On Sunday, March 15, the Reading Derby Girls (RDG) began their 2015 season with a bout against NOVA Roller Derby (NOVA) of Northern Virginia.
Due to an injury, League President, Holly “Hollywood Crusher” Jester didn’t skate in Sunday’s bout, but was excited for the team’s 4th season saying “We (RDG) have become more of a team and work together more since we began playing derby.”
Coach Boom echoed Jester and said “Our team has united this year with a love of one another and love of the game.” RDG’s motto is #WeNeverQuit
Bre “Varsity Bruize” Myers who made the team one year ago, after about 4 months of training in RDG’s “Fresh Meat” program said “We (RDG) play by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rule set and hope to complete our WFTDA apprentice program by the end of this season. We try to have a few bouts to benefit a local charity.”
RDG’s home opener supported the Animal Rescue League of Berks County.
SuperNOVA traveled 3 hours from their hometown in Virginia to play RDG – their first away game using the WFTDA rule set.
One of NOVA’s captains, Jen “Ice Tease” Garnett who began playing derby in October of 2011 in Australia, said when she returned to the US, she knew she couldn’t live without roller derby. Garnett joined NOVA late in 2011 and has been playing ever since. She explained. “Prior to this year, both our (NOVA) home and travel teams played under the MADE ruleset. We have a core roster of 14 skaters that play in every bout, and 2 alternates who are chosen from players within the league who try to earn the alternate spots by practicing with the core 14. The bout with Reading will be our team’s second for 2015, and our second under WFTDA rules.”
When asked what the hardest adjustment between MADE and WFTDA rules has been for the team, Garnett said “I think the most challenging difference is the ability to stop (on the track) in WFTDA versus not being able to in MADE. For myself, and for a lot of our players, remembering we can (and often should!) stop skating sometimes is hard. It’s also a lot easier to get ‘cut-track’ penalties under the WFTDA rules.”
Fellow skaters from several local derby teams including: Lancaster’s Dutchland Rollers, the York City Derby Dames, Brandywine Roller Girls, and the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars attended the bout.
Reading is off to a good start this year with a 275 – 187 win.
More information about the Reading Derby Girls and their home bout schedule can be found at <www.readingderbygirls.com>