According to the St. Chux Derby Chix, they have implemented an acronym utilized as the driving force in preparation for its inaugural trip to the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Division 2 post-season tournament.
It’s known as “BBP,” which stands for “Beast By Playoffs.” It represents a physical framework where strength training and conditioning is amped up to levels never achieved before. It also means extra time spent on-track, sweat equity invested off-track and steadfast discipline at the supper table.
Hardcore commitment. It has to be that way for the St. Charles County-based league, for it is the top-seeded barbarian at a high-profile tournament this weekend.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
SCDC, ranked #43 internationally by the WFTDA, competes in the Division 2 Duluth, Minnesota playoff round. The three-day, 10-team bracketed tourney starts Friday at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. (Live, online coverage of the event is available via wfdta.tv. Cost of the full weekend of coverage is $7 and is available at THIS LINK.)
As a result of obtaining the top seed in Duluth, St. Chux (9-1) receives automatic entry into the quarterfinals. Friday night at 8 pm, they play the winner of the #8 Treasure Valley (Boise, ID) vs. #9 Suburbia (Yonkers, NY) play-in contest held earlier in the day.
It’s the first-time the Pack In Black, established five years ago, has reached the derby trophy dance. Suffice to say that its historical roller-coaster ride will reach a new benchmark this weekend.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
“We are thrilled beyond belief to be competing for the first time ever in the Division 2 playoffs,” said St. Chux captain Whip L’ Ash. “It has definitely been a very surreal season for us, but we understand the work involved in continuing with the upward momentum.”
“St. Chux just celebrated its fifth birthday and my fifth year will be in October,” added blocker Ninja Sass ‘Em. “As one of the senior vets on this team, I can easily say that we are realizing a dream that we never thought to accomplish.”
It’s been an incredible, and hard-working, journey for St. Chux this season. Ranked #67 at the launch of the calendar year, the Pack in Black steadily climbed 24 positions up the WFTDA hierarchy as the months progressed, notching pivotal wins against higher-ranked and comparable leagues along the way. To find itself as the “queenpin” heading into the Gopher State multi-day tussle is unique for the rollers.
“St. Chux is used to being the underdog,” said Sass ‘Em. “We’ve had to fight for recognition and for higher-ranked teams to take us seriously. This is a very new dynamic to be the top seed at Duluth rather than gunning for the top spot.”
“The high expectations of being seeded number one is very real to us and we know that the competition we will be facing will likely be the highest yet,” added L’ Ash.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
In preparation, St. Chux has performed recent scrimmages at high-octane levels while maintaining the foundation that has been almost flawless in execution.
“We have changed up some of our game after watching some footage of our possible opponents, but the core strategy of SCDC will still be what it has always been,” said L’ Ash. “Tight walls, cohesive team play with a beehive mentality, and smart strategic play that focuses on one jam, one process at a time.”
“We have been entirely focused on fine tuning our game play,” added Sass ‘Em. “The level of derby that will be played at Duluth will be higher than anything we’ve seen in sanctioned play all season.”
Jamming will be paced by veterans G. I. Jamie, Flash, Vixen Ta Getcha and Jedi Knight-n-gale. Alongside L’ Ash and Sass ‘Em, blocking will be propelled by Stabby McCutcha, Tara Eyes, Slaughter Haus, Lisa Frank-N-Stein, Jane Error and Bobbi Slamher.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
The 18-skater charter for the Duluth trip also includes Blue Collar Brawler, Zo D. Axe, Pixie Dust-ruction, Peg E. Sass and a pair of recent transfers from St. Louis’ Arch Rival Roller Girls, jammer Sleazy E and blocker Nikki Trixx.
The starting line-up for an individual game consists of 14 skaters from the aforementioned 18. Knowing which athletes start, when considering that the opponent faced is more than likely unfamiliar, is sometimes half the battle.
As a result, everyone has to be ready to go. According to St. Chux, they are most certainly capable of any adaptations.
“Everyone is so drilled down on their processes that we are playing by muscle memory,” said Sass ‘Em. “We are playing on instinct and we are performing as if choreographed by Baryshnikov. At this point, we are a finely tuned machine.”
The team also has been watching closely the other nine leagues that are competing this weekend. Both L’ Ash and Sass ‘Em project strong outputs from #2 Detroit and #8 Treasure Valley. The former has historically experienced post-season play at higher levels and the latter finished third in one of the Division 2 playoff rounds last year as a tenth seed heading in.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
In the end, and true to form, the squad’s focus still centers around its own work method.
“We plan to play our game, which is very fundamental derby, and to hopefully do it at a higher reaction time than the other teams,” said L’ Ash. “Derby isn’t too varied in way of play and at this level it truly comes down to reaction time, mental toughness, and who performs the strategy better.”
The Duluth playoff round is the first of two tournaments held over the next two weekends. If SCDC is successful and takes the gold in Minnesota, it would then compete for the WFTDA Division 2 Championship in Nashville, Tennessee in November.
