Why (on earth!) did I join the local roller derby league?

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By Shorty Rae Leonard 

Let’s start with a little about me. I’m 28. I’m a high school math teacher. I’ve been married for three years. I don’t have a single tattoo (weird, I know). I’m five feet tall (my drivers license says 5’1” but it’s lying) and my students like to remind me of the fact that I’m short all day, every day. So why the heck did I, a petite, married, tattoo free, relatively calm teacher want to join a roller derby team? Because it’s awesome.

Although I’ve been an athlete my entire life (I grew up playing boys hockey), I had no idea what I was getting into when I became a founding member of the Solano-Yolo Roller Derby League (SoYo for short). I had never played with a group of women before. I had never laughed, continuously, for over an hour, while attempting to skate sprints. I had never put so much thought into what my socks would look like (in case you’re unaware, socks are a pretty important part of a derby outfit). I never knew that a group of random women, with random backgrounds, living in different parts of Solano or Yolo counties could come together so strongly (and strong headedly sometimes) to create something so amazingly fun.

Since SoYo Roller Derby was founded, I’ve seen girls come and go. I’ve seen girls get hurt (not very often, but it does definitely happen). I’ve seen bruises in places no girl wants a bruise. I’ve seen girls cry, and yell, and scream. I’ve also seen girls find strength in each other. I’ve seen girls realize they had a drive in them they didn’t know they had. I’ve seen them get nostalgic the minute they lace up their roller skates, transporting them to when they were 8 years old, skating in their driveways. I’ve seen girls cheer each other on as we drop weight, get healthy, and sweat our mascara off. I’ve seen girls who couldn’t stand in their skates without falling on their butts eventually jam through the pack like they were born to do it. I’ve cheered with girls who skate backward for the first time. I’ve filled bags with ice for girls who take a hard fall and I’ve laughed so hard I cried when a girl took her mouthguard out and accidentally drooled all over me.

I’ve had people tell me I’m crazy, scary, tough, “too small” for derby, intimidating and “bound to get hurt”. I’m none of those things though. I’m just a SoYo derby girl.

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If you’re looking for a fun, friendly, exciting new way to get in shape, meet new people and get involved in your community, check us out. We need skaters, volunteers, coaches and cheerleaders. All genders, ages and experience levels welcome. 

www.soyorollerderby.com

www.fb.com/soyorollerderby