(20) OHIO TO COMPETE AT MIDWEST BREWHAHA
This weekend, the (20) Ohio Roller Girls will travel to Milwaukee (WI) to take part in the annual Midwest BrewHaHa tournament hosted by the Brewcity Bruisers. The festivities will kick off Friday and bouts will be played through Sunday evening. The weekend will feature twenty sanctioned bouts, several reserve squad bouts, junior derby, and men’s derby.
The Ohio Roller Girls All Stars are slated to play two bouts during the weekend, once on Saturday against the (59) Pikes Peak Derby Dames (Colorado Springs, CO) and again on Sunday against the (10) Minnesota RollerGirls. Overall, OHRG have found success while playing in Milwaukee. This trip will be the fourth time the Ohioans have attended BrewHaHa where they have since amassed a 4-2 record at the annual event. In 2010, Ohio split the weekend by beating Hammer City but losing to Omaha. The following year, they again split by defeating Bleeding Heartland but dropping a bout to the Chicago Outfit. In 2012, Ohio went 2-0 with victories over Grand Raggidy and hosts Brewcity.
OHRG have never faced Pikes Peak, their opponent on Saturday, who will enter the tournament with a 1-1 record this season. They started 2012 with a big victory over Ark Valley (358-81) but dropped to an even .500 with a sound defeat at the hands of No Coast (50-350). A poor showing at Midwest BrewHaHa could potentially drop Pikes Peak out of the top 60 and out of the Division II playoffs. They have their work cut out for them as not only do they have to play against Ohio, but they also are slated to bout against (13) Arch Rival this weekend. A good showing in Wisconsin could solidify PPDD in the top 60 as Arch Rival and Ohio are the only two remaining bouts on their schedule.
On Sunday, OHRG will lace up their skates against the (10) Minnesota RollerGirls. The Minnesota bout will mark the first time Ohio has faced a team ranked in the top 10 under the new WFTDA ranking system. Ohio lost a close bout to (currently #9) Windy City at last year’s regional tournament, prior to the revised ranking system’s release.
This bout will have some nostalgia behind it as Minnesota was Ohio’s first opponent when OHRG first put together an All Star team back in 2006. Minnesota won that contest 142-55. On the team that faced Minnesota seven years ago are current skaters Pippi RipYourStockings, HellionBOI, and Amy Spears.
The Minnesota RollerGirls have found a great deal of success since they last played Ohio. In 2006, Minnesota made their first trip to Championships where they lost to Arizona in the third place game. They returned to Champs three years in a row (2010, 2011, and 2012) where they lost to Charm City in the first round, Texas in the quarterfinals, and the Oly Rollers in the quarterfinals, respectively. Ohio’s pack will have to bring their A game as Minnesota boasts a deep jamming rotation (including Harmony Killerbruise, Medusa, Secondhand Smoke, L’exi Cuter, and double-threat Juke Boxx) and a stellar defense led by Diamond Rough, Hurtrude Stein, and Buzz TightRear.
Despite MNRG’s #10 international ranking, they are still looking to get their first victory of 2012. A 0-3 record might surprise you for a team of Minnesota’s caliber, but they have played some of the best competition in the world thus far leading up to BrewHaHa, starting their season with a 151-300 loss to (5) Texas, followed by setbacks to (8) Rocky Mountain (191-299) and (2) Denver (124-190). Minnesota will play (1) Gotham Saturday night.
Also making the trip to Milwaukee will be Ohio’s reserve squad, Gang Green. After going 2-0 at last year’s BrewHaHa, Gang Green will look to continue their winning ways in Wisconsin with two bouts on Sunday. Gang Green will first lace their skates against Windy City’s Second Wind, then will have a brief rest before competing against the Ann Arbor Derby Dimes’ Brawlstars. The game against Ann Arbor will be a preview of August 17th’s match scheduled to take place here in Columbus at the Lausche Building.
The Ohio Roller Girls All Stars will play Pikes Peak at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. Ohio will play Minnesota at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday. Gang Green will face Windy City’s Second Wind at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. They will play Ann Arbor at 5:00 p.m. the same day.