posted May 5th, 2005 - The NSL News mentioned plans yesterday to introduce a team of the Southwest Skydiving League, Arizona Divewerkz. The team's 2005 line-up has already attended two of the three SSL meets and consists of Murel Addison (Outside Center), Blane Boynton (Point), Paul Gatling (Tail), Annaliese Peterson (Inside Center) and Kelly Green on video.

Arizona Divewerkz calls Skydive Arizona its home and got its start in January of 2003. Murel Addison, a visiting skydiver, and Blane Boynton, a local jumper, met on an organized six-way skydive. During this introduction, they were both pleased to meet another jumper with the same drive and initiative to learn and compete. They spoke about Addison's future plans to move to the area after completing prior obligations with the US Government that would leave him out of contact for several months. Although the team didn't get its jumpstart right then, the seed had been planted and the endeavor began.

Addison had been jumping at Quantum Leap Skydiving in Sullivan, MO, as a coach and organizer. After taking a new job with the government, Addison and his wife finally ended up coming to Casa Grande, Arizona. Boynton had been living and working in Tucson, Arizona, and Skydive Arizona was his home dropzone.

During the Holiday season of 2002-2003, Annie Peterson had also met Blane Boynton. However, their encounters were only on the ground, as Peterson was recovering from an injury sustained during a premature deployment. Peterson recovered and was back in the air in April of 2003. She continued to jump in Arizona during the summer, until returning back to San Diego in the fall of 2003 for her last year of college.

In September 2003, approximately nine months after Addison and Boynton had first met, they reconnected at Skydive Arizona and actively began the search for the other half of their team. Boynton and Addison had the opportunity to train and jump together, along with other potential teammates. During the Holiday season of 2003-2004 Addison and Boynton finally made some skydives with Peterson, who only had about 120 jumps at the time. However, they decided that the connection was right and to compete in the Southwest Skydiving League 2004 season, beginning with the Valentine's Money Meet in February. The three had the opportunity to jump with a few different skydivers, but to no avail in finding their fourth.

With the plan to get started competing, Peterson flew back to Arizona for the competition. Addison and Boynton jumped with her and found a committed fourth for the competition. A misunderstanding left the group still one man short when came time to dirt dive. With no other options, they went hunting in the Bent Prop Saloon for a possible fourth. Finding someone willing to jump with them, they engineered as best they could. The team picked up Kelly Green for video.

The competition came and went, and although not meeting expectations, ignited a fire to find a serious fourth and to get started competing. Wanting Green to continue as videographer, but without a fourth, the members all waited in limbo, wondering what would happen. Addison and Boynton continued to try out potential members. Finally, in May 2004, the search for the fourth teammate ended successfully.

Divewerkz picked up Paul Gatling, who had previously met Murel Addison at an Airspeed Skills Camp. The two had kept in touch, and after discussing the goals of the team, Gatling made the commitment to be on the team. Living in Colorado, this also meant flying to Arizona for every competition and training camp.

With official Divewerkz training beginning in June of 2004, the team made approximately 120 team jumps and competed in more SSL meets (3.3 - 6.3 - 6.0 - 8.3 scoring progression in 2004). Jumping at Skydive Arizona provided them with many unique opportunities, such as having Arizona Airspeed there to help with coaching, debriefing and everyday advice. Divewerkz had team coaching and Airspeed coaching throughout the whole year. Todd Hawkins was their ground coach. Divewerkz also decided to compete at the USPA Championship in 2004 and ended up in 9th place of the AA/Intermediate Class with an 8.7 meet average, which was the team's highest competition average of the 2004 season.

After taking a six-week break, Divewerkz committed to another year together and began with the first training camp in December of 2004. The team competed once again in the SSL Valentine's Meet 2005 and finished with a 9.5 average. The second Divewerkz meet of the 2005 season in April, once again on home turf, showed great results of the previous efforts. Divewerkz scored a 12.2 average in the 6-round meet in Eloy, the team's first two-digit meet average.

The team plans to make approximately 300 team jumps this year. Divewerkz has also plans for tunnel training as it becomes available to augment time in the air, as well as taking advantage of the many great coaching opportunities surrounding them every day. Currently, Addison has around 1200 jumps, Gatling has 650, Boynton 700 and Peterson approx. 450 jumps.

Along with the actual training, the team has also taken on the Mentor Program at Skydive Arizona. As Divewerkz' sponsor, Skydive Arizona has gone great lengths to support the team. Owners Larry and Lil Hill in particular have taken a real interest in the team and have provided an excellent opportunity for growth. The Mentor Program provides the team with a way to give back to the dropzone, by providing an atmosphere for other skydivers to jump in an organized 4-way environment for one or two days a month.

Gatling has also brought a tremendous amount of sponsorship support to the team. In the 2004 season, Alycium, an extreme sports clothing company based out of Colorado, sponsored Divewerkz. This year, Arizona Divewerkz has been graciously supported by Skydive Arizona, Big Air Sportz, Alycium, Skyventure Arizona, and Square 2. Divewerkz competition jumps can now be viewed on NSL-TV. The first round of the April meet in Eloy includes the SSL team's 15-pointer in the AA Class.