"Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun"

For those watching the action that the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars trade in for the first time, the nuances can be hard to spot. Lost in a red and black cyclone of tattoos and urethane, fishnets, short shorts, spandex and striped socks, is an intriguing mix of speed, strength, stamina and strategy.

"It's different than other sports because you're constantly playing offense and defense," said Rockstars head coach Lo-Blow Lida.

Savage early October weather--spawning slippery roads lined by trees loaded to bear with snow glazed guillotines--did not stop a hardy crowd from filling 422 Sportsplex for the Rockstar's first official bout, dubbed "Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun." Milling about were devoted fans, family and friends, including the supportive spouses and significant others wearing shirts emblazoned with homages to their player's nickname.

Derby nicknames are adorably brutal, like a pair of pink brass knuckles. They are unique to every girl in the league, and strides are taken to prevent a repeat among the roller girl ranks.

"The nicknames are fun," said blocker Janilla Ice. "Some girls go for something tough, or it is related to what you enjoy doing or what you do (for a living.) In my case, I just had so many names that people call me, and I just picked one."

All three of the naming conventions lead to a fantastic display of whimsical nomenclature. The tough crowd spawned names like D'Vine Vengeance, IV Drop Her, Niki VanSlaughter, CruciVixen - number 666, of course, and MassaKOR. More humorous names included Legztra Krispy, A. Moral, and Maholo Bionic. Particularly apt was Killer Cupcake, a fleet jammer who is also a baker and made cupcakes so many in the stands enjoyed. Equally entertaining was the numbering system, which included NC17, H8, and the ingenious man1.

The entirety of the 422 Sportsplex was dedicated to the event. The track was taped off in the second rink, with seating on the floor for VIP's and the press. Beyond the bleacher in the first arena was a bouncy house for the children, who were also kept occupied on the basketball courts. Color changing mugs filled with Pabst Blue Ribbon and Miller Lite were the most popular accessory in the venue and the friendly and inclusive nature of the crowd was striking.

Roller derby has had a somewhat checkered past, from its days as the staged, female equivalent to professional wrestling and reputation as a refuge for bad girls. The Rockstars seem cut from quite a different cloth, a family of professional women and mothers as successful and varied off the track as they are unified and invigorated on it.

"This is the best thing that's ever happened to me," Janilla Ice said. "These friends I made--while hitting each other--it's amazing."

The Rockstars bouts follow rules set by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association - a governing body based in Austin, Texas the Rockstars hope to join. According to the league website, there are currently 124 WFTDA member leagues and 76 in the apprentice program.

To join the WFTDA, a process must be followed, which is detailed on the league website. A prospective league must first enter an apprentice program. This requires a league name and roster of at least five skaters who skate at least two hours a week. Then a league must provide membership policies, history, an essay and letter of eligibility from a current WFTDA member. Full membership requires that 67 percent of league management are skaters and 51 percent of the owners. The league must also play four games a season and all competitors must meet WFTDA minimum skill requirements.

Bouts are divided into 30-minute periods, which are played in two-minute increments known as jams. Each team fields 14 skaters and five per side are on the track at a time: one jammer, one pivot and three blockers. The jams begin with the pack, comprised of the team's blockers and pivots, moving down track. Once the pack crosses the starting line, a second whistle sets off the jammers, who are designated with stars on their helmets; the Sneetches system. It is now the jammer's job to make it through the pack while being aided by their own blockers and kept back by the opposing team's. The jammer who gets in front first, without going out of bounds or committing any kind of infraction, is designated lead jammer. The lead jammer has the power to call of the jam at any time and both jammers can begin to score points on their second lap. Once the scoring laps begin, a jammer earns one point for every opposing skater she passes. The importance of being lead comes from a skater's ability to stop the jam. Once a jammer scores she can call off the action before her opponent can ring up any points of her own.

Each jam is akin to a constantly revolving line of scrimmage, with the packs blocking, stopping and aiding the jammers all in one fluid motion. Pivots, who don striped helmets, are the centers, conducting the pack and coordinating how to best stop the opposing jammer while supporting their own. The pivots take on a role similar to a safety on defense, as they are often the final skater a jammer must make it past.

Pack strategy begins before the jammers are even released, as teams may purposely roll at a molasses like pace across the line to buy time for a teammate to get out of the penalty box, or take a knee to force a "no pack" situation that releases the jammers instantly. When players take a knee, they do not exist; a no pack is also called if the distance between the skaters is too wide.

The first bout on Saturday featured all Rockstars, as the onyx outfitted Black and Bloody Mary's squared off with the appropriately named Scarlett O'Horrors in the league's inaugural tilt. The first two jams saw each team have a lead jammer, than call the action off before points could be scored. The Mary's Lo-Blow Lida was the first lead jammer in Rockstars history, followed by the Horrors' Sun Drop. WEEDWacker drew first blood, calling off the jam after putting her Horrors up 4-0. Frames four and five went in favor of red as well, as the Horrors jammers were breaking free faster and their blockers held strong to build up a 8-0 lead. Momentum can be a fickle thing, however, and a penalty on the Horrors Jammer put Lida on the power jam. With no opposing scorer to worry about, Lida blasted around the track for two grand slams, putting the Mary's up 10-8.

The Mary's managed to expand their lead to four, leading 20-16 before WEEDWacker put red back on top with a 5 point performance, 21-20. The Horrors controlled much of the first period, using their powerful blockers to keep black off the board and the points rolling up. Strong defensive play from Busty Cage kept the black jammers on the floor and the enforcer in the penalty box. Legztra Krispy moved her long, lean frame twice around the pack for a pair of grand slams, slipping inside than outside to keep the Mary's close.  Facing a 40-35 deficit with a little over two minutes to play in the period, the Mary's pack took a knee to set Ant Thrax free instantaneously. The gamble paid off, as Thrax managed to close the gap and the teams went into the break with only one point between them, 40-39.

The Mary's quick jammers began to take control in the second period, as Krispy and Lida were joined by an inspired effort from JENeral Lea. Krispy opened the second with a strong run, putting black up 43-40. The JENeral than added some points of her own, increasing the gap to 9. The Mary's reinvigorated attack amassed a 64-43 lead with 15:35 left in the bout.

Once again, a power jam proved to be the spark, as Hillbillie Hustler rolled up 18 points to put the Horrors back in contention at the 11 minute mark. The lead would diminish to one point before the black jammers would again took over, this time rolling hard to the finish and giving the Black and Bloody Mary's the win, 92-71.

Hillbillie Hustler was voted the Horror's MVP on the strength of a 32 point performance, while Lo-Blow Lida took the honors for the victors after putting on a 34 point clinic.

In a second, shortened bout, the Rockstars were joined by special guests from the Brandywine Roller Girls. Killer Cupcake sliced through the pack in a dominant performance, leading the Rolling Bones to a 66-43 victory over the Betty Krugers and MVP honors. VenRetta was named MVP for the Krugers.

With their first ever bout in the books, Lo-Blow Lida had a moment to reflect on a culmination of a year's worth of work.

"I thought it went well," she said, smiling. "My head is spinning."

Editor's note: On 11-1-11, the name of the Krugers MVP was corrected.