2023 NAL Season

The San Antonio Gunslingers have started their season off strong with a 2-0 streak, winning against the Carolina Cobras in an exciting season opener, and then again against the Jacksonville Sharks in Florida.

Back in thefall of 2021, Jon Wayne Service Company signed on as a sponsor for the San Antonio Gunslingers arena football team for theirfirst season in the National Arena League (NAL). The Gunslingershad played their inaugural 2021 season in the AmericanArena League (AAL).

TheGunslingers’firstgameofthe2022seasonwasheldattheFreemanColiseum inSan Antonioon April23rd,andonly500fansattended.Itwasobviousthatfinancialstrugglesand lackofownershipcommitmentwerethreateningthe Gunslingersseason,andthefutureof professionalarenafootballinSanAntoniowasindoubt.

JonWaynetotheRescu

The Player of the Game program for local high school football held by Jon Wayne spotlighted their history as sports fans and community supporters for the last few years, but this wasa oneof-a-kind opportunity to be directly involved in bringing exciting, affordable,-family friendly entertainment to our hometown The fate of the Gunslingers was decided as Jon Wayne took the plunge into professional football team ownership in the spring of 2022 Within days of transitioning from being sponsors to being owners, our team was on the road to play their next game, and professional arena football was very much alive in San Antonio!

None of us are surprised to know that once involved, Jon Wayne was fully committed to creating a great experience for everyone. Don Rackler, the owner of Jon Wayne, insists on top quality in everything they do, from the ground up. This has earned them their A+ BBB Rating, of which they are very proud. Applying the same “go big or go home” approach to the sport as they apply to their service business, they aimed for and achieved success. Fans, friends, and the Jon Wayne family spread the word, and showed their support by coming to home games to root for our team.

How’s this for a spectacular turnaround: In the last home game of the season, the Gunslingers played in front of 5,000 cheering fans in the Freeman Coliseum!

Now, that’s putting some serious Gunz Up!

The Gunslingers players, coaches, and staff work their butts off to put on a great display for their fans, showcasing their skills and enthusiasm for this exciting sport. The Jon Wayne Family promoted the sport and the team, filled the seats, cheered, volunteered, and wore the colors, proudly contributing to the victories of the team. The success of our Gunslingers football season could not have happened without the dedication and hard work from everyone involved.

Recognition from the league in the 2022 season was the cherry on top. At the end of the season, the San Antonio Gunslingers received a total of four awards at the 2022 NALAwards

Ceremony inAlbany: Franchise of the Year, Head Coach of the Year: Fred Shaw, Special Teams Player of the Year: Kali Rashaad, andOffensive Player of the Year: Robert Kent.

As for the future, our commitment does not stop in the ongoing 2023 season. Jon Wayne and the Gunslingers staff continue to commit their standards to every aspect of the team and fan experience, to make 2023 even better We are invested in creating acompetitive, quality team that draws fans to see an action - packed, high - energy professional sport up close in a local venue Ourteam works endlessly to provide San Antonio with a team they can get behind, and an affordable, family friendly event they can look forward to

We are anticipating an exciting season, and work endlessly to ensure a solid experience for our fans every single time

Our goal is to share theexcitement and fun with all of San Antonio! We look forward to seeing you at our next home game, on May 28th against the Jacksonville Sharks!

“Whose House?” “Our House!”

TheSanAntonioMissionsaretheDouble-AaffiliatefortheSanDiegoPadres.The2023season isthe121stprofessionalseasonfortheSanAntonioMissions.Seasonseatmemberships,group tickets,andsingle-gameticketsforthe2023seasonareavailablenow.Call210-675-PARKto discusspricingforseasontickets,groupticketsandhospitality.TheMissionsBoxOfficewillbe cashlessthisseasonandfanscanpurchaseticketsattheboxofficeusingacreditcard.Formore informationontheupcomingseasoncall210-675-PARK(7275)orvisitsamissions.com.

MissionsFiesta HomestandBeginsTuesday, April25th

Tuesday, April25vs.NWArkansasNaturals –7:05p.m.

• Gatesopenat6:00p.m.

• AARP Two Dollar Tuesday – Fanscanpurchaseparkingandoutfieldticketsforjust$2. Domesticdraftbeersandsausagewrapswillbe$2dollars.BillMillerSweetTeaand pizzaslicesfromSofia’swillalsobe$2dollars.

Wednesday, April26vs.NWArkansasNaturals –12:05p.m.

