The Memphis Roller Derby A-Tracks are about to face the Springfield (Missouri) Roller Derby in their season closer this Saturday.
Memphis’ recreational home teams, the Ghost River Ghouls and the Memphis Minions, are also set to play in their final bout of the season. In between bouts will be a costume contest, chuck-a-duck, and a demonstration by the Memphis Armored Fight Club. There will also be tabling local vendors, a bake sale, and beers provided by Memphis Made Brewing.
“Memphis shows up for us,” says Kendall Oli, the league’s marketing director. “It’s really fun. When the crowd is super loud and really into it, we can feel that. We take that, we harness it, and do our thing out there. And the home teams, even though it’s recreational, they’ve both developed their fan bases as well — the Minions and the Ghouls.”
Oli, for her part, is on both the Memphis Minions and on the travel team, having joined the league in 2017 after the Memphis Roller Derby hosted one of its Skate Schools, or boot camps. “I’ve always been sporty, and I’ve always liked team sports, so I was kind of looking for something in adulthood to fill that,” she says. “It’s not only an outlet for me to exercise and be fit, but also I get to hang out with my friends, with a nice competitive edge to it.”
Out on the rink and with her derby friends, Oli goes by Choke — a “derby name.” “It started out as Diet Choke, instead of Diet Coke,” she says. “It got abbreviated [over time]. I’m just an avid Diet Coke drinker.”
Though the game this Saturday is the last of the season, the Memphis Roller Derby plans to continue to engage with Memphis outside of the season. On December 14th, 8 p.m., the league will have its Ho Ho Ho Burlesque Show. “We do it every year,” Oli says. “It’s one of our biggest fundraisers, and it’s a lot of fun. League members will do the performances, and they’re usually really unique, eclectic, just super fun. And then we also have around 100 different donated items up for auction.”
“We are always looking for new fans,” she adds, “and we’re also always looking for new members. We hold our boot camps, or we call it Skate School [a few times a year]. We’re always trying to grow. We teach down to the very basics. Like, I didn’t know how to roller skate when I started in 2017 and now I travel to play with other teams. There’s just so many opportunities for not only growing your skills, but also personal growth and joining a community that has something for everyone — even for non-skaters.”
Keep up with the Memphis Roller Derby at memphisrollerderby.com and on social (@memphisrollerderby).
Springfield Roller Derby vs. Memphis A-Tracks, the Agricenter, 7777 Walnut Grove, Saturday, November 2, 2 p.m.,$15/adult, $5/kids (5-13), free/kids under 5.