Gem City Rollergirls

The Gem City Rollergirls are an amateur flat-track women's roller derby team that began in Dayton, Ohio in 2006 and are still going strong today. It is entirely owned and operated by the skaters themselves who are all local women who come from many different backgrounds, occupations and ages.

The short-lived television series "Rollergirls" inspired founding skater Helen of DesTroy to find other women interested in roller derby. In 2005, she used the Internet in her search and organized the first "Meet & Greet" in team history at Skateworld in Kettering, Ohio on January 22, 2006. The first team practice occurred about a month later on February 19, 2006.

I began attending their "bouts" in July 2007 after reading an article about the team in the Dayton Daily News sports section. I found that my high school Spanish teacher, whom I adore, was skating for the team (her derby name was "Voodoo Storm"). So, I attended my first bout, the program for which is pictured here. My teacher left the team shortly thereafter because of time commitments but I was hooked from that point on.

My first bout program, July 2007

At that early time, the bouts were held at the Nutter Center but the Gem City Rollergirls have changed venues several times since then. Now, they practice at Orbit Fun Center in Huber Heights and their home bouts take place at the Hara Arena in Dayton.

Gem City also recently started a "junior gems" team in which they teach the game to young girls ages 8-17. The juniors have their own bouts, often along with the adults as part of a double- or triple-header.

I have only missed 1-2 home bouts since then which has led me to get to know many of the skaters and referees. Today, I count many of these women as my friends.


 Sources: http://www.gemcityrollergirls.com/about-gem-city-rollergirls