• Gatesopenat11:00a.m

Thursday, April27vs.NWArkansas Naturals –7:05p.m.

• Gatesopenat6:00p.m.

• Taco Bell Value Night – Fanscanpurchasehalf-pricedticketsandparking.Atthegame, enjoy$2domesticdraftbeers,sodas,andHotDogs.

• FlyingChanclas – TheSanAntonioMissionswilltakethefieldastheir FlyingChanclas alter ego.

Friday, April28vs.NWArkansasNaturals –7:05p.m.

• Gatesopenat6:00p.m.

• Fiesta Jersey Giveaway – CourtesyofMcCombs FordWest,thefirst 2,000fanswill receivethefirstgiveaway jerseyofthe2023season.

• Postgame–Kidswillbeallowed torunthebasesafterthe game

Saturday, April29vs.NWArkansasNaturals –7:05p.m.

• Gatesopenat6:00p.m.

• Postgame Fireworks – Fanscanstay afterthegametoenjoyaterrific fireworksdisplay!

• Texas Lottery Lucky Row -Oneluckyrowwillreceivefreelottery ticketscourtesyofthe TexasLottery(Ages18+).

Sunday, April30vs.NWArkansas Naturals –1:05p.m.

• Gatesopenat12:00p.m.

• Six Flags Sunday – CourtesyofSixFlagsFiesta Texas,thefirst250kids48 inchesor shorterwillreceiveafreetickettoSix Flags!

• Postgame–Kidswillbeallowed torunthebasesafterthegame.

Avaya Brundidge

13 Years Old

Sport: Volleyball, Basketball, Track

School: Robert G Cole Middle School

AAU Basketball: Lady Hoops Sky Blue

Favorite Food: 10 piece chicken nugget meal at McDonalds

Favorite Color: pink

Favorite Movie: Home

Hero: My mom, shes an acve duty soldier in the Army

Avaya was selected to serve on the leadership council at Robert G Cole Middle School

She is an all around athlete that parcipates in volleyball, basketball and track.

Avaya was the leading scorer onher Robert G. Cole Middle school team averaging 25 points per game resulng in an undefeated season and District Championship. She connues to play AAU basketball year round as a starng player for Lady Hoops Sky Blue where she excels as a well rounded player bringing posive team play to the court.

Avaya has received an invitaon to showcase her talent at the Phenom Naonal Camp in Orange County California this summer giving her a plaorm to take her talents to the next level.

Avaya has aspiraons to play woman’s college basketball for a program such as LSU or Baylor as well as making it in the WNBA.

University Of The Incarnate Word Seafood Blue Rocky IV Mom

I was a two-sport athlete most of my life. From the age of six years old and up through high school, I was a standout basketball player. During the early years I playedAAU and was a top player (with Steph Curry-like game for a ki ) on tournament-winning teams! We traveled nationally and wonALOT! Simultaneously, I played football and made my mark as one of the McKinneyYouth Best Players from little league and up into high school.As I entered McKinney High School, my body began to change! I was growing into a true football body. By Senior year, my focus had become FOOTBALL!As a two-year starter at H-back at MHS, aTexas 6Aplayoff team, I got noticed for my size and speed and received nearly 20 college football scholarship offers. Ultimately, I settled on the University ofThe Incarnate Word in SanAntonio, a D1 program which is ranked top 5 nationally. Currently a freshman, I am working my way up the roster with expectations of being a big contributor in 2023.

Now at 6'1 215lbs and running a 4.45, I am poised for big things to come. UIW has had a complete coaching staff overhaul as the recent staff's success attractedTexas State to bring them on to better their program. With our new staff, my goal is to continue to grow as a college player and help UIW to continue its tradition of winning.As I mature into the student, young man, and football player I am striving to become, I hope to develop into an NFLdraft worthy player while I pursue my business degree.

Atale of a lady ninja who's personally inspired me from a different country Shanelle Dyer

She's 21 years young. Her base is Muay Thia and she is lighting up the competition in England. Shanelle Dyer is a fighter whom im excited to follow for the next decade plus

I noticed a lot of the nerds here (stateside) are starting to finally take notice. Real recognize real and for over a year now I've been a fan of then 19 year old natural striker Shanelle Dyer. She has absorbed every aspect of mixed martial arts like it's her destiny

" Nervous goes without saying. From being comfortable and natural at one sport to trying a brand new, different, and life changing one like BJJ." Brazilian JuJitsu.

