It’s time for a look at the upcoming agenda for the area’s Missouri-based roller derby leagues, where two women’s teams await playoff seeds and assignments for the post-season of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) while the men’s league has four bouts on the calendar this month.
ARCH RIVAL ROLLER GIRLS
Arch Rival’s Eli Wallop (L) battles Oly’s Sligh. Photo Credit: Regularman Photography
Arch Rival, ranked #21 internationally in the WFTDA, awaits its post-season ledger after it concluded a three-day trek to the Pacific Northwest last weekend.
Last Friday night, St. Louis bested #35 Jet City, 291-102, in Seattle, Washington, to kick off the trip on the right foot. The next evening, Arch Rival fell to #4 Rose City, 381-94, in Portland, Oregon.
Then last Sunday, St. Louis was thwarted by #19 Oly Rollers, 253-147, in Olympia, Washington. The hosting Cosa Nostra Donnas, sprinted out of the gates early and posted a 126-54 lead at intermission. Oly went on to outscore Arch Rival, 127-93, in the second period to secure victory. The 106-point loss resulted in a 1-2 road trip for ARRG.
Even with the two setbacks, the Arch Rival (5-6) solidified its placement in the WFTDA Division 1 playoffs, which is comprised of the leagues ranked first through fortieth internationally. The governing body is expected to release the rankings by the middle of the month, and then an “S-shaped” seeding model is applied to the forty teams. Four separate playoff rounds, each featuring a ten-league bracketed tournament, will take place on successive weekends beginning September 5.
For more information on the Arch Rival Roller Girls, go to archrivalrollergirls.com.
ST. CHUX DERBY CHIX
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
SC/DC, currently ranked #43 in the WFTDA, defeated #68 Demolition City, 197-100, in Evansville, Indiana last Saturday evening.
The 97-point win improved the Pack in Black’s record to 8-1. The St. Charles County-based rollers now await its placement in the post-season. Currently, St. Chux is a lock for the WFTDA Division 2 playoffs, designated for the international leagues ranked #41 through #60.
The 20 Division 2 teams will have a similar “S-shape” seeding applied and two playoff rounds, also featuring a ten-team bracket tournament each, will take place on successive weekends beginning August 15.
However, a possible scenario might bump the Pack in Black into Division 1 playoff consideration. If St. Chux is ranked within the Top 40 when the WFTDA releases the aforementioned rankings later this month, it would secure a Division 1 bid outright.
In short, SC/DC is making its inaugural WFTDA post-season appearance in the not too distant future. Which division it ends up in will be the mystery revealed shortly.
For more information on the St. Chux Derby Chix, go to stchuxderbychix.com.
ST. LOUIS GATEKEEPERS
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Meanwhile in local men’s derby, the GateKeepers (4-0) continues its sanctioned play in the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) with four upcoming bouts this month.
Currently ranked third internationally, the GateKeepers host the Kornstalkers of Sioux City, Iowa at Midwest Sport Hockey in Ballwin on Saturday, July 19. Sioux City (4-1) is currently ranked #23 in the MRDA.
The following morning, the GateKeepers host Tulsa Derby Militia at a “closed to the public bout” at its practice facility in South St. Louis. Tulsa (1-0 in MRDA sanctioned play) is unranked because it has yet to meet the minimum game requirement in order to be ranking eligible.
St. Louis then plays a pair of bouts at Rollercon, an annual roller derby convention, held in Las Vegas, Nevada the weekend of July 26-27. The competition will be the fiercest yet this season for the locals as they face #2 New York Shock Exchange (1-0) and #6 Bridgetown Menace (3-1) at the event.
For more information, which includes a link for tickets for its July 19 home bout against Tulsa, go to stlgatekeepers.com.
(Photo credits: Regularman Photography, Bob Dunnell & Jeff Higgins)
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
