Boulet said that, in accordance with National Collegiate Paintball Association standards, the team uses semi-automatic paintball guns, called markers. The markers are accompanied by an air tank filled with nitrogen gas to propel the paintballs when shot.

“Seeing how the paintballs can travel up to 300 fps, the players wear protective facemasks and loose jerseys so the impact of a ball won’t be too intense,” Boulet said.

Anthony Baez, a junior from Oconee County, is the president of the team this year, and his title demands a lot of him.

“(I have to do) pretty much everything . from recruiting to organizing practices to working with other schools’ presidents to schedule tournaments,” Baez said.

Baez is one of the more experienced players, having worked at a paintball field for seven years and played the sport for eight.

“We’re constantly looking for new players to build onto our team,” Lotane said.

For those interested, but not able to commit to a competitive season that involves weekly practices and travel, the team holds two “woods play” days each semester. Anyone can come out and play for free with the team, either bringing their own equipment or renting from the University’s supplies.