(A CORUNA, SPAIN) At their competitive eight-wheeled weekend in Spain, Arch Rival Roller Derby’s most powerful declaration was uttered in Latin.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
“Veni. Vidi. Vici.”
Translated to English, it means, “I came. I saw. I conquered.”
And for the St. Louis-based rollers competing at the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) global playoff round held at Palacio de los Deportes de Riazor, they hit the trifecta and snared the top prize.
Sunday’s 342-149 triumph over Crime City Rollers in the weekend’s finale gave ARCH their first-ever gold medal in WFTDA post-season play.
The three-game Spanish sweep, where they collectively outscored their opponents 999-315, pushed Arch Rival’s record to 7-3 as they advanced to November’s WFTDA International Championships.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
At the tournament’s conclusion, Arch Rival co-captain Bricktator was named Most Valuable Player for the weekend.
ARCH, ranked fifth on the planet and designated as the top seed heading into the twelve-team bracketed tournament, quickly stifled the Swedish third seed that had jettisoned themselves to the finale via a 14-point upset over second-seeded Angel City the day prior.
Four lead jams claimed by Arch Rival resulted in a 30-0 game opening rally. Following Bricktator’s four-point launcher, Annie Swanson tacked on a Grand Slam that resulted in a 9-0 score.
PsychoKid D’Freakout followed with an 18-point rotation in Jam 3 that pushed the score to 27-0 and Reptar’s trey at the 24:00 mark blossomed the lead to 30-0.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Arch Rival maintained a 59-14 lead ten minutes in but Crime City, ranked tenth internationally by the WFTDA, quickly sliced into the deficit with Hanna P’s power jam that resulted 19 points uncontested and a 59-31 score at the 19:10 mark.
Both teams scored comparable points as the period progressed and ARCH held a 96-68 advantage heading into Jam 14. Following a Crime City timeout, D’Freakout scored 17 on the ensuing rotation that swelled ARCH’s lead to 113-68.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Propelled by the walls built by blockers Kayla Woodward, Smarty McFly, Shear-Ra Powers, Cloak N’ Drag-Her, Vicious Van GoGo, Jamheiser Bush, Bolt Action , Grant, LuxFurious, Pegasass and Fletcher, St. Louis concluded the half’s final six minutes with a dominant 55-8 stretch run.
Highlighted by D’Freakout’s dozen scored in Jam 18 and finished by Swanson’s eight-pointer with goose eggs on the board, Arch Rival possessed a 182-80 comfortable lead at intermission.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The triple-digit differential rapidly expanded as Bricktator’s 20-point period launcher was followed by Swanson’s 17-point strike that widened ARCH’s lead to 219-83.
Midway through the second frame, Arch maintained a 257-105 lead and passed the tri-centennial mark with three minutes left.
Arch Rival outscored Crime City in the second period 160-77 to claim the 342-149 gold medal victory in A Coruna.
Crime City and bronze medalists Angel City also advances to the WFTDA International Championships in New Orleans come November. A playoff round held in Atlanta, Georgia three weekends from now will determine the final three leagues that will advance to the ten-team bracketed tournament.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
For now, Arch Rival will continue to prepare and begin laying down the foundation of potentially conquering again.
For more information on ARCH, go to their official website.
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.
