ROUND ROCK, Texas — For the first time, the Texas Junior Roller Derby League will for host their own tournament: "Come and Skate It" in Round Rock at the Rock Arena on Saturday and Sunday.
Coaches shared that it's a welcome change for the team to host it because often times families are traveling across the state and nation for their players to compete. But now, they can continue to share the love for the game in Central Texas.
For the players, however, it's far more than just a sport.
16-year-old team captain Abigail Stauffer, or "Poca Loca" and her teammate 17-year-old Kerri Zumbrunn, "Kick Ash," both began playing when they were just eight years old. Stauffer said she gave other sports a try but nothing quite stuck as roller derby did.
"It's a really open and accepting community because we have people of a lot of different LGBT groups and non-binary gender identities, and we have a few boys on our team. It's just really open and accepting," explained Stauffer. "Derby is an escape for people who don't get to be their true selves all the time."
"I feel confident, empowered, like, I can do what I want to do," said Zumbrunn. "Yeah, this is our home."
The players are from different schools, and some of them travel as far as half an hour to meet up for practice bi-weekly at the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex in East Austin. On top of school work and other extracurricular activities, the girls say it can be tough to balance everything, but it's well worth the hustle.
"If I didn't do derby, I think I would be in a rough position because -- I just - it's my only way that I get out there and relieve some stress and tension," said Stauffer.
Taking a glance at the other players' names, it's clear to see why you wouldn't want to be on the opposing team: Skid Vicious, Count Smack-ula, Black-eyed-bean, Pop, Rollo, and Candy Pain.
"The derby name thing is just something cool and lets you be your own person," explained Stauffer.
"In our own families, our parents have given us these names and they create these identities. They give us our name, but whenever in the derby, we get to come into this family...we get to create it however we want," adds Zumbrunn.
For coach Kristen Zumbrunn, or "Chile Concussion," she started off her recreational roller derby league in 2008 and has been coaching since 2010. It's a passion she gets to share with her daughter, Kick Ash.
"She started when she was just about to turn eight, and she's now just about to turn 18 in February, so she's been playing for more than half of her life," said Zumbrunn. "So, I think just watching her, her strengths and her agility and just her athleticism grow and her confidence, and kinda seeing the progression from small to big almost adult has been pretty amazing to watch."
Zumbrunn shared that the league relies on the help of families, sponsors as well as other derby leagues from San Antonio and North Texas. She explained that this tournament will hopefully land the team on a national rankings list.
Eight teams are expected to be in attendance at the weekend tournament, with the furthest traveling from California.
For ticket information to attend the "Come and Skate It" tournament, click here.
To learn more on how you can get involved with TXJRD as either a member or sponsor, click here.