Training stand up (Muay thai and K1) for about 6 years before. Even trying or eying BJJ sounded impossible as Dyer was to busy having fun racking up more than 100 fights which almost all were wins. Those wins include 27Titles in World, European and British Championships.

Shanelle got into MuayThai at 9 along with her brothers atAllstars gym. By 10, Winning her first title. "It was the best day of my life so far."Age 12 she won her first international title fight inTurkey This is when I knew without a doubt martial arts was for me.

Knowing this from the bottom of her soul. young Dyer took a three year break as a teen, returning to fight under the Knowlesy academy banner. I now fightThai/ K1 professionally.

With a million things running through that young mind she went toTeam Underground and got lost. Honestly, I was fed up with stand up at the time I took a close loss, and decided to hit up MMAcoach Steven Cooke. On her walk over there she found herself bombarding her soul asking a lot of ‘what ifs’.

‘What if I get my arm broken?’‘What if I get choked to death?’‘What if this is just a waste of time?’

Reassuring herself that she'd just stand up and turn the tables with her MuayThai. She calmed down a moment and thought out loud one of the silliest thoughts an aspiring MMAfighter could ever have. "My striking can and will get me through all of this jujitsu stuff." "The biggest realization that hit me on my walk was: I didn’t have any clue to what ju jitsu was."

Watching everyone warm up; shooting, sprawling, rolling all looked and felt like stuff from another planet! I had never watched any MMAbefore so my perception of the sport was sweaty people rolling around hugging each other until one person goes to sleep or gets their arm broken.

Even while practicing Coach Cooke would shout out ‘get closer hold tighter" In my head however all i could think about was how sweaty the opposition was. Plus im not much of a hugger. Especially hugging strangers.

This was something new, different and way out of my element at the time.

Still I went back. Everyone in the class was just amazing. Really patient and informative when it came to doing something or asking to repeat anything.The variety of levels in the class left a strong impact on me. "Would you look at all these people striving to get better and evolve at this?"

I saw people better than me,The restless white belts hungering to get better with each session.Those who I needed to get as good as.To the top of the food chain folks I just had to beat.Astrong impact felt indeed.

How I wished BJJ was as easy as just grabbing an arm and having em tapping.

BJJ is a puzzle that never fully gets finished. There's the momentum, body weight, leverage, fakes and combinations that take years and years to master. So dang, there went that master plan of just standing up and beating them with my MuayThai.The daily frustration of being tapped out in what felt like a million times was growing. It was such a humbling feeling i felt totally downgraded and vulnerable. I must admit i hated it.That feeling of being weak and helpless. Something needed to change.This change would not come easy but hey I love learning.

One of the more difficult things through this journey i was taking on was taking it solo. I didn’t tell anyone I was going to the BJJ class initially. Not even my dad until a few weeks after. Like many who don't fully understand mixed martial arts he wasn’t a fan of the sport. Mainly the limb breaking part. Whether he could see it in my eyes or hear it in my tone im still not quite sure to this day All i know is he was now on board and supportive with my new found journey. "My first MMAfight four months later on 5 days notice is when i would first allow to admit this to myself. "Hey I could really do this. I could fight MMA?"

Everything was just starting to sync in my brain.I started to fall even deeper in love with the sport. submitting guys that were literally double my weight and size.The sport became less alien to me. Now that all the things i was being taught were starting to sync in. For fun i enjoy watchingYouTube videos and starting to master the more flashy fancy moves.Allowing myself to just have fun with it and it's been a blast. I look forward to seeing where my new found love takes me. I even get that same feeling my first love MuayThai gave to me....

MMA-IS-LIFE

It's now 2023 and Shanelle Dyer now known asThe Nightmare has competed and representedTeam London on many occasions winning medals. While being an absolute nightmare in the amateur scene. Shanelle Dyer just made the move having her first professional fight last month. March 11th 2023. Winning by spinning back fist KO in the 1st round. She'll be back in the cage this weekend 4/22/23 a little over a month later and exactly one day before turning 22.

I hope somebody found inspiration in this ninja tale on my Facebook buddy Shanelle who's whooping ass in the U.K. I'm salivating at the day when i could watch this young lady perform live being an absolute nightmare to the lady ninjas in the states.

Proud to be the first if not one of the first (the first) to start telling the story of UK's prospect ShanelleThe Nightmare Dyer here in the states.