NewsSeptember 29, 1996

Front row, left to right, Matt Gregory, Stuart Knowlan, Ian Lape, Brandon Andrews, Matt Neal. Back row, left to right, Jacob LeGrand, Mitchell Casteel, Matt Litz, Nathan Penlan, and Stuart McIntosh. When you get shot you raise your gun above your head and walk to a safe area...

Front row, left to right, Matt Gregory, Stuart Knowlan, Ian Lape, Brandon Andrews, Matt Neal. Back row, left to right, Jacob LeGrand, Mitchell Casteel, Matt Litz, Nathan Penlan, and Stuart McIntosh.

When you get shot you raise your gun above your head and walk to a safe area.

Matt Neal walks into a clearing ready for what awiats him across the field.

If you ever wanted to shoot somebody, but didn't really want to hurt them, then paint ball is the sport for you.

Patrick Icaza and Mark Collins have 28 acres in Jackson on Highway 61 East where they hold paint ball games for birthday parties, company parties, police officers, the Army and anybody else that enjoys running through the woods in camouflage hunting down your friends with paint ball guns.

There are four types of semi-automatic guns to choose from at Quest and Conquer Paint ball and you are given 100 rounds of paint balls to shoot your opponents.

The paint balls are made of a colored lotion that washes off of any clothing and will not stain, according Icaza.

Icaza said that they have been holding games for a little more than one month and he has seen a lot of repeat customers.

Right now the games are held on 12 acres of the 28-acre plot.

"We are planning to expand this fall," Icaza said.

"Hopefully, we're going to get a town in," he added.

They plan to clear some of the land and put in a replica ghost town for added variety for their games.

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Icaza said that people ages 10-45 have been coming out to play.

"There haven't been any complaints, we've had lots of repeat customers," Icaza said.

Right now there are 20-30 games that can be played on the course and every week Collins and Icaza and Gary Brown, an employee make improvements to the course.

There is no handicap in paint ball, according to Icaza.

"Some of our newer players hide more and some of the advanced players will get shot more during the games because they are more aggressive," he added.

The course is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the course will be open through the winter for winter games.

There is a limit to the amount of people that can play at one time. That limit is 30 people.

"Safety is our number one thing," Icaza said.

"If it's a big group, we'll split up the games to keep it safe," he added.

Paint ball is one of the safest sports according to statistics because of the emphasis on safety precautions.

The paint ball travels at a speed of 250-280 feet per second and will bust on contact. There is a courtesy rule that players must not shoot anybody close up.

Icaza has been playing the game for six years and he asked Collins if he would like to go into business with him and Collins said "why not," Icaza said.

Quest and Conquer hasn't had any injuries yet and they supply all of the safety equipment.

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