R.B. Roller Vixens lace up for hard-hitting fundraiser

Juicy McGillicuddy, of The Train Stop Trixies, celebrates a winning play at the Red Bank Roller Vixens’ roller derby fundraiser on Jan. 20, a benefit for the Red Bank Middle School eighth-grade class. CLAIRE SHEPROW RED BANK — More than 300 people packed inside the Red Bank Middle School gym last Friday night carrying signs, shaking noisemakers and snapping photos on their iPhones. The high-energy atmosphere transformed the gym into a flat-track roller derby arena.

“C’mon, ref!”

“Lights-Out-Lisa!”

“Train’s coming through! Watch out!”

“That was amazing!”

The Red Bank Roller Vixens organized a game between The Train Stop Trixies and The Broad Street Betties as a fundraising event that brought in more than $2,300 for the eighth-grade students of the borough’s middle school.

The “football on wheels” full-contact sport was all the rage during the 1970s, said Jeff Rivera, a certified referee for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

“Old-school roller derby was played on a banked track by coed teams, and there was a lot of stuff that rivaled what pro wrestling is today, like showmanship, taking off the helmet and smacking someone with it. That said, it has a limited place in a legitimate sport,” said Rivera.

He pulled out an 88-page WFTDA rule- book to explain further.

“With that much rule applied to a sport, do you think there’s going to be out-of-bounds nonsense going on? Not really. The idea is that this is meant to be a professional and serious sport, one that’s going to be competitive without [superficial] violence like it was in the ’70s,” he said.

“The reason why oldschool derby died in the first place is because nobody bought the premise of it. It was just silly. But this is a serious, competitive, real sport that really provides women, specifically, with a competitive outlet that can be found no where else for adult women.”

Rivera’s wife, Stacie, is one of those women. She founded the Red Bank Roller Vixens league last February and is currently treasurer for the board of directors.

“This whole year has been about growing, recruiting, training and learning. We’re probably not even ready for this [event] but it’s a fundraiser for the school and it’s fun and you have to cut your teeth somewhere,” she said.

About 30 women play in the three-team adult league including the Trixies and the Betties, as well as a traveling team called the Special Vixens Unit. There are also about a dozen girls ages 12-17 in the state’s only junior league.

“It appeals to such a small segment of the population, especially the junior [league]. They come from all over but not where you’d expect to get them from, and I think a lot of the high school kids around here are really busy with the sports they’re already involved in; so again, it’s just this really unique thing that taps into the right type of person,” explained Rivera.

The Roller Vixens practice three times a week in a variety of locations including the Community YMCA, the Red Bank Middle School and a gym in South Amboy.

“It’s a full-contact sport. There are five people on each team, four blockers and one point scorer. The object of the game is to get your jammer, who’s the point-scorer, through the pack, lap around and get through again to score points. It’s a little complicated because you’re playing offense and defense at the same time but you win by points,” said Stacie Rivera.

The two teams played two 20-minute sessions during the fundraiser and within seconds, players were elbowing, blocking and hitting the hardwood and inciting the crowd.

According to Rivera, it is the game’s physicality that keeps players coming back for more.

“It is very unique. I can’t explain it. It’s got a really addictive quality — you either love it or you hate it, and for those who fall in love with it, it’s just addictive. The best part of it… there is no best part of it; it’s all so awesome. Once you get comfortable with that full-contact sport, you crave it. You crave the physical aspect of it,” she said.

That’s not to say it’s free from injuries. Several players have suffered serious injuries this past year, including three broken tailbones, two concussions and one broken ankle, despite the heavy padding and helmets, said Rivera.

While the Red Bank league is still growing, the Jersey Shore Roller Girls based in Asbury Park is an accepted WFTDA league. Players from that league were in the stands at the fundraising event to support their sport.

“They’re a highly competitive, nationally ranked league. We’re not there yet,” said Stacie Rivera.

“I think it [roller derby] probably fell asleep for quite a long time and then it was brought back, I guess 10 years ago in Texas, and it’s spreading all over the country, all over the world.”

It’s even seeping into Red Bank. Rivera said the large crowd and support from the local community did not surprise her.

“I know Red Bank like the back of my hand and I knew they would enjoy this type of entertainment so I’m not at all surprised,” she said.

About 20-30 middle school students were also on hand to help out with raffle tickets and usher people to their seats. Local vendors lined the hallways to the gym and sold various wares from jewelry to T-shirts.

While the event was all about raising money for an end-of-the-year gift to the graduating class, once the skates rolled inside the gym, it was game time.

“I understand that we could be seen as role models, but I don’t think that’s the objective to be honest with you. The women are really enjoying it and getting a lot out of it for themselves and it’s a happy byproduct.”