Erie Roller Derby On a Roll, Looking for Recruits

Action Shots

Catch a glimpse inside the action at an Erie Roller Derby bout, at their upcoming Bayfront Bruise Fest (a six-game, day-long roller derby extravaganza), or at one of their upcoming Skate Camps which recruit and educate new rollers.

Donning a Derby Dad T-shirt last week, a fan filed past wedding-goers at the Bayfront Convention Center as he entered the circuit space for Erie Roller Derby (ERD). Other spectators wore macabre-inspired merch decorated with zombies and bats, but the team spirit was alive and well.

Roller derby — a fast-paced, full-contact sport where players skate counterclockwise on a circuit track — is played in two 30-minute "bouts" made of "jams." A "jammer" is designated and scores a point for each opposing "blocker" they lap. Meanwhile, blockers work offense and defense to keep the opposing jammer back while helping their jammer get ahead.

Since its conception in 2010, ERD has evolved from marching to the beat of a camp-centric cadence to one equally focused on athleticism and expression.

"Tee-zer, Tee-zer" cheers erupted as jammer Teezer racked up points for the team.

Next up, "Interstella" exploded through blockers with astronomical speed. After a second of celebration, Interstella turned to high-five the opposing jammer and exchange a quick laugh.

Across the room, another team member smiles. Sometimes, it's all in a name. "Stella is the brightest person ever," they remarked. It's that feeling of community that keeps skaters coming back.

"So I have actually retired and come back three times because for me, personally, it's one of the most satisfying physical and social things I've had in my life," said coach Gretchen Gueguen (aka Grëtel Vön Metäl). "To have that community is so great, the feeling that you're not alone in the world."

Skaters Jackie Thomas, 23, (aka Jack Rabbit) and Cassy Ellsworth, 22, (aka Cass-a-Roll) joined the team just under a year ago. Thomas frequented roller rinks for birthday parties growing up, while Ellsworth could skate as young as she could walk and later worked as a carhop at Sonic. When a friend proposed the idea of joining ERD, they happily obliged.

"You do it, you like it, and then you think you like it a little too much, and then you realize that you're so invested that you just can't leave," Thomas remarked. "It's not a cult," she clarified. "It's a religion." Ellsworth smiled.

Thomas agreed with Gueguen that the team is always there for her when she's in a jam — on the circuit and off. She said she gained a whole new family that day she signed up for derby.

"We are extremely friendly to all sorts of walks of life, especially the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color. I feel like we are not lacking in any of that sort of diversity, and it makes it very comfortable and accepting to be there," Thomas said. "You can be your true self. You don't have to hide anything — it's derby. We're just hitting people."

As an adult, Gueguen said it can be hard to find people who share a similar mindset and work together toward a goal outside of the workplace. Roller derby not only provides that but also creates a supportive space. In a sport dominated by women, every body type has a role to play.

"I think as women, [it's important] having something where you feel powerful and you feel like your body is appreciated no matter what size it is," she said. "Everybody has a role to play in the game. It's not like in other sports. If you're really big and hard to move, that's really important, but if you're really tiny and quick and agile, that's also really important."

The team ages range from 19 to 50 years old and includes everyone from librarians to health care workers, teachers, hourly workers, and everything in between; Erie Roller Derby is a safe haven for all walks of life. That is, unless you're on the opposing team.

Thomas and Ellsworth noted that their confidence increases two-fold when they step into their derby identities.

"I am not nearly as confident in real life," Thomas began.

"As she should be," Ellsworth butted in.

"When I am playing roller derby, I am very confident, and I'm very loud all the time… That is not how I am in real life. In real life, I do not scream, and I do not shout," Thomas continued.

But when the whistle blows, Thomas sees red. "In normal life, you would not look at her or talk to her and be like, 'wow, this is someone who is just going to cold-blooded body slam you,' but at derby, she is," Ellsworth inputs.

"It's very nice to catch people off guard, I will say," Thomas said, smiling sweetly.

Derby names are a signal of that identity, including wordplay, alliteration, and pop culture references. Skaters like Lorna Doome, Mourning Dove, Tyrannosaurus Wrecks, Butch Lite, Mae B. Dangerous, and more have found their place at ERD.

"The derby name has really stayed, and I think there's something to that," Gueguen said. "You don't want to go over the top, but you do want to kind of declare who you are. It comes back to that empowering aspect of it like you have the ability to decide what your name is."

Like their names, bout-fits are another expressive outlet for skaters who wish to fully adopt their skating persona during matches. It's not about the flashiest gear, though.

Gueguen maintained that it's all about having a good time, and the team tries to make it as easy as possible to partake in. "If you want to try it, come down and try it. We will lend you gear, and then if you want to invest, you can invest to the degree you want to," she said.

The prime opportunity is on the horizon, too, as ERD is hosting its annual Skate Camp. It will run from Sept. 30 to Nov. 20, meeting 8 to 10 a.m. on Sundays and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Mondays at Gem City Skate, 3162 W. Lake Road.

The eight-week, $60 course introduces skaters with zero experience or beginner-level skills to roller derby. And the team is looking for fresh faces, too. Gueguen said recruitment is crucial because derby is an outlet that should always be available to the community. ERD is a team of hometown pride and often partners with local charities and participates in local events to ensure its presence in the community is felt.

After the pandemic, participation dropped, and they are looking to boost numbers again and continue the team's lineage. Throughout the year, the team has two-hour practices twice a week, and Sunday practices are optional.

For those who want to be part of ERD but are on the fence about skating, Gueguen said they are accepting skating and non-skating members. Volunteers could be EMTs, announcers, or officials, helping keep track of the game.

To get a better idea of the game or simply root on your favorite skaters, the Bayfront Bruise Fest kicks off on Sept. 14 as Erie Roller Derby hosts the Youngstown Area Roller Derby, Durham Region Roller Derby, and Hogtown Roller Derby. The day will include six games in a round-robin format, affording each team an opportunity to play three Women's Flat Track Derby Association-sanctioned games. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with the first whistle to follow, and action will last into the night at the Bayfront Convention Center (1 Sassafras Pier).

For more information on the teams, to learn more about ERD, or to sign up for Skate Camp, visit erierollerderby.com.

For tickets to the Bayfront Bruise Fest, roll on over to tickets.eriereader.com. Tickets are $15 for the entire day.

Chloe Forbes is a local journalist and now a local derby-enthusiast. Bounce derby name ideas off of her at chloeforbes14@gmail.com.