Editing Sydney SWAT (section)

== History ==

=== Formation ===

Sydney SWAT was established by Mike Whybrew in 1991, according to an interview published in 2023.[1]

Whybrew subsequently established Action Paintball Games and became involved in organising tournament paintball, including the Australian Super 7s.[1]

Contemporary records identify SWAT members working with Skirmish Adventures during the mid-1990s. By 1996, six members of the professional team reportedly worked for the business.[7]

=== New South Wales championships ===

SWAT won the New South Wales State Championships at Skirmish Adventures, Gunning, on 12 February 1995. The team entered the finals in third place after the preliminary round but won the championship with 165 points.[2]

''Australian Paintballer'' described the victory as SWAT’s second consecutive New South Wales championship.[2]

=== 1995 NPPL San Diego Cup ===

In 1995, SWAT travelled to the United States to compete in the [[National Professional Paintball League]] San Diego Cup at Borderland Paintball Fields.[3]

SWAT entered two squads in the five-player Pro-Am competition. They finished eighth and tenth among 20 teams. The combined ten-player team placed fourteenth among 28 entrants.[3]

Michael Whybrew captained a five-player squad comprising John Caruana, Rob Hughes, Neil Martin and Danny Gapps. Brad McCormack captained the other squad, comprising Barry Hayes, Rod Ratcliffe, Chris Humphries, Steve Hughes and a player identified as Chubbs.[3]

SWAT defeated Washington Reign during the five-player preliminary stage and Bad Company in the ten-player competition.[3]

The tournament report recorded support from R. P. Scherer, Paintball Australia, Smart Parts, Skirmish Adventures, The Paintball Connection, National Paintball Supplies, Air America and Scott.[3]

=== Australian competition in 1995 ===

SWAT won the opening round of the 1995–96 Skirmish Bushmaster Series at Menangle. The team was undefeated during the preliminary stage and defeated Top Hat Jokers Red in the professional final. Mike Whybrew received the referee-voted Most Valuable Player award.[8]

At the [[South Pacific Paintball Championships (Australia)|1995 Australian South Pacific Paintball Championships]], SWAT finished third. The ten-player tournament was held at Adventure Quest Games near Windsor, New South Wales.[9][21]

The contemporary online report describes SWAT meeting Top Hat Jokers on the speedball field during the finals.[21]

In the national rankings compiled by ''Australian Paintballer'' and Kez Svanberg for the 1995 season, SWAT placed first among professional teams, recording 446.25 points from ten tournaments.[4]

=== 1996 season ===

On 14 January 1996, SWAT won the professional division of a five-player charity tournament at Brayton Paintball. The event raised A$2,466.67 for the Starlight Foundation.[10]

Rod Lewis, identified as a SWAT captain, served on the 1996 committee of the [[Australasian Paintball Players League]].[11]