Rose City Rollers

The Rose City Rollers is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Portland, Oregon, operating as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[1] Established in 2004, the Rose City Rollers consists of a recreational program, four adult local home teams, and two all-star travel teams that represent the league in competition with others as well as junior skaters on six home teams with a travel team for Rose Petals (7–12) and a travel team for Rosebuds (12–17). Rose City's all-star travel team "Wheels of Justice" won the WFTDA Championships in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.[2]

Rose City Rollers
Metro areaPortland, Oregon
CountryUnited States
Founded2004
TeamsWheels of Justice (A team)
Axles of Annihilation (B team)
Break Neck Betties
Guns N Rollers
Heartless Heathers
High Rollers
Rockets
Wreckers
Track type(s)Flat
VenueThe Hangar at Oaks Amusement Park
AffiliationsWFTDA
Org. type501(c)(3) NPO
Websiterosecityrollers.com

History and league structure

Founded in 2004 by Kim "Rocket Mean" Stegeman,[3] along with Evette Reyes[4] (among others), Rose City Rollers became a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in 2005.[1] In November 2008, Rose City and Rat City Rollergirls (Seattle) co-hosted the Northwest Knockdown national championships at the Portland Expo Center.[5] Rose City hosted the 2011 WFTDA Western Regional Tournament, the "Bridgetown Brawl", at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, in which they placed third overall.[6]

The Rose City Rollers.

Rose City Rollers is one of the largest modern roller derby leagues in the United States, if not the world.[7][8][9][10] Rose City comprises a multitude of teams at various levels of competition, and hosts games at The Hangar at Oaks Amusement Park,[7] where they draw up to 22,000 fans a year for games.[11] Rose City has two travel teams, the WFTDA-level Wheels of Justice A team, and the Axles of Annihilation B team, plus four home teams, the BreakNeck Betties, Guns N Rollers, Heartless Heathers and High Rollers.[12]

Other Programs
  • Rockets – The Rockets (formerly Fresh Meat) training program prepares skaters for derby play at the competitive level by providing the skills and conditioning necessary to play for RCR teams. All incoming skaters are required to take part in the Rockets program to be eligible for a league draft. Skaters who survive the Rockets program are drafted to become the newest Rose City Rollers home team players.[12]
  • Wreckers – A recreational (non-competitive) program designed to further the sport of flat track roller derby, this program is open to women 18 and over who are interested in playing derby at any competitive or non-competitive level and is often the first step into the league.[12]
  • Rosebuds – Portland's junior roller derby program provides opportunities for personal growth and development for skaters aged 12–17.[3]
  • Rose Petals – In 2014, the junior roller derby program expanded to include skaters aged 7–12 years old.[3]

WFTDA competition
2006 map showing the first 30 WFTDA member leagues

Rose City took part in the first WFTDA Championships in February 2006, the "Dust Devil" invitational tournament, in which they placed 16th out of 20 teams.[13] At the first WFTDA Western Regional Tournament (also named the Dust Devil) Rose City lost in the opening round 95–92 to Sin City Rollergirls of Las Vegas and were eliminated.[14][15] Rose City and Rat City Rollergirls co-hosted the Northwest Knockdown 2008 national championships at the Portland Expo Center.[5] Rose City did not compete at Championships however, after losing to B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls at the Western Regional tournament.[16] At the 2009 Western Regional Tournament, Rose City finished in seventh place with a 241–42 victory over Angel City Derby Girls.[17] In 2010, Rose City came up just short of qualifying for Championships, losing the third place game at Western Regionals 133–102 to Bay Area.[18]

Original Rose City logo

2011 was Rose City's most successful year to that point, finishing the season with their highest ranking position to date (third in the West Region),[19] and qualifying for Championships for the first time since 2006, by defeating Rat City Rollergirls 186–134 to finish the Western Regional Tournament in third place.[20] At Championships, Rose City was knocked out in the opening round by the Kansas City Roller Warriors 143–135.[21] Rose City finished fourth at the 2012 West Region tournament, losing 135–123 to Bay Area in the third-place game.[22] At the first Division 1 Playoff in 2013 at Fort Wayne, Rose City was upset in the opening round by London Rollergirls 193–190,[23] but won their remaining games to finish the weekend in 5th place.[24]

