The core membership started in 1996 as "backyard warriors". It was'nt until the fall of 2004 that the team was actually given a name of The EPZ Federation. With a bi-weekly newsletter named The ERIE PAINTBALL ZONE (EPZ), the team went on an aggressive recruiting campaign.
During the 2005 game season the team peaked at 40 members.
In 2006 the decision was made to disband the EPZ Federation. Its two squads (Warrior Squad & VanRiper Squad) in affect became two separate teams. The EPZ took on a new role. Instead of remaining Erie County's largest woodsball team, it was now a woodsball organization devoted to searching out and organizing the woodsball teams of Erie County.
With the EPZ website and business cards the word started to get out. First to register was Ranger Unit then EZ Company. The more teams that were recruited the faster our image spread through out the county. With so many teams and amount of players with various ways of playing, it was "rocky" at first. The organization process took awhile.
October 2006 - "The EPZ Committee" was created. Key individuals were picked to help represent & determine the future policies & direction the organization was to head. With this committee in action higher standards and expectations were set for the sport of woodsball in Erie County.
The ending of the 2006 season was a success. And with that success a new step was taken. For the first time since 1996 - No longer would the Erie Paintball Zone (EPZ) hold all of its scheduled scenario games in Northern Erie County. New for the 2007 season - thanks to EZ Company's Team Leader - the organization held a scheduled game in Titusville, PA. The game consisted of players from the EPZ / Tionesta / Warren and Cochranton.
As a result of the Titusville game, an alliance was created between the EPZ and the Tionesta group. First registering as an EPZ Team in the fall of 2007 then joining as their own EPZ Division over the winter months. Despite the hour & 1/2 drive time they missed very few Erie County games. This was in addition to all their locally scheduled games in Tionesta.
Before the start of the 2008 season negotiations were already underway to develop relations with Southern Erie County woodsball warriors in the Corry area.
They already had an established setup of organized scheduled games with multiple gamefields for many years. As with the EPZ they too also had safety as their priority.
Negotiations were very streamlined and the results were that they "signed on" as the South County Division.
With a total of 3 EPZ Divisions, a Divisional Game was scheduled in June of 2008. The turnout was exceptionally good. All participants showed good comradery despite many unforeseen conflictions of different forms of play, chrono limits and other unforeseen technicalities. This will only strengthen future Divisional games for the 2009 season.
Currently there are possibilities underway for the development of 2 additional EPZ Divisions for the 2009 season. A Meadville/Conneaut Lake Division and a Jamestown NY Division. Negotiations will resume in late January now that the holiday season is now past. Please note that each EPZ Division is its own local woodsball group or organization that represents its area. In no way are they "owned" by the EPZ Federation but instead choose to participate and join with the EPZ Organization to promote and organize safe woodsball for everyone. This is their website and forum. To post all scheduled games in all divisions. Organizing the woodsball scene. Safety nets are highly encouraged. Waiver Forms/ Safety Sheets/ Business Cards are all provided at no cost.
We now welcome the 2009 season!
