The Cincinnati Rollergirls’ final game of 2014 takes them to Columbus to face a familiar in-state rival: The Ohio Roller Girls. Tank has a preview of the double-header.

The Cincinnati Rollergirls and the Ohio Roller Girls have been playing each other for a long time. Since 2007, these two interstate rivals have locked horns five times (Cincinnati leads the series in sanctioned play 4-1).
How long ago was 2007? That was the year Steve Jobs announced the iPhone in January and Apple released it in June. I was rocking a pretty sweet flip phone back then and my thumb speed was unparalleled when it came to texting thanks to years of video games, busting out an LOL (5 button 3 times, 6 button 3 times, 5 button 3 times) in just seconds and then slapping that bad boy shut and stuffing it back in my pocket. The game of roller derby was a lot different in that time as well, as it was truly a game of go fast and turn left and featured such complex strategies as “block the inside line.” The world and the sport have both changed since then.
Cincinnati was a dominant team in the 2000s. During a time when many WFTDA teams had players who had just recently blown the dust off their She-Ra skates from their 8th birthday party at the local skating rink, Cincy had a number of veteran speed skaters, artistic skaters and rink rats who were looking to do something with the skills they had learned from countless Friday nights doing laps to radio friendly clean edits of modern hip hop hits. Back in the day, who could get away with penalties and a lack of teamwork if you had better, stronger, faster athletes, which Cincinnati had in spades, but as the 2010s came into focus, the world began to change.
Ohio, like many leagues formed in the mid- to late-2000s, was like most other teams finding players at the local bar or via word of mouth. Never played a sport before? Smoking at least a half pack a day? Have a couple of tattoos? Then come play roller derby! Unlike the Cincinnati squad, Ohio did not find immediate success, but what Ohio did do was start to plan for the future and develop with the times.
Throughout the 2010s, Ohio packed a number of games onto their season calendars to gain experience, they trained hard to improve their physical skills, and more importantly, they came together as a team. They studied the strategies and trends of the time to keep up with the changing landscape of the WFTDA and understood the importance of keeping their penalties as low as possible in games. Ohio was one of the best teams in the world last year at keeping the bulk of their blockers on the track at the same and not losing their jammers to the penalty box. By doing these things, Ohio found themselves making their debut in the international WFTDA Championships and beating Rat City, one of the most successful teams in WFTDA history.
These two teams now meet in the present this afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio is the strong favorite here, as they prepare to make another run in the WFTDA Division 1 playoffs. Cincinnati, on the other hand, is just trying to put this season to rest. If you have been following my column this season, you know about the trials and tribulations this team has faced with coaching and player turnover. 2015 can’t come fast enough in the Queen City, as the Cincinnati Rollergirls look to put this character-building season behind them.
Players of note in this game for the Black Sheep include the debuting Rox Yuon Yr’Ass (formerly of Gem City) and Skunna Hurt, the 18-year-old rookie who is making some big waves this season. Red Emma (formerly of Northern Kentucky’s Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls) and Macrum (a recent transfer from Massachusetts) will be making their Lambs debuts as well, and Hot Slice returns to the Lambs roster after a leave of absence.
For now and for the foreseeable future, Ohio is the best roller derby team in the state. While they aren’t as dominant as they were in the 2013 season, they are still a team that is filled with experienced players. While a win is unlikely for the Sheep, a strong showing would be a positive way to end the season, as they look to recalibrate the team for next year.
Like every good rivalry, over time both teams will have their ups and downs, wins and losses, and we’ll get to see this match up play anew time and time again. And in a few decades when we achieve singularity, I’ll be broadcasting you this column through some sort of internet mind-meld and making iPhone jokes, and this rivalry will still be happening. I take great comfort and joy in that. Enjoy the games my friends.
-Tank
For tickets and more information, click here.

Cincinnati Black Sheep

Anne Bones 77 // Annie Tomical 91 // Big Ugly 72 // Hannah Barbaric 85 // ¡I, Caramba! 23 // Kitten Kicker 30 // La Bruja 66 // Mirderher 44 // Rox Yuon Yr’Ass 13 // Ruthless Chris 5 // Sailor Scary 92 // Skunna Hurt 69 // Tru D. Vicious 19 // Wheezy 43

Cincinnati Violent Lambs

Anne Bones 77 // Annie Tomical 91 // Big Ugly 72 // Cherry Choke 0 // Hot Slice 71 // ¡I, Caramba! 23 // Jenocide 14 // Jillian Dollaz 34 // Macrum 93 // Mama Crass 26 // Obie Haive 31 // Poppy Chulo 27 // Red Emma 18 // Ruthless Chris 5