Madison Roller Derby
Madison Roller Derby (MRD), founded as "Mad Rollin' Dolls", is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 2004, Madison is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA),[1] and was the fourth league to join the fledgling organization.[2] Since 2006, Madison has qualified for the WFTDA post-season every year, including three appearances at WFTDA Championships.
Metro area | Madison, Wisconsin |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Founded | 2004 |
Teams | Dairyland Dolls (A team) Team Unicorn (B team) Quad Squad Reservoir Dolls Unholy Rollers Vaudeville Vixens |
Track type(s) | Flat |
Venue | Alliant Energy Center |
Affiliations | WFTDA |
Org. type | LLC |
Website | https://madisonrollerderby.org/ |
History and league structure
Mad Rollin' Dolls was started in 2004 by "Crackerjack," whose sister "Lucille Brawl" had helped found Texas Rollergirls in Austin, Texas,[2][3] and "Pamdemonium." Currently, the organization has a four-team home league that competes for an annual championship. The league also has two travel teams that compete internationally. Mad Rollin' Dolls games in Madison are held at the Alliant Energy Center and have been known to sell out, with crowds of 1500 people.[3][4] As a business enterprise, the league was registered in 2004 as a limited liability corporation, Mad Rollin' Dolls LLC, and converted into a non-stock corporation in 2015, as Mad Rollin' Dolls Inc.[5]
Ahead of its fifteenth season in 2019, the league announced a rebrand as Madison Roller Derby.[6]
Travel teams
MRD has both all-star A and B-level interleague teams, which are composed of skaters from the four home teams. These teams compete against other WFTDA and non-WFTDA leagues across the United States. The Dairyland Dolls A team competes in WFTDA-sanctioned games. Starting in 2008, the Mad Rollin' Dolls added a second travel team, Team Unicorn. Their first bout was in Hamilton, Ontario on July 26, 2008.[7]
Home teams
MRD is composed of four home teams; the Quad Squad, the Reservoir Dolls, the Unholy Rollers and the Vaudeville Vixens. Each year the home teams compete for the league championship, with the winner being awarded a trophy named "Leggy", fashioned from a mannequin leg with a roller skate on its foot.[8]
League Champions by year are:
Year | Season Champion |
---|---|
2005 | Reservoir Dolls |
2006 | Quad Squad |
2007 | Reservoir Dolls |
2008 | Quad Squad |
2009 | Vaudeville Vixens |
2010 | Unholy Rollers |
2011 | Reservoir Dolls |
2012 | Quad Squad |
2013 | Reservoir Dolls |
2014 | Reservoir Dolls |
2015 | Reservoir Dolls |
2016 | Quad Squad |
2017 | Quad Squad |
2018 | Quad Squad |
2019 | Unholy Rollers |
MRD also includes a recreational league in Madison, originally known as the Mad Wreckin' Dolls and renamed Madison Wreckers Roller Derby in 2016.
