Keweenaw Roller Derby dominates downstate team

Keweenaw Roller Derby’s Johnny Crash (9) and Grand Rapids Roller Derby’s HitSqueak (100) study the blockers before starting the jam during a match Saturday at the Calumet Colosseum. (Kent Kraft/For the Gazette)

CALUMET — After team lineups were announced and the anthem played, Keweenaw Roller Derby (KRD) and Grand Raggidy Roller Derby (GRRD) sent up their first squad to the line, awaiting the whistle. Both teams put out their four blockers and, behind the jam line, each team had their one jammer.

When the final whistle blew, the end score was 156-73, in favor of KRD.

Roller Derby is a sport that requires both finesse and brute force. It mixes individual performances with team dynamics in a way few other sports can manage.

Each team’s jammer needs to get past the opposing four blockers, then get around the track to pass them all over again. While the blockers on their team can assist the jammer in getting past, they have the responsibility of keeping the opposing jammer from getting through. Jammers are the only ones who score points, one point for each opposing blocker they pass a second time.

When the first whistle blew, Kim Kong was the starting jammer for KRD, the first lead jammer getting through the opposing four blockers, and the first person to score points on the board. That put KRD off to an early lead. GRRD started a comeback after that and, over the next two jams, GRRD was looking at an 8-4 lead.

KRD regained their momentum and started putting points up on the board in large numbers, seizing control of the game. Suddenly, KRD was looking at a 16-8 lead. They never looked back.

For an overwhelming portion of the bout, KRD jammers were able to get the lead and score points or call off the jams when GRRD jammers were closing in on points. If a GRRD jammer took the lead, the KRD jammer was frequently hot on their heels, often passing by and forcing them to call off the jam.

By halftime, KRD had an 85-33 lead. In the end, the score was still in favor of KRD. The match was hard-hitting and well-fought on both sides, but KRD skaters managed to take charge and control the fast-paced tempo of the bout.

Most Valuable Player awards were given out to KRD skaters Kim Kong (jammer) and Starbuck (blocker) and GRRD skaters Reckless Rose (jammer) and Arcadia Major (blocker). Special shoutouts also go to KRD members Jeffrey Dahminator, who basked in the birthday song sung heartily by everyone at the Colosseum, and SweetTNT, who competed in their first bout.

UP NEXT

The KRD squad takes on Mid-State Roller Derby on June 13 at 6 p.m. in the Calumet Colosseum, with doors opening at 5 p.m.