Derby Name: Soul Eater

Number: #53 (It was originally supposed to be infinity, but when I realized what a pain getting a custom number would be, I decided to go to a regular number. Then I thought, how can I do something in relation to my name for my number. I realized 5 and a backwards 3 would be my initials: SE. I used to have a backwards 3 on all my jerseys, but got tired of explaining that “yes, I do know it’s backwards, and here’s why…” to drunk people at loud after parties.)

Team(s): The Rolling Pin-Ups and The Burning River All-Stars

Position(s): It changes, but lately I’ve been pivot a lot and I’ve also been training as a jammer, although my rib injury put a temporary hold on that. I’ll step up and do whatever the team needs.

What brought you to the world of roller derby? A few years ago I got back into playing soccer after taking time off from sports during college, and although I like soccer, I was never in love with it. I was thinking of checking out what other sports were in the area when I heard they were forming a roller derby league in Cleveland. Without seeing a bout, reading the rules, or having any clue what it was other than the vague memories of what I had seen on TV as a kid, I made it to a registration meeting and joined up. I’ve been in love since!

How has your life changed since roller derby? I am in the best shape of my life thanks to roller derby. I worked out a little and tried to eat healthy before, but I was never too motivated just for the sake of fitness. Since I’ve joined roller derby, I’ve learned so much about nutrition and cross-training just to better my performance, it has really improved my overall health. I also met the love of my life, Stroker Ace, at the registration meeting, and my life hasn’t been the same since (for the better of course!).

Last year you were nominated for biggest bitch, yet you seem so sweet, how can this be? Haven’t you heard me screaming at my teammates, or  “barking” as it has been called, from Turn 2?! I may seem sweet off the track, but I’ve been known to be a bossy little b*tch on the track. I’m also not one to sugar coat anything and can be a little abrupt, which I’ve been trying to work on, but sometimes you just have to call it how you see it.

How did you come about your name? Just like any derby girl, I went through the names I wanted and realized they were all taken. I was set on being Goldie Roxx until I found out it was too close some other derby names for me to have it. So I spent months trying to find something, then realized I already had one. I have two ex-boyfriends that said I’m an “eater of souls.” That sounded like a title, and not a name, so I changed it to Soul Eater.

You are dating Stroker Ace, does it make it difficult to play against her? Nah, not at all. Actually it helps keep us motivated. When one of us wants to be lazy and lay around the house instead of going for a run or working out, we’ll talk some smack about the other’s team and how it’s okay for them to lose, or something like that. The only thing that’s hard is that we spend a lot of time with derby related events, and being on separate teams means separate team practices, team meetings, etc. There are some weeks we don’t even get a night to ourselves between all of it. Luckily we’ve been on the All-Stars together so far, which has been nice, especially with the traveling and additional practices it requires.

What your hopes for roller derby in general? I would love for roller derby to become more accessible and with more options to girls and women around the world. It’s becoming a reality little by little, thanks to all the new leagues popping up around the world, not just WFTDA or WFTDA-aspiring leagues, but also recreational and junior leagues.  Most sports have all sorts of leagues, from pee wee, high school and college, to “beer leagues,” to more competitive and serious leagues that have tournaments, roller derby should be no exception. A handful of adult women in a few major cities shouldn’t be the only ones that have the chance to play this awesome sport!

What album having you been enjoying most recently? Album? I live off my iPod these days, which is always on shuffle. I guess Shiny Toy Guns, We Are Pilots, and the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, since it’s the most recent music I’ve downloaded.

What is your favorite derby memory? My favorite? There are so many! I think the most amazing day of derby was our league’s first public bout, Black & Blue 1, and its after party. Our league had worked so hard for so long, and to finally see our hard work come to fruition and produce a successful event was great. Everyone was so happy, it was a true celebration. I felt like I was in a movie it was so surreal.

You are on the sk8intheface header, how does that feel? When I saw it at first I thought “wow I’m making an aweful face,” but I’m still very flattered to have made the header!

If you could take a skater from another team and put them on the Pin-ups, who would you take? Stroker Ace, of course! Mostly because it would be nice not to have separate team obligations, but it doesn’t hurt that she’s an awesome skater too.

