Scene Report: Old Capital City Vs. Cedar Rapids Rollergirls: Bombshell Cartel

Left 4 Deadwards also made very handy contribution both offensively and defensively to the cause. In the trailer for her movie Roller Derby: It's Kind Of A Big Deal, which apparently had a very successful debut at the Iowa City Public Library on Friday night, I believe I heard Deadwards say "When I first found roller derby....oh my God...." This passion for the sport exhibits itself in Deadwards play. She is a consummate all around player, not just making valuable contributions on defense, but also as a jammer where she was a portrait of efficiency with excentral triangle face paint.

And then there was Gladi8her. What can we say about her? In my bout history so far, the only jammer I have seen of comparable speed is Stella Italiana of the Des Moines Derby Dames. In fact I will go on record as saying, thus far, for me, heaven for me would be to witness a jam between Gladi8her and Stella Italiana. This looks like it is going to happen on May 22nd when Old Capital City visits the Dames in Des Moines. That is the same night that I pay a visit to Hy-Vee Hall in Downtown Des Moines to watch the Mid Iowa Rollers take on the Sioux City Roller Girls.

Gladi8her's biggest strength may be her small size and her seemingly "Aww, shucks I'm just happy to be here smile." Her demeanor had me thinking "what is she doing out there?" As soon as she barreled through the line with the speed of a heat seeking missile, my question was answered. One of the greatest aspects of roller derby that I have seen so far is the constant element of the unknown among these female athletes. There are those who are of a more advanced age out there on the track that are among the most aggressive, hungry and determined Derby girls in the oval. There are those who whom you think you know what they are capable of only to have them shock you. This is the beauty and truth  of the modern derby. If you think you can play and give the maximum extent of your capabilities, then there is a place for you, age and stereotypes about body sized be damned. That being said, it is a possibility that Gladi8her may have been an athlete all her life. I would have loved to talk to her after the bout at the Edge but something came up. The speed and agility, the snaking in and out of blockers ways, the effortless way she scored at will and the surprising power she showed in blocking makes a sizable case that she is one of the many Derby girls to keep an eye on in future bouts.

But perhaps the biggest thing that can be said of Old Capital City is it is an extremely well coached unit. There are many individual talents on the squad but all of this is within the context of team. It seemed like everyone knew what their role was, where they needed to be and what had to be done. If a defensive wall was necessary, it was done. If someone from the Cartel needed blocked, it was done. And it was done cleanly and without much conversation. The five on the track were one.

With the presentation of rapid points scoring combined with a defense that closes doors and makes sure they stay closed, it was all but impossible for the Cartel to get any kind of momentum whatsoever.

But there were signs of life on the Cartel that should be discussed.

To be continued...