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Roller derby team accepted into national association

Posted by Rachel Folz - email

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - The Rollergirls of Southern Indiana announced Friday that their league had been accepted into the Women's Flat Track Derby Association or WFTDA.

"Being a part of WFTDA gives ROSI a chance to bout at a greater competitive level," said Alana Phillips, a member of ROSI's Training Committee whose skater name is Armia Death.  "Now we will be a part of the bigger picture, such as the NBA or the MLB, and making roller derby an internationally recognized sport."

ROSI will now compete against other WFTDA leagues in the North Central region to receive a ranking among the best women's roller derby leagues in the world.

There are 24 North Central leagues including the Chicago Outfit Roller Derby, Ohio Rollergirls (Columbus), Naptown Rollergirls (Indianapolis), Hammer City Rollergirls (Hamilton, Ontario), and the Derby City Rollergirls (Louisville, Ky). 

ROSI will also have the opportunity to host major tournaments bringing teams from all over the United States and Canada to Evansville which will boost tourism for Southern Indiana.

"ROSI has always operated as if it were a WFTDA member," said Katie Bolenbaugh, ROSI's Interleague Liaison also known as Hurtz Donut.  "Being accepted is a validation for all of our hard work."

ROSI will set another milestone for roller derby in Southern Indiana when they host Evansville's first sanctioned WFTDA bout on Saturday, July 10. 

For this bout, ROSI will face fellow North Central WFTDA league, the Gem City Rollergirls from Dayton, Ohio. 

The bout will take place at Swonder on Boeke Road.

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