Since 2014, Rose City has made the final game at the WFTDA Championships every year. After taking first place at the 2014 Division 1 tournament in Charleston, West Virginia,[25] Rose City advanced all the way to the final game of the Championships in Nashville, narrowly falling to Gotham Girls Roller Derby, 147–144.[26]

In 2015, the Wheels of Justice again won their Division 1 Playoff, this time in Dallas, where they beat Texas Rollergirls 257–223 in the final.[27] At the Championships in Saint Paul in November, Rose City upset top-seeded Gotham 206–195 to take the 2015 WFTDA Championships and win the Hydra Trophy, dethroning Gotham after their four-year championship run.[28] Rose City won their third straight Division 1 tournament in September 2016, taking the final game 250–137 over Denver Roller Derby.[29] In November, Rose City retained its Championships title, coming from behind to again defeat Gotham in the final.[2]

Ahead of the 2017 season, Rose City was on both ends of significant skater transfers, as sisters Scald Eagle and Brawn Swanson moved to Denver and joined Denver Roller Derby,[30] while Bonnie Thunders moved from New York to Portland and joined Rose City.[31] Rose City claimed first place at the 2017 Division 1 Playoff in Seattle with a 227–120 victory over Angel City.[32] At Championships, Rose City played in the final for the fourth straight year but came up short, losing to Victorian Roller Derby League 180–101.[33]

In 2018, Rose City received a bye directly to WFTDA Championships, by placing within the top four teams overall, as the second seed, in the June 30 rankings.[34] At Championships in New Orleans in November, Rose City claimed their third title in four years in a rematch from 2017's final against Victoria, 144–121.[35] Rose City skater Rochelle "Gal of Fray" Jubert was named tournament MVP.[35]

Rankings
Scald Eagle with the Hydra Trophy after winning the 2015 WFTDA Championships

The Wheels of Justice are Rose City's WFTDA charter team and compete against other WFTDA teams in sanctioned play, and qualify for rankings.

Season Final ranking[36] Playoffs Championship
2006 16 WFTDA[37] — 16[13]
2007 15 WFTDA[38] R1 W[14] DNQ
2008 5 W[39] 7 W[40] DNQ
2009 5 W[41] 7 W[17] DNQ
2010 4 W[42] 4 W[18] DNQ
2011 3 W[19] 3 W[20] R1[21]
2012 4 W[43] 4 W[22] DNQ
2013 4 WFTDA[44] 5 D1[24] DNQ
2014 2 WFTDA[45] 1 D1[25] 2 D1[26]
2015 4 WFTDA[46] 1 D1[27] 1 D1[28]
2016 3 WFTDA[47] 1 D1[29] 1 D1[2]
2017 2 WFTDA[48] 1 D1[32] 2 D1[33]
2018 2 WFTDA[49] bye[34] 1[35]
  • bye = received bye directly to WFTDA Championships

