FORT SILL, Okla. (June 4, 2015) -- If you don't know, my co-worker Marie Berberea plays for the 580 Rollergirls, the Lawton roller derby team.

And let me tell you, she is exactly what you'd think a roller girl would be. She's tall, slender, has pretty blonde hair, smiles a lot, and when people tell terrible jokes she always laughs as if it really is funny, plus she's really easy to get along with. She's exactly the kind of person I imagine when I think of a roller girl.

Ok, that's a lie.

She's not at all what I think of when I think of a roller girl. I think of ridiculously tough chicks with dark hair, scary faces and bruises on their knuckles from beating up their boyfriends when they nag too much.

My conception of them is why, I'm sure not surprisingly, I was terrified of the idea of meeting these intimidating ladies. Still, I put on my best "I'm-a-tough-girl" face and nervously pulled into the parking lot of the Great Plains Coliseum as the 580 Rollergirls took on the Enid Roller Girls.

As I walk into the coliseum, I am met with my first look of the hard life of roller derby. There, just a few feet away from me is one of the team members -- getting a professional massage. Before the games Platt College Massage Therapy provides an instructor and his students to give free massages to the players as a way for the students to practice sports massages.

Free massages? Oh dear, maybe this IS the sport for me.

I head into the locker room where the team is getting ready applying war paint in the form of makeup and helmet accessories. I learn many players are either military spouses, or in the military themselves, including Marny "Viking Barbie" Skindrud, a major recently with 214th Fires Brigade.

Of all the women in the locker room, Skindrud has the most elaborate preparation process as she applies flashy eyelashes, makeup and a tiara, because, really, whether you're on or off skates, no outfit is complete without a tiara.

Massages? Tiaras? This game is getting better and better.

Skindrud has been on the team for two years but playing for one. The team is quick to point out no prior experience is necessary to join. When the team gets new members, "freshmeat," they have a 90-day (or more as needed) trial period.

The first two weeks the new recruits don't even skate, they just learn the fundamentals. Later they develop their skills including skating 27 laps in five minutes -- a requirement to play games.

"I would skate the 3-Mile Track on post and practice extra in order to pass (the 27 laps)," Skindrud said. "I didn't get too discouraged (when I failed my time) I just kept trying and saying, 'I'm not quitting.' It hurts and it sucks but its fun to see your own improvement."

As I watch the team put on their gear I can't help but feel like these ladies are preparing for battle. Aren't they wondering if some T-Rex-looking opponent is going to devour them? Aren't they afraid of getting hurt? Heather "Short Cut" Maynard doesn't hesitate to say she is afraid. At 46 years old, Maynard is the oldest member of the team and playing in her first game.

"I'm terrified tonight," she said as she puts on her skates. "I'm going to get my feet wet because it's different when (you're playing) with your own team. They're not out to get you. I've never been on the floor with another team."

Maynard joined the team after her husband told her to "quit smoking, quit drinking and make some friends." After joining, she said it took her a full year to be able to qualify to play with the hardest part being the 27 laps in five minutes.

"I'd come home at night and (my husband) would ask me how I did, and I'd say, 'oh I was 30 seconds short,' and then the next time it would be 15 seconds. Then I'd be right there," said Maynard, who has four grandchildren, and another on the way. "It became a personal goal. My grandkids think it's great, and I would hope others would see that if I can do it, so can they."

Maynard said she did quit smoking, drinking and made friends through the sport. Now she enjoys being part of a group that is bigger than herself.

The 580 Rollergirls are nonprofit, using the money raised to help support local organizations, with a strong emphasis on helping develop women empowerment. Chantelle "Sweet Destruction" Tenequer, said the focus of the group, as well as the women themselves, is reason enough to want to be part of the team.

"With such a large group of women with different personalities, backgrounds, lives, lifestyles, you're going to have your ups and down but we're like a family," she said. "We're close. We love each other."

The team had open recruitment May 31, however those who are interested can still join the training program for another two weeks. For more information visit www.580roller girls.com or email con tact@580rg.com.