(FORT WAYNE, IN) The objective was simple for the primary travel squads of the Arch Rival Roller Girls (ARRG) and GateKeepers Roller Derby (GKRD) heading into this past weekend’s “Spring Roll 2015” invitational. They wanted to compete at a high-end level on the flat track and return back to St. Louis with unblemished records.
When all was said and done, it was mission accomplished as both teams won their respective trio of games held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. In short, an impressive 6-0 finish for St. Louis derby.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
Arch Rival, currently ranked #18 internationally by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), claimed victories over #24 Toronto (230-74), #29 Dallas (220-86) and #43 Calgary (453-89).
The GateKeepers, currently ranked second internationally by the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA), collected wins over #6 Texas (163-115), #17 Cincinnati (511-24) and #19 Carolina (608-15).
The St. Louis-based trifectas achieved at Fort Wayne pushed Arch Rival’s record to 8-0 on the season while the GateKeepers launched its season with a 3-0 record. Without a doubt, positive vibes were felt by both leagues at weekend’s conclusion.
“I think what I’m going to take away most is how positive we stayed,” reflected Arch Rival jammer Brickyard on her team’s sweep. “It’s just so fun to play with a team that likes each other so much and it was really great to have these three games be so positive for us.”
“Spring Roll is typically our first big challenge of the season,” said GateKeepers jammer Corey Porter. “This is a big springboard going forward.”
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
Arch Rival’s 453-89 Friday victory over #43 Calgary saw the locals post a 187-47 lead at intermission. The St. Louis jamming quartet of the aforementioned Brickyard, Bricktator, Mighty Mighty Boston and newcomer Harmony Killerbruise collected massive points in the second period as ARRG outscored the Albertans, 266-41.
Brickyard and Bricktator scored 137 and 131 points, respectively, in the contest and the 453 total points accumulated eclipsed the league’s previous scoring benchmark, 439 points recorded against Pikes Peak in May 2013.
Saturday’s 220-86 duke over #29 Dallas, which had Annie Swanson inserted into the jamming rotation, saw ARRG possess a 99-49 halftime lead.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
Brickyard’s 19-point, second-period launching jam paced another flurry of offense and a defensive shutdown, once again, inevitably ensued as the half progressed. Arch Rival outscored Dallas in the second frame, 121-37, en route to its seventh straight victory.
Arch Rival’s inaugural meeting with Toronto’s CN Power on Sunday saw St. Louis race out to a 54-0 lead in the first period. The momentum carried over to the second as ARRG posted the 230-74 win and finish Spring Roll with a sweep.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
The three-game docket saw Arch Rival collectively outscore its opponents, 903-249, and built its winning foundation on the blocking work supplied by co-captain Party Foul, Mayor Francis Slayer, Emily Rinehart, Shimmy Hoffa, Chewblocka, Jamheiser Bush, Grave Danger, Kayla Seiber, Ninja Sass ‘Em, Cloak N’ DragHer, Julie Gray, Shear-Ra Powers, The Ginger Assassin and Krista Grant.
For the GateKeepers at Spring Roll, Saturday contained a pair of wins, one extremely dominant and one hard-fought later. The early morning battle against #17 Cincinnati saw St. Louis race out to a 32-0 lead. Then after the Battering Rams posted its first points of the contest, the GateKeepers posted an 88-0 run, paced by jammers Magnum P.I.M.P., Shane Bower, Porter, Handrail and Screecharound.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
The GateKeepers possessed a 260-15 lead at intermission, and outscored Cincinnati, 251-9, in the second period to collect the 511-24 season-opening victory.
Conversely, its late-night battle against #6 Texas was much more competitive. Bower’s 14-point jam in the second rotation gave the locals a 17-0 lead. Magnum added 10 in jam six to extend the score to 32-3. The GateKeepers possessed a 93-56 lead at intermission, paced by Bower’s 42 points.
In the second period, St. Louis capitalized on a Texas jammer miscue in jam three. A 17-point power jam from Porter ensued and resulted in a 117-56 GateKeepers’ lead five minutes deep. Despite a Texan late-charge that narrowed the differential, GKRD outscored the Outlaws in the second half, 70-59, to pick up the 163-115 win.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
Sunday night’s meeting with #19 Carolina was decided with the opening jam. Magnum’s 45-point power jam off the first whistle resulted, technically, in the game’s winning strike. Porter added 39 in the next rotation to push the lead to 84-0. Screecharound posted 29 in jam three to extend the score to 113-0.
The onslaught continued as the first period progressed and St. Louis possessed a 242-0 with 10:00 left in the first period. The Wreckingballs inevitably scored, but the GateKeepers held an overwhelming 342-5 lead at halftime.
St. Louis posted 147 points uncontested in the first thirteen minutes of the second period. When Carolina finally posted points with 16:30 left in regulation, the GateKeepers possessed a 489-11 lead.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
The Gateway City rollers went on to outscore Carolina in the second period, 266-10, en route to the 608-15 victory and improve to 3-0.
The GateKeepers, who collectively outscored its opponents, 1282-154, were paced by blockers Percy Controll, Double Excel, Bled Zeppelin, Gnat King Kill, Kyle Stark, Wrecking Bill, Inquadable Hulk, Spin Diesel, The Saint, Walker Hamilton, Hand Rail, David Metcalfe and Specs Offender.
The spotless results by both squads this past weekend provided the traction necessary for potential post-season tournament play. Arch Rival will know its fate in July with the reveal of the WFTDA Division 1 playoff rounds, earmarked for the Top 40 leagues internationally, while the GateKeepers aim for placement in one of eight slots for the MRDA Championship bracket, which will be revealed in September.
For the here and now, the six cumulative wins by the locals at Spring Roll meant that the sweat equity invested has been paying off.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
“We’ve been working so hard,” said Arch Rival’s Brickyard. “Everybody is just giving it all we have because we want it really bad.”
“We brought a full charter and everyone played,” added the GateKeepers’ Porter. “To bring that many accomplished skaters out here and feel like we can compete in every game just brings a feeling of happiness for the league.”
Both leagues next compete at the “Midwest Brewhaha” invitational in Milwaukee on June 5-7. During the weekend, Arch Rival faces #6 Minnesota, #22 Ohio and #27 Steel City while the GateKeepers has #4 Puget Sound, #6 Texas and #14 Twin Cities on its ledger.
For more information on the Arch Rival Roller Girls, go to archrivalrollergirls.com.
For more information on GateKeepers Roller Derby, go to stlgatekeepers.com.
Both leagues will be presenting their respective local league championships at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday, June 13. In the ARRG trophy battle, two-time defending champions, The Smashinistas, meet the Stunt Devils. In the GKRD “Turf Wars” finale, defending champ South Grand Slammers face off against the Riverfront Crimes. Advance discounted tickets are available AT THIS LINK.
