Rookie Season

Well, so ends my rookie season as a derby girl with the Burning River Roller Girls.  Last night, we played an amazingly hard fought game, but ended up losing 142-141.  Pretty heartbreaking to lose by only 1 point, but what can you do?

Derby has changed my life.  I was inspired by someone who follows his dreams no matter what.  Without his support, I doubt I would have even tried.  I remember being so nervous the first time I went to a recruitment.  I knew no one and nothing about the sport.  I had no gear.  But I made some good friends that day, they helped me buy my gear, they took me to open skates and practices, they helped me understand the game, etc.  

Mid season tryouts are tough.  Basically, you have to have your shit together to make the league mid season.  I did it.  I made the league.  I had been on skates for maybe 2-3 months, but I'm lucky that I grew up rollerblading and playing various sports.  Very very helpful.  

 I was put on the Pyromaniacs, the farm team of BRRG.  I loved every one of the ladies on the Pyros. We worked well together and leaned on each other.  I skated my first bout vs. a team from Canada alongside the Pyros.  Scored 38 points in one jam in that bout.  We lost, but hell it was freaking fun.

BRRG had a mid season draft for the home teams.  I wasn't sure I would be drafted because I was so new to everything.  On draft night, I waited what seemed like forever staring at my phone.  I received a phone call from the coaches of the Rolling Pin-Ups.  I mean, my reaction was like WHAAAAAAAAT?!  I really didn't know what to say, but I was freaking drafted.  Epic.

The Pin-Ups were undefeated when I joined the team.  I played my first bout with them vs. the Steamers and we won.  It felt so amazing.  I had to miss our regular season bout vs. the Hellbombers due to my brother getting married and all...I sat at the head table at the reception and stared at the twitter updates of the game.  We lost by 5 points in overtime.   Sad that I wasn't able to be there.

So now starts the championship bracket.  My Pin-Ups were seeded #1 :)  We played the Steamers in the semi finals, and won.  Mind you, there was no AC in the building, and it had to have been a 90+ degree day.  My coaches threw me in as a jammer a few times.  I scored 29 points my first time being a jammer as a Pin-Up.  I was lead jammer 2/3 times I went up there.  Felt so amazing to be able to do that...although I was completely dead by the end.

In my last scrimmage before the championship game, I had the amazing opportunity to skate alongside a few of the Vienna Roller Girls.  These women traveled from Austria for a cross USA tour, and we happened to be one of their stops.  Coolest thing ever.  The derby community is like no other.

Last night was the championship game.  Like I said, we lost BY ONE POINT.  We were down 15-25 points pretty much the whole game, but worked our asses off to close the gap.  The game literally came down to the last second.  Next year...next year...

Now I'm on derby break for 2 months...What the hell am I gonna do with my life now?!

Anyways, Season 7, my rookie season, has been amazing.  I feel like I've grown so much since I made the league in January.  I can't wait to come back stronger than ever in a few months.  

See you on the track:)