THE ROC STARS’ 2016 TOUR INCLUDES COLUMBUS

The old saying goes, “If the music’s too loud, you’re too old.” Well, the Ohio Roller Derby will be looking to make some noise of their own this weekend as they welcome in the Roc Stars of Roc City Roller Derby (Rochester, NY). In the first contest of the evening, the #36 Ohio Roller Derby will be putting a 16 game home win streak on the line as they also play for a spot in the Division 1 Playoffs in September. A good showing from the home team will solidify OHRD in the top 40, rather than dropping them down in to Division 2. If Ohio keeps their #36 rank throughout this month, that would be good enough for a 9-seed in the playoffs, pitting them against an 8-seed in the first round (with the winner moving on to play the 1-seed in the next round).

Ohio, currently sporting a 6-1 record in their 2016 campaign, only have the Roc City bout remaining on their schedule before the final Women’s Flat Track Derby Association rankings come out and seed teams for playoffs. Ohio will still play three bouts this season before playoffs (Columbia, SC; Atlanta, GA; and Detroit, MI), but they will count toward the 2017 season. Roc City enters the bout against Ohio with a 6-5 record so far this season, and it will mark the first time the two squads have ever played each other. Roc City’s Roc Stars have posted victories over Hammer City, Burning River (twice), Providence, and Green Mountain (twice). They fell to Queen City, Cincinnati, Maine, Royal City, and Brandywine.

Roc City will counter Ohio’s jamming rotation of The Smacktivist, Lora Outa My Wayman, and Blitz Lemon with Florence Fightengale, Sweet Sexteen, and Toni Sparxx. Trying to stop Ohio’s jammers will be Roc City blockers Hater Tot, Shockin Audrey, Star Spangled Bamher, Natasha Musquashya, Goldie Fox, Jojo Thrasher, Terminal Trend, and GO!.

Following the OHRD/Roc Stars bout, Gang Green will take on Roc City’s reserve squad, the B-Sides. Gang Green swing skaters Paige Bleed and Val Holla have both had tremendous success jamming for Gang Green the latter half of the season, with blockers Lawless, Lil Spitfire, and Bruss Knuckles stepping up on the defensive side of things.

Doors open at 4:00 p.m. with the OHRD/Roc Stars bout starting at 5:00 p.m. Gang Green and the B-Sides will play following the first bout, with an approximate start time of 7:00 p.m.

Photos by: Joe Mac