References
  1. "Member Leagues". WFTDA. April 2006. Archived from the original on 9 April 2006. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  2. "Rollers repeat as roller derby champions". Portland Tribune. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  3. Malee, Patrick (20 August 2016). "Rock & Roller". Oregon Local News. Portland Tribune. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. Schuster, Elizabeth (29 September 2004). "Roller Derby: Rage Reborn! Rose City Rollers revive rink rough 'n' tumble". Willamette Week Online. Archived from the original on 29 October 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  5. "Northwest Knockdown - 2008 WFTDA National Roller Derby Championship". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  6. "Bridgetown Brawl WFTDA 2011 West Region Playoffs - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  7. Yao Long, Stephanie (14 February 2014). "Rose City Rollers roller derby: 10 years and counting and youth programs expanding (photos)". OregonLive.com. The Oregonian. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  8. Vondersmith, Jason (3 November 2016). "Wheels of Justice gets ready to jam". Oregon Local News. Portland Tribune. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  9. "Rose City Rollers: Lifestyles of the brutal and bodacious". Your #ProudQueer News Source CA+OR+WA. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  10. Ellison, Annie (10 May 2014). "Rose City Rollers break down barriers for youth". KOIN 6. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  11. Radlich, Jane Kwiatkowski (26 February 2015). "Queen City's roller derby league gets a boost from new track at RiverWorks". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  12. Harshman, Marissa (13 April 2013). "Roller derby gets real". The Columbian. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  13. "February 2006 Dust Devil Invitational Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]
  14. "Dust Devil 2007", Flat Track Stats
  15. "2007 Dust Devil Tournament". Tucson Roller Derby. February 2007. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  16. Marshall, Justice Feelgood (8 October 2008). "Western Regionals: Complete Capsule Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  17. Marshall, Justice Feelgood (2 October 2009). "Western Regionals Capsule Recaps | Derby News Network". Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  18. Marshall, Justice Feelgood (1 October 2010). "2010 West Region Playoffs Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  19. "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  20. "West 3rd Place: 4W Rose City Beats 6W Rat City For First Trip to Championships, 186-134 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  21. "Championships Opening Round: 2SC Kansas City Knocks Out 3W Rose City, 143-135 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  22. Talionis, Lex (24 September 2012). "West 3rd Place: 3W BAD Stymies 1W Rose, 135-123 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  23. Talionis, Lex (6 September 2013). "D1FW: (4) London Stuns (5) Rose, 193-190 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  24. Talionis, Lex (8 September 2013). "D1FW 5th: (5) Rose Dismantles (3) Arch Rival, 259-107 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  25. "Oct. 3-5: Charleston, West Virginia, USA - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  26. "2014 WFTDA Champs: Gotham takes the win against Rose City". Derby Central. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  27. Defiance, Brooklyn (14 September 2015). "D1D 1st Place: #1 Rose City takes #2 Texas, 257-223". Derby Central. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  28. Frye, Andy (8 November 2015). "Holy Upset: Rose City Stuns Gotham Girls Roller Derby For Championship". espnW. ESPN. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  29. Fristoe, Chelsea (11 September 2016). "D1C: #1 Rose City Cuts Down #3 Denver, 250-137". Derby Central. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  30. "Featured Skater: Brawn Swanson – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  31. Frye, Andy (18 January 2017). "Roller derby legend Bonnie Thunders, aka Nicole Williams, leaves Gotham for Rose City". espnW. ESPN.com. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  32. Abby, Hammer (4 September 2017). "D1S: #1 Rose City justifies rank over #2 Angel City, 227-120". Derby Central. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  33. Brown, Simon Leo (6 November 2017). "Australian team wins roller derby world title". ABC News. ABC Radio Melbourne. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  34. "WFTDA Releases June 30 Rankings and 2018 Playoffs and Continental Cups Seeding – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  35. Danzer, Paul (15 November 2018). "Wheels of Justice takes world title". pamplinmedia.com. Portland Tribune. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  36. "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  37. "12/8/2006 WFTDA National Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]
  38. "Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007
  39. "WFTDA National Rankings", WFTDA [November 2008]. Accessed on 28 August 2014.
  40. "Battle Royale", Flat Track Stats
  41. "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  42. "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  43. "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  44. "Rankings: December 31, 2013". WFTDA. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  45. "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  46. "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  47. "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  48. "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  49. "Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
Preceded by
Gotham Girls Roller Derby		 WFTDA Championship winners
2015 – 2016		 Succeeded by
Victorian Roller Derby League
Preceded by
Victorian Roller Derby League		 WFTDA Championship winners
2018 – 2019		 Succeeded by
Current champions
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