FORT SILL, Okla.-- Female Soldiers and military spouses are joining a rough and tough gang. Their colors are purple and black and leaving with a few bruises is a common occurrence. But hey, it's all part of roller derby.
The 580 Lawton Roller Girls have taken the city and Fort Sill by storm with 56 skaters, and counting. During the day the women may be your bank teller, your librarian or even your wife but when they lace up their skates they transform from the average Amber or Kimberly into something fierce like Devilicious or Kitty Chaos.
"When you get on the floor you put your derby face on and your persona comes into play," said Jacqueline Cunningham, a.k.a. Aphrobite. She is a military spouse and stay at home mom who puts her frustration into her skates and leaves her woes lying on the floor. "We love getting knocked down," she said, adding that bruises from "bumping" one another are kin to badges of honor.
"Two weeks ago I took a skate to the tailbone, so my tailbone is still pretty bruised. We actually post the pictures of our bruises like 'hey look at my bruise!'"
The league was formed last October and already they have to turn away eager women who want to join until they setup shop in a permanent practice arena. That should happen shortly and when it does they will be ready for "fresh meat."
"Every other Sunday we open it up those women who want to come watch, fill out paper work and they have to get their gear and then they can just come out and start practicing," said Aphrobite.
Besides purchasing quad skates, a helmet, mouthpiece and pads for their elbows, knees and wrists there are also monthly dues of $25.
To actually compete, the women have to pass a skills test that includes doing crossovers, 20 laps around the rink in five minutes and being able to hop over a sponge.
Now hopping may seem random but the derbyists understand. In a bout agile maneuvers may be crucial and if a player falls to the floor in front of them they are left with one of two options: crashing into said skater, or possibly leaping to an open spot on the floor and avoiding injury.
The women's average age is in their 30s, and their alter egos are as vibrant as their outfits. From striped knee-highs to skirts to brightly colored leggings, these women want to inflict pain.
"Sometimes you get a lot of built up aggression and roller derby is a sport to be able to get out there and knock some people out without having to say 'sorry.' So it's a great stress reliever," said Alicia Vernor, Kurvacious Pride, or K.P. for short.
As a Soldier and single parent, K.P. said the constant routine of going from home to work and work to home wears on her and this sport has given her just the release she needed.
"I love being a blocker," she said a with a devilish grin.
And unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on who you ask) during practice K.P.'s momentum is aimed at her teammates.
"It's just like the military. You train as you fight so we practice as we're going to play. They hate when they see me coming because like I said I love to block so I hit em hard."
K.P. has skated her way onto the roster team and the blocker position she speaks of is part of the five-woman pack formed on the rink floor.
The pack
In a bout each team has a pack and they line up side by side.The lead woman on each team is known as the "pivot" and controls the pace. As they take off around the rink 20 feet behind are two "jammers," one for each team. The blockers and pivot are responsible for keeping the other team's "jammer" from getting through the pack. Points are scored when a jammer passes the other team's pack.
New rules
"Roller derby is not like it used to be in the past where it was all about hitting and it was staged," said Brenna Morlan, head coach and skating veteran of more than 30 years. "If you think about World Wrestling Entertainment that's like the roller derby of old. The roller derby of now is more like boxing or football. It has rules and regulations. It has penalties."
The skaters are not allowed to hit another player's back, knees or head. In summation, their shoulders, hips and chest are fair game.
"To me it's not violent. It's just like contact football. Why can't we have that for women' Guys have it," said Morlan.
As an all-women sport it shatters stereotypes of them being sugar and spice and everything nice and that's what they like about it.
"I'm an assistant manager at a bank, but in my private life I can be more fun, more myself. And just be a little crazy even though I'm almost 40 and I've got teenagers who are practically grown," said Morlan.
Besides empowering women, the teammates also had a consistent reason for joining up and staying through the bruises and hard core workouts.
"The camaraderie. We have over 50 sisters that we can call if we need something," said Aphrobite.
That was proven when 580 Roller Girls co-founder, Michelle Kelly, recently gave birth to another child.
"We were all with her. We made a calendar of food to bring her meals. We took shifts to come into the hospital to see her.
She's a military spouse and she's also got a two year old. So I watched her two year old while her husband was there with her," said Aphrobite.
Although they are newly formed, the Roller Girls already have their sights on the big leagues and are striving to become a part of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. They already conform to WFTDA rules and regulations and believe joining the league will open up even more opportunities for the team and support the women who are on it.
"I know what it's like to be in Lawton without very much to do. I know what it's like to have my husband gone for a year and how alone you feel," said Morlan. "These ladies have 56 people. If you're missing your husband you have 20 people calling and asking 'what are you doing' Why don't you come over''"
On March 13 the 580 Roller Girls will scrimmage in Dallas with the Dallas Derby Devils. While the teams will show no mercy on the floor, the hospitality that accompanies the tough love will be extended.
"They're being really nice. They're going to put us up for the night and make us breakfast in the morning," said Morlan. "No matter where you are in the world if you find a derby team, they'll help you out. We're sisters."
Social Sharing