WFTDA competition
At the first WFTDA Championships, the 2006 Dust Devil tournament, Madison placed seventh overall.[9] The following year at the first WFTDA Eastern Regional Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, the "Heartland Havoc" event, Madison did not get past the second round.[10]
In October 2008 the Mad Rollin' Dolls hosted that year's East Region Playoff, "Derby in Dairyland".[11] At that tournament, Madison won their opening game against the Minnesota Rollergirls 143-67, but then lost in the quarterfinals to Gotham Girls Roller Derby of New York, 138-70. Following a win against Grand Raggidy Roller Girls and a narrow loss to Boston Derby Dames, Madison finished the weekend in sixth place.[12]
In 2009, now part of the North Central Region, Mad Rollin' Dolls placed second in the North Central Regional Tournament, "Brawl of America" in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[13] At the 2009 Championships, Madison was eliminated by Boston, 104-98.[14] At the 2010 North Central Playoffs, Madison came in third place, winning their final game 164-143 against Cincinnati Rollergirls, to again qualify for WFTDA Championships.[15] For the second straight year, Madison was defeated in the opening round, this time by Philly Roller Girls, 213-53.[16] In 2011, the Dairyland Dolls entered the North Central Playoffs as the sixth seed, but lost each game and finished the weekend in tenth place.[17] In 2012, Madison entered what would be the final North Central Regional Playoff as the tenth seed, and improved on their seeding by defeating Arch Rival Roller Girls in the seventh place game, 217-119.[18]
In 2013, the WFTDA changed its playoff structure, and Madison qualified for the WFTDA Division 1 International Playoff tournament in Asheville, North Carolina as the sixth seed, ultimately finishing in ninth place with a 265-195 victory over the Columbia Quadsquad.[19] As the seventh seed in Charleston for Division 1 Playoffs in 2014, the Dairyland Dolls improved on their seeding with upset victories over Boston (176-175)[20] and the Naptown Roller Girls of Indianapolis (166-101) to finish in fifth place.[21] At the 2015 Division 1 Playoff in Tucson, Madison again pulled rankings upsets (this time over Arizona Roller Derby[22] and Baltimore's Charm City Roller Girls[23])to improve their position over the weekend, going from the ninth seed to sixth place.[24]
For the first time since 2008, Mad Rollin' Dolls hosted a WFTDA Playoff tournament in September 2016.[2] Held at the Alliant Energy Center,[25] the Dairyland Dolls also competed at the Division 1 tournament, where they entered as the tenth seed and left in seventh place. With upset victories over No Coast Derby Girls[26] (Lincoln, Nebraska) and Chicago's Windy City Rollers,[27] Madison had achieved the most D1 playoff upsets in WFTDA history.[28] In 2017, Madison was the eleventh seed at Division 1 Playoffs in Seattle, but lost 225-83 to host Rat City Rollergirls[29] and 241-140 to Bay Area Derby and finished out of the medals.[30]
In 2018, MRD missed the cutoff for WFTDA Playoffs, instead qualifying for the first WFTDA Continental Cup, the 2018 North America East edition in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at which they were the second seed.[31] MRD finished the weekend in fourth place, dropping the bronze medal game to Team United Roller Derby by a score of 189-131.[32]
In 2019, MRD again qualified for the WFTDA Continental Cup North America East, held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as the sixth seed. MRD defeated Ohio Roller Derby 159-132 before falling to Detroit Roller Derby 258-146 and Tampa Roller Derby 182-116.[33]
Rankings
As a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the Mad Rollin' Dolls were originally member of the WFTDA's East Region, but by the end of 2008 were moved to the North Central Region, and were ranked sixth in the North Central at the end of 2012.[34] The WFTDA moved away from regions and into a division system in 2013,[35] and MRD consistently placed in WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs for the duration of that format.
Season | Final ranking[36] | Playoffs | Championship |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | 5 WFTDA[37] | — | 7[9] |
2007 | 9 WFTDA[38] | R2 E[10][39] | DNQ |
2008 | 2 NC[40] | 6 E[12] | DNQ |
2009 | 3 NC[41] | 2 NC[13] | R1[14] |
2010 | 3 NC[42] | 3 NC[15] | R1[16] |
2011 | 10 NC[43] | 10 NC[17] | DNQ |
2012 | 6 NC[44] | 7 NC[18] | DNQ |
2013 | 31 WFTDA[45] | 9 D1[19] | DNQ |
2014 | 26 WFTDA[46] | 5 D1[21] | DNQ |
2015 | 42 WFTDA[47] | 6 D1[24] | DNQ |
2016 | 33 WFTDA[48] | 7 D1[27] | DNQ |
2017 | 36 WFTDA[49] | CR D1[30] | DNQ |
2018 | 38 WFTDA[50] | 4 CC NA East[32] | NA |
- CR = consolation round
References