You were just out due to injury, how hard is it to just watch? It sucks!!! I’ve skated every bout that The Rolling Pin-Ups and The Burning River All-Stars have had until last month. It was kind of cool to be able to watch and enjoy, but I wanted to put on my skates and help my teams so badly! Especially the Cincinnati game… I played against their B team early last year and was looking forward to finally getting to play their A team, and on top of that it was such a close game! Since I couldn’t skate, all I could do was scream my head off, but at least I had the honor of being Turn 2 for a day

What are your ‘09 season goals? I am working on becoming a great overall skater. I would love to be able to step up to any position in roller derby and just rock it without a sweat. Winning Best Pivot or Triple Threat this year would be pretty sweet, but dethroning Ivanna Destroya (who won Best Pivot for the past 2 years) and Stroker Ace  (who won Triple Threat for the past 2 years) will be no easy feat! Always keep the bar high, right?

What are your thoughts/feelings on the new venue? I like it a lot so far. I’m not a huge fan of sport court because it slows the play down a little, but it’s good training for when The All-Stars play against teams that have sport court, which is pretty common.
Pinups are a skeleton crew this year, how do you feel you will fare? We’re going to do just fine. It is making our individual skaters stronger because everyone has to step it up and play a lot. Our recent victory against the Cleveland Steamers is a testament to that. We had 5 less skaters than they did, skating with 9 people, and we still pulled out a win, exhausting as it was for all of us. Every skater on our team currently has a positive attitude and is truly a team player, which makes all the difference, win or lose.

Do you have a favorite quote? “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” - Babe Ruth

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The trip out to Fort Wayne was not an easy one; cars were off the road in ditches, semi’s jack-knifed, and every weather station telling us not to travel. But, in the harshest of environments, members of the BRRG braved the elements and traveled to Fort Wayne Indiana.

First up the Xanadont’s with secret new weapons known as The Killustrator and Chrissie B. Hynde; came out with a strong effort but finished just shy of a win. Punk’d Pixie, Margarita Mayhem, and Vix Smackey showed an intense preview of what the ‘09 season is going to look like (look out everyone, Pin-ups are contenders for the Cup). The Xanadont’s played well, but allowed fundamental mistakes to occur, fouls to hurt them, and fatigue to play a factor. It came to the last jam, but with a large crowd pumping the S.W.A.T. Team, the Xanadont’s were unable to come out on top.

I learned a lot sitting between Magic Lee Malicious and Quarter boy (GRRG) about personal styles and where working as a team is needed. I also learned a lot about inexperienced referees, and bad calls. I thank you both for your knowledge and friendship.

Now onto the All-Star Rematch; Burning River steps onto Fort Wayne turf missing a few key elements. One- The Validator: a major factor who scored many points in our first encounter with the Bomb Squad. Two- Slaughterama Mama: an incredible blocker who seems to gain energy when most others begin to feel fatigue. And three- Pain Austen: who yes did not play but has an expertise in observation when play a dirty team like the bomb squad. And yes I said Dirty! I know accidents happen and mistakes get made, refs do not see everything, but something’s you just cannot turn a blind eye to. I also understand that there will always be biased referees, and dirty skaters; and that will never change.

It was a treat to see you girls playing like a team out there! I did not see what I have seen in previous bouts; huge talent with no communication, every girl out there trying to get hers. A saw a major group effort and every girl knowing her role on the track. We had a rough start, with our first three jams, only scoring two points. But we started playing with good strategy and started nickel and dime jams. Then in a reverse of roles we started putting up major points and shutting down there jammer. By the end of the second half it was a one point game.

Unfortunately, it was becoming extremely apparent the referees from Fort Wayne had total disregard for WFTDA rules, especially when it came to fouls committed by their own players. I could go off on an hour tangent, about dozens of instances where I saw blatant fouls (by the bomb squad) with no call, or no foul or legal move being called as fouls (by BRRG). I believe this hurt the team in a way where we lost focus of the game; having to spend time and energy showing referees the fouls, and paying back the one who fouled, this is where there Jammer was able to break through the pack quick and leave our jammer fighting to get through. But in reality this is a situation we knew we were getting into, before we walked in the arena. Even speaking with members of GRRG I heard of dirty players in the bomb squad. We needed to be able to beat this team despite these hindrances. But when I look back at this bout, the team work that I saw out of the All-Stars, the moments where we every player on the track was just playing the game with such skill, technique and grace; for that I account the victory despite the score. This bout was a heck of a learning experience for me and I am sure many times over for the skaters.

Big ups go out to Slambassador for winning best blocker during the first bout; and Halochic during the All-Star bout. I must say special thank you to both Ivanna Destroya and Professor Booty for being concerned with my well being on my trip back (I made it safe!). Mad props to Gonnolea, just cuz she freakin rules! And last but not least Magic Lee Malicious for all her wonderful company and conversation there and back!

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