Rockin' Roller Derby
story by Austin Hardebeck, photos by Tyler Diltz, design by Caleb Cleland
There is something very powerful in the heart of quiet Ellensburg. Bonds that cannot be broken and a family that cannot be separated. The Rodeo City Roller Derby. This competitive event most likely flies under the radar of many sports fans, so the rules may seem vague and unfamiliar. On the contrary, the sport is very simple: There are two teams of five skaters per round (or bout) and each team has one Jammer and four Blockers. The objective is for the Jammer of each respective team to break through the line of blockers and make a lap along the track. Once this is done, the cycle repeats with the opposite team.
Who are they?
PULSE sat down with several members of Ellensburg’s own roller derby team, Rodeo City Roller Derby, to get some insight into what this sport has to offer and how one might get involved. Each of the competitors comes from a different walk of life and has different reasons for joining. April Rohrbach (also known as Fastest Cactus or number 32 on the track) serves as the PR representative for the team, as well as a competitor for the past eight years. “I thought it was super cool for a small college town and I just thought it sounded like a super badass thing to do and I wanted to be a badass,” says Rohrbach. On the other hand, some like Anna Alegria (SourPatch, number 111), join the sport as a way to ground themselves from other problems in their life. “I have a very busy and very demanding life,” says Alegria. “Roller derby seemed like a really nice outlet. So I can leave everything on the track instead of bringing it home”.
Family
As the members of the Rodeo City Roller Derby tell the stories of how they got involved and what serving with their teammates is like, one thing becomes abundantly clear: This is not a team, but a family. These individuals all come together to create a space of unity and motivation for each other on and off the track. Bailey Hillard (Rock-em Sock-em, number 64) is very open about these bonds. “I moved here to work at Central and I didn't have any friends and do my master's program. I came here and I immediately had a family of 30 plus people. I broke my leg my first practice here, and everybody came and fed me. They offered to take me to doctor's appointments and they offered to walk my dogs. It was super nice” says Hillard. Gillian Sigle-Hall (Leana Clockya, number 33) agrees with Hillard’s assessment of their group, adding that making friends is one of the best parts of the sport. “You get such a diverse type of people that you never know... we're all there to do this sport, but also to have fun and make friends” says Sigle-Hall. An immediate sense of hospitality can be felt just by watching how this team supports each other every second. If one cries, they all cry. If one succeeds, they all succeed. This rings especially true for Kayla Robinson (Slaybretooth Tiger, number 11), who sees every match as a victory regardless of the points scored. “I'm not too worried about winning. Because I've already won if I'm still out here doing it,” Robinson says. “I had skin cancer at 27. Which really, the C-word throws a wrench in your life. And I had a major knee surgery that they said I would never skate again. So anytime I'm out there, I am already winning”.
Spirit of Competition
Throughout the years, as teammates have come and gone, the core beliefs of the team remain and thus a tradition is born. Lifting one another up and living by the golden rule is the bare minimum for the team, and this is illustrated most by the tradition of competition. The team carries with them a fire for victory and the key to that is motivation. “We always do a team huddle and so everyone has someone else's name. And when you have that person's name, you have to think of a word for them. Something that you think resembles them or embodies them and you write it on their arm… you can look at that word and be like, ‘oh yes, I am a boulder.’ ‘I am resilient.’ ‘I am,’” says Alegria. Having that spirit, especially when you feel down and out or lost in your own mind, can bring one back to the game and contribute to not only fun for the team, but also for those cheering on from the stands. Its full-throttle, heads-in-the-game sportsmanship that is likely to be remembered for years and years to come.
Getting Involved
The Rodeo City Roller Derby is also always accepting new members. “It’s inclusive of a lot of other expansive genders,” says Colleen Carroll (CCyalater, number 404). The Roller Derby is not specifically designed to exclude others from participating, but was created out of a need for companionship and bonding over friendly competition. But how does one join this team? There are several avenues of contact if you want to be involved. The easiest would be through www.Rodeocityrollerderby.com, where you can find and fill out the “Contact Us” prompts. From there, you will be directed to Robinson, who will get you ready for the next season. You can also find useful information about events and sign-ups through the Rodeo City Roller Derby Facebook page.
Sitting within the confines of the local gym, one might get the sense that they’re watching something truly one of a kind. Something beyond the sound of rolling wheels, whistle-blowing, and cheering. Stronger than tungsten, and more powerful than an ox. Within the confines of the local gym is a family with a determination to win. A determination to fight. And a determination to uplift. This family is the Rodeo City Roller Derby.