After a unique, post-COVID fall 2022 season, the Cincinnati Rollergirls will enter their spring 2023 season opener strong. The game against Louisville Roller Derby All-Stars starts at 6 p.m. at Xavier University’s Cintas Center on Saturday, April 8.

PRIDE NIGHT

The event will also be CRG’s Pride Night, one of the team’s most popular events. For the first time ever, the team has partnered with Cincinnati Pride for the event. 

“It’s a scary time to be a member of the LGBTQ community, especially for transgender folks like me,” said Ursa Maimher, who has been skating with Cincinnati Rollergirls since 2019. “Pride Night with CRG isn’t just a fun place to play and watch roller derby, it’s an affirmation of love and solidarity and a clear statement that we do belong in the communities we inhabit.” 

THE TEAMS

This battle, just the second-ever appearance by the Cincinnati Rollergirls at Cintas Center, will feature CRG’s A team, the Black Sheep, taking on Louisville Roller Derby’s A team, the All-Stars, at 6 p.m., in a single-header event that will be fast-paced, hard-hitting and competitive.

CRG is basking in recent accolades: it was just named 2023 “Best Amateur/Semi-Pro/Minor Team” by Cincinnati CityBeat, continuing its streak of wins started in 2011. Since the teams are not in the same WFTDA-designated regions, the game will not be sanctioned by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, so it will be for bragging rights only. CRG last played Louisville in 2018, and won, 328-131. CRG is currently ranked 26th out of 111 teams in WFTDA’s North America East region and Louisville is ranked 40th out of 63 teams in the North America South region. 

THE SKATERS

CRG is currently in an exciting growth cycle. They have lost some brilliant, fan-favorite skaters, with Jillian Dollaz and Citybeat’s “Best Overall Local Athlete” winner Wheezy deciding to retire after last season, and Nuk’em returning to the league where she began her derby career, Roller Derby of Central Kentucky. Jillian Dollaz and Wheezy are still active with CRG, both serving on its leadership team, and Wheezy also frequently referees for CRG and other area teams.

The passionate play is sure to continue, however, with dynamic and impressively skilled skaters — nearly all returning skaters, ready to shine. Shocka, When the Walls Fell is an incredible blocker with wonderful energy. ROOthless is a new jammer to the WFTDA-level team, making her debut after honing her skills as a junior derby player with Black-n-Bluegrass Junior Roller Derby and before that, Cincinnati Junior Roller Derby. 

In a true pleasure for mothers everywhere, her mother, Raezor, a veteran of Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls, is also skating with CRG for the first time and will be an alternate for this game. CleoPAINtra is a familiar face making her return to the track after previous stints with the team and, before that, with Cincinnati Junior Roller Derby. We salute the endurance of blocker Railroad, back too after a nine-year absence and another alternate in this game. Mazel Tov Cocktail can do it all: block, jam, and pivot. And thanks to COVID’s long reach, despite joining the team in 2019, this will be blocker Fitzkrieg’s first game. 

THE HALFTIME ENTERTAINMENT

Thanks to Cincinnati Pride’s involvement, the event will feature family-friendly drag performers during halftime: Crystal Cavalli, Katrina Chimera and Rahanna Mitchell St. James, with music provided by DJ Jules. In addition, there will be a community organization area, featuring Cincinnati Pride, Women Helping Women, GLSEN, Cincinnati Reds, and more.

The timing is perfect as our city celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first Cincinnati LGBTQ+ gathering and protest to the exact day. What is now known as Cincinnati Pride began April 6-8, in 1973, with a group of just 40 people who gathered on Fountain Square to march for gay rights awareness. Fifty years later, Cincinnati Pride is teaming up with Cincinnati Rollergirls for an unforgettable night of Pride and roller derby. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

Don’t miss your chance to get close to the action and cheer on CRG in its season opener, its only game this year at Cintas Center. Get your tickets today for Pride Night at Cintas Center. 

GAME DAY DETAILS

What: Cincinnati Rollergirls vs. Louisville Roller Derby All-Stars

Where: Xavier University’s Cintas Center, 1624 Musketeer Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45207

When: Doors open at 5 p.m. Game starts at 6 p.m.

Tickets: Buy tickets in advance online through Cintas Center — prices go up at the door.

Adults: $15 in advance, $20 at the door; Groups of 10+: $10 per person in advance; Children 3-12: $5 in advance, $7 at the door; Children 2 and younger: Free; College students, faculty and staff with ID: $7 at the door

Parking: Free

Concessions: Open (no outside food permitted)

Livestream: Can’t make the game in person? Watch a live broadcast provided by WLTB Productions via WFTDA’s YouTube channel.

ROSTERS

Cincinnati Rollergirls Black Sheep: 10 Krystonite (she/her) // 100 Jackie the Ripper (she/they) // 116 Ursa Maimher (they/them) // 154 Crystal Whip (she/her) // 18 Mazel Tov Cocktail (she/her) // 22 ROOthless (she/her) // 314 Wicked Widget (she/her) // 32 Big Red (she/her) // 36 Motley Crouton (she/her)  (she/her) // 40 Whitlash (she/her) // 519 Shocka, When the Walls Fell (she/her) // 6 CLeoPaintra (she/her) // 603 Fitzkrieg (she/her) // 71 Star Flatten’em (they/she) // 721 Syke (she/her) // Alternates: 85 Raezor (she/her) // 2 RailRoad (she/her)

Louisville Roller Derby All-Stars: 57 Liberty Hammer // 503 Auntie Virus // 6 Celia Graves // 21 Dave N. Bust-Her // 312 Dingo K8 MyBaby // 17 Ellie Slay // 343 KCDC // 216 Rita N. Weep // 911 Shellnita Crutch // 388 Slamus Aran // 589 SlingHer Kyle // 13 Sweet Revenge // 1 Thea Sassin // 19 Tina Feytal // 294 Wheelin’ Banshee

Referees: Amish Mafia (he/him), Gem City Roller Derby // bmd (2113) (he/him), Cincinnati Rollergirls // MOS Ref, Black n Bluegrass Roller Derby // Nick Tater (he/they), Ohio Roller Derby // Stray Taco (he/they), Ohio Roller Derby // Wheezy (she/her), Cincinnati Rollergirls // Wishbone Breaker (she/her), Gem City Roller Derby

Non-Skating Officials: Nosferhofftu (he/him), Cincinnati Rollergirls // Mike Busam (he/him), Cincinnati Rollergirls // Stabby McNeedles (she/her), Cincinnati Rollergirls // Mr. Bruise Guy (he/him), Circle City Roller Derby // Robin (she/her), Cincinnati Junior Roller Derby // Dorothy Galeforece (she/her), Gem City Roller Derby // Kill C. Grammar (he/him), Independent // Pete Kolis (he/they/she), Cincinnati Rollergirls // Witch E Wife (she/they), Circle City Roller Derby

By: Yvonne Keller