Editing Adam Gardner (section)

== Playing career ==

=== Early career and All Americans ===

Gardner began playing paintball in 1986 alongside his brother Bill.

The brothers initially participated in recreational games before entering organised tournament competition.

According to their retrospective account published by DLX Technology, they competed at the Wolf's Lair 20-man tournament with a group of approximately 15 other players.

The team finished second behind the PMI Piranhas, receiving a US$10,000 prize.

The experience encouraged the brothers to establish the All Americans as a dedicated tournament team.[1]

The All Americans subsequently entered the Line SI tournament series, progressing through the amateur ranks before winning the 1991 Masters Championship in Tennessee.[1]

During the 1990s, the team became one of the leading professional organisations in American paintball, competing against established teams including [[Chicago Aftershock]] and the [[Ironmen]].

The All Americans won multiple major five-player and ten-player championships, including the professional five-player division at the 2000 [[Paintball World Cup]].[1][5]

=== NPPL competition ===

Gardner continued competing with the All Americans during the early 2000s.

Contemporary [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL) rosters identify him as a member of the team's professional squad in 2001 and 2002.

The 2001 roster listed Bill Gardner as captain, alongside Adam Gardner, [[Frank Connell]], Mark Biletnikoff, Jason Green, [[Dan Kerszencwejg]], Roddy MacDonald and other established players.[6]

At the 2001 NPPL Chicago Open, held at [[Badlandz Paintball Field]] in Crete, Illinois, the All Americans won the professional ten-player division.[7]

The team subsequently finished third at the NPPL Atlantic City Gambler's Open, behind Aftershock and the Southern California Ironmen.[8]

=== Philadelphia Americans ===

In 2003, Gardner became involved in establishing the Philadelphia Americans, a professional franchise developed from the All Americans organisation for the inaugural NXL season.

The team competed in the new X-Ball format against other professional franchises, including Chicago Aftershock, Los Angeles Ironmen, Oakland Assassins and Detroit Thunder.

Gardner was registered as player number 07 on the original Philadelphia Americans roster.

The team was coached by [[Darryl Trent]], with Bill Gardner serving as an assistant coach.[9]

At the 2003 PSP World Cup in Orlando, Florida, Philadelphia defeated the Oakland Assassins in the NXL championship final.

Contemporary WARPIG reporting specifically identified Adam Gardner as a player and team co-owner during the championship celebrations.[2]

Philadelphia successfully defended its NXL championship in 2004, defeating Detroit Strange.[1]

The All Americans and Philadelphia Americans remained closely associated with Smart Parts, which supplied equipment and financial support to the professional organisation.