Club History
Our humble club started in 1996 when Ryan bought his first Laser Challenge gear -- a set of Micro Blasters, otherwise referred to in this text as Noisy Crickets. Play started in a garage adorned with all sorts of crates attempting to recreate a professional arena. Eventually, Ryan got some of the V1 gear, and started playing outdoors with his brother and another family. Several years later, both Erik and Ryan bought Supercomp sets, which contained a front and back sensor, and an EX-D Super Laser. By this time, they had enough equipment for about eight people. For several years, the amount of equipment remained unchanged. Unfortunately, Ryan did not know about the superior V2 equipment, and thus did not buy any, save two Ultrawide blasters, which were purchased at a yard sale with some other equipment some years later.
About three years ago, though, Erik and Ryan's family started hosting a youth Bible study. Unknown to them, it would provide a vast number of players. Laser tag quickly became the standard pass-time after the Bible study was over. Bible studiers became players, and the group's ranks began to grow. Then, in early 2003, Erik undertook an amazing project - making his own laser guns. It seemed like an unsurmountable goal then, but about 8 months later, the first gun rolled off the production line. He continues to be the leading (and only) researcher of the club.
During the fall of 2002, Erik and Ryan had their first laser tag party. Due to the large number of expected players, Ryan eventually bought considerably more gear. All of the club's Team Force 2000, Special Edition, and some of the Team Force 250 gear appeared on the scene due to this event. The party was a success, even though inclement weather threatened its livelihood (specifically, too much of the sun). To date (10/23/03) three more major gatherings have have been executed, and more are on the horizon. The attendance for these parties has been greater than twenty persons. The players officially became a club when Erik started making the website (due to boredom at summer school) and decided that "Group of People Who Play After Bible Study" was not good enough.
Now, with the weekly attendance of eight to eleven and periodic larger gatherings, it truly can be called the Wytheville Laser Tag Club.
