posted Sep 18th, 2026 - Last year, the complete Golden Knights lineup joined forces with Arizona Airspeed for the 8-way competition, including Michelle Karamon, who was not yet a member of the 4-way team. She replaced Chris Kuhlmann, who had committed to Craig Girard’s Mandatory Fun 8-way team. The complete GKAZ8 lineup then continued into 16-way, with Chris Kuhlmann reclaiming his Airspeed slot from Michelle Karamon.

The team also included several other Airspeed alumni—Jack Jefferies, Dan, BC, Josh Hall, Niklas Hemlin, and Brian Johnson—as well as three additional invitees: Brenn Richards, Keith Conner, and Greg Oldendick.

This year, the Golden Knights were unavailable for 8-way, 16-way, and 10-way, forcing Airspeed to extend its 16-way recruiting campaign. Airspeed alumni Jack Jefferies, Dan, BC, and Brian Johnson had already won 8-way silver medals together with the current Airspeed 4-way lineup and Niklas Hemlin. Airspeed legend Craig Girard was also available this time, along with Josh Hall, who had competed with his Elsinore teams in both 4-way and 8-way.

Three SDC Rhythm XP members—Christopher Webb, Greg Oldendick, and Steven Loufek—completed the much more scrambled Airspeed 16-way team this week, together with Steven Lefkowitz, Benjamin Liston, James Klinge, and Rodney Cruce.

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Arizona Airspeed 16-way Round 1 at the USPA Nationals 2026

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However, Niklas Hemlin left the Airspeed world when it came to the 16-way selection. Instead, he joined the Texas-based Spaceland team for an even more scrambled 16-way lineup. His Tunnel Vision indoor teammate and former Chimera member Laura Hampton made her USPA Nationals debut on the same Texas 16-way team, which also featured several other well-known and experienced 4-way and 8-way competitors: Joe Nicholson, Elizabeth Victor, Lucas King, Joshua Schirard, Joy Jing, Sean Moorhead, Shannon McCarthy, Christina West, Amanda Lampton, Christina Deglau, Jonathan Perl, Michael Deglau, Billy Whitaker, Michael Erickson, Scott Latinis, John Scharrer, and Andrew Clayton.

The Spaceland 16-way team offered more surprises than just the addition of Niklas Hemlin and Laura Hampton. They gave up only one point to Arizona Airspeed’s 16-way team in Round 1, then won Round 2 by five points to take a four-point lead. Airspeed reduced the deficit to two points in Round 3, leaving them three more rounds to turn the 16-way table.

Like the Golden Knights in 4-way, the XP8 lineup has already left as well, as the two U.S. national teams transition as quickly as possible to their final preparations for the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026 next month in Eloy. No Airspeed members or alumni are part of the U.S. delegation for this year’s outdoor world championship.

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Spaceland 16 Round 2 at the USPA Nationals 2026

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