For the St. Charles beasts, a Volunteer State trip for the finale would be a beauty.
“The idea of going to Nashville for Champs and sharing the same floor with the best derby athletes in the world is almost more than I can encompass,” Sass ‘Em.
“It would be amazing to win it all and go to Champs,” added L’Ash. “It would be a true testament to where SCDC has been and where they are now. I know I say it all the time, but win or lose, I am so extremely proud of my team and our accomplishments this season. What a journey!”
Here is a look at the other nine teams competing at this weekend’s tournament, listed by seed. Current WFTDA rank and sanctioned record follows:
Click on the image to see the full Duluth bracket!
#2 – DETROIT DERBY GIRLS (WFTDA #44, 4-6) After spending a majority of the last two seasons ranked in Division 1, Motown finds themselves in the Division 2 playoffs. Expectedly, one has the feeling that they are not too happy about it and will look for a weekend sweep. Part of the fall in rankings was due, in part, to lopsided losses against upper-echelon Division 1 WFTDA teams. Swept all three bouts at the Beach Brawl Invitational held in May. Detroit is a projected playoff finalist due to a favorable bracket.
#3 – BIG EASY ROLLERGIRLS (WFTDA #48, 2-4) Entrant from New Orleans had few sanctioned wins in the calendar year, but when they did win, they did so convincingly. Posted a 245-point win over #125 Tallahassee on July 19. Faces sixth-seeded Tucson in the first round and a victory is not guaranteed.
#4 – BREWCITY BRUISERS (WFTDA #49, 11-5) A hard charge, and a plethora of games in 2014, helped the keggers from Milwaukee earn a playoff trip. Winners of four straight, Brewcity suffered a setback to St. Chux earlier in the season. First round draw against Sin City is tough. If they win, a projected rematch with St. Chux takes place in the semifinals.
#5 – FABULOUS SIN CITY ROLLERGIRLS (WFTDA #52, 4-4) Hailing from Las Vegas, Sin City has performed well against teams ranked lower and expectedly struggled against higher-ranked teams. Match-up against fourth-seeded Brewcity in the opening round results in the proverbial coin flip for the squad.
#6 – TUCSON ROLLER DERBY (WFTDA #53, 5-3) The Saddletramps from Arizona rose rapidly in the 2014 WFTDA rankings and looks for an upset win over #3 Big Easy in round one, a feat that they could easily pull-off. A streaky team that plays fairly well against comparable squads.
#7 – OMAHA ROLLERGIRLS (WFTDA #57, 7-4) Nebraskans won three straight before being halted by fourth-seeded Brewcity in June. An early Friday first-round match-up against a wily Brandywine squad might provide fits. If they survive, they get second-seeded Detroit later on in the day, which doesn’t bode well.
#8 – TREASURE VALLEY ROLLERGIRLS (WFTDA #59, 4-6) Last year’s Cinderella of one of the Division 2 playoff rounds with an impressive third place playoff as a #10 entrant, the Boise, Idaho team flirted with Division 1 status in 2014. Lopsided losses to higher-ranked teams kept them from breaking the glass ceiling. June sanctioned win against #129 Sonoma gives the team incentive. Play-in bout against the team immediately listed below should provide some thrills.
#9 – SUBURBIA ROLLER DERBY (WFTDA #62, 5-3) Yonkers represents for the return entrant to the Division 2 playoffs. Fell out of the projected playoff teams earlier in the year, but three straight wins pushed them back into the post-season picture. Good team that looks for a solid push and a high finish.
#10 – BRANDYWINE ROLLERGIRLS (WFTDA #63, 5-6) A first time entrant into the WFTDA post-season, the Pennsylvania-based Belligerents posted impressive victories early and seemed to be primed for a high seeding. However, five straight losses hurt the cause. Play-in bout against Omaha should be very competitive.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE (All times Central)
10 AM – (7) Omaha vs. (10) Brandywine
12 PM – (8) Treasure Valley vs. (9) Suburbia
2 PM – (3) Big Easy vs. (6) Tucson
4 PM – (4) Brewcity vs. (5) Sin City
6 PM – (2) Detroit vs. Omaha/Brandywine Winner
8 PM – (1) St. Chux vs. Treasure Valley/Suburbia Winner
SATURDAY SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE
2 PM – Semifinal Game #1
4 PM – Semifinal Game #2
SUNDAY FINALS
6 PM – Duluth Playoff Championship Bout
The overall winner of the Duluth playoff plays the overall winner of the Kitchener-Waterloo (ON, Canada) playoff for the WFTDA Division 2 Championship on Sunday, November 2 in Nashville, Tennessee. The runner-up from both playoffs plays each other for third place prior to the Championship bout.
For more information on the St. Chux Derby Chix, go to stchuxderbychix.com.
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.