- Abby, Hammer (18 October 2014). "Gender Policy update: Mad Rollin' Dolls | Derby Central". Derby Central. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- Thomas, Rob (19 September 2016). "'Grandmother' league Mad Rollin' Dolls host roller derby playoffs". madison.com. The Capital Times. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- Gerber, Amber (8 April 2010). "Rollin' with the Dolls: An inside look at the Mad Rollin' Dolls". Hometown News LLC. The Sun Prairie Star. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- Nelesen, Marcia (9 March 2015). "VIDEO: A behind-the-scenes look at roller derby". Gazette Xtra. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "MAD ROLLIN' DOLLS, INC. (M062412)". www.wdfi.org. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- "Mad Rollin' Dolls now Madison Roller Derby!". Madison Roller Derby. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- "Team Unicorn | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Flat Track Stats. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- Draper, Cathleen (13 July 2018). "The Mad Rollin' Dolls break down gender norms and stereotypes". Madison Commons. University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- "February 2006 Dust Devil Invitational Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]
- "Heartland Havoc | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Flat Track Stats. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- Kristian Knutsen on Monday 10/06/2008 1:48 pm. "Isthmus Daily Page, "Derby in Dairyland rolls art and music into flat track festival", October 6, 2008". Thedailypage.com. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
- Marshall, Justice Feelgood (10 October 2008). "Eastern Regionals: Complete Capsule Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Brawl of America 2009 North Central Regionals", WFTDA
- Marshall, Justice Feelgood (14 November 2009). "2009 Nationals: Capsule Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- "Thunda on the Tundra2010 North Central Region Playoffs - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Marshall, Justice Feelgood (5 November 2010). "2010 WFTDA Championships Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- "North Central 9th Place: 10NC Ohio Closes Out 6NC Madison, 138-118 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Talionis, Lex (16 September 2012). "NC 7th Place: 10NC Madison Finishes Off 4NC Arch Rival, 217-119 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Talionis, Lex (22 September 2016). "D1A 9th: (6) Madison Outshines (10) Columbia, 265-125 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- "D1C: Mad Rollin' Dolls (#7) Squeek By Boston Derby Dames (#6), 176-175 | Derby Central". Derby Central. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- "D1C: Mad Rollin' Dolls (#7) Tip Naptown Roller Girls (#5), 166-101". Derby Central. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Defiance, Brooklyn (4 September 2015). "D1T: #9 MRD Dairyland Dolls moos past #8 Arizona, 221-171". Derby Central. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Defiance, Brooklyn (5 September 2015). "D1T: #9 Mad Rollin' Dolls Grates #5 Charm City , 239-132". Derby Central. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Defiance, Brooklyn (6 September 2015). "D1T 5th Place: #7 Terminal City defeats # 9 Mad Rollin' Dolls, 252-102". Derby Central. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Popke, Michael (22 September 2016). ""Sass and strength" - Madison Hosts Roller Derby Playoffs". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Isthmus. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Castro, Mishel (23 September 2016). "D1M: #10 Mad Rollin' Dolls tip #7 No Coast, 143-139". Derby Central. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- "D1M: #10 Mad Rollin' eludes #8 Windy City, 190-139". Derby Central. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Apex, The (2016-10-04). "The 2016 Playoffs: 10 Things We Got Wrong". The Apex. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
- Abby, Hammer (1 September 2017). "D1S: #6 Seattle makes it rain over #11 Madison, 225-83". Derby Central. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- Khaos, Merry (3 September 2017). "D1S: #4 Bay Area persists against #11 Madison, 241-140". Derby Central. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- "Skaters Gear Up For The First Ever WFTDA Continental Cup: North America East – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- "Boston Roller Derby Wins 2018 WFTDA Continental Cup – North America East – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- "Sailor City Rollers Win 2019 WFTDA Continental Cup-North America East". WFTDA. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- "WFTDA current rankings". Wftda.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
- "WFTDA to Introduce New Playoff Structure in 2013 - Latest News - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". www.wftda.org. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
- "Current Rankings", WFTDA
- "12/8/2006 WFTDA National Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]
- "Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007
- Faliveno, Melissa (18 August 2007). "Dairyland Dolls check in from 'Heartland Havoc'". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Isthmus. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Rankings: December 31, 2013". WFTDA. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- "Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
External links
- Madison Roller Derby - league website
- Mad Rollin' Dolls on Facebook
- Mad Rollin' Dolls on Twitter
- Mad Rollin' Dolls on Instagram