Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The primary travel teams of Arch Rival Roller Derby (ARCH) and GateKeepers Roller Derby (GKRD) aim to keep their perfect records intact at their co-hosted “Sibling Rivalry” invitational this weekend at Midwest Sport Hockey at Queeny Park (510 Weidman Rd., Ballwin, MO.)
Launching this Friday, the three-day event showcases 18 flat-track battles featuring women’s and men’s action.
Arch Rival, currently ranked eighth internationally by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) has contests against #7 Jacksonville, #9 Denver and #15 Atlanta while the GateKeepers, the defending champions of the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA), has meetings with current #4 New York Shock Exchange, #8 Magic City Misfits and #30 Denver Ground Control.
Arch Rival (5-0) claimed a pair of dukes at the Midwest BrewHaHa invitational in Milwaukee, Wisconsin earlier this month with victories over #17 Team United (238-119) and #31 Detroit (304-114) to maintain its spotless record.
Jamming will be paced by co-captains Bricktator and Harmony Killerbruise as well as veteran Annie Swanson and 2016 travel team addition CupQuake. Blocking will be paced by veterans Party Foul, Shimmy Hoffa, Chewblocka, Smarty McFly, Shear-Ra Powers, Jamheiser Bush and Kayla Woodward alongside travel team newcomers Salty and Molotov. There’s the possibility of some additional fresh faces making starts this weekend.
Arch Rival’s Sibling Rivalry opponents are extremely solid and will provide the toughest challenges that the locals have experienced this season.
Seventh-ranked Jacksonville topped St. Louis in the opening round of 2015’s WFTDA International Championships, which marked the first time historically that both leagues appeared at the governing body’s post-season finale.
New Jax (6-0) topped #12 Minnesota by 23 points on June 12 to keep its record clean. ARCH bested the Gopher State rollers by three points at the Big O invitational in May, so if one looks at triangulation, the Saturday meeting between Arch and Jacksonville is a coin-flip. Top flight jammers Erin Jackson and Jamsterella lead the charge while veteran blockers Stephanie Gentz, Fancy Schmancy, Legs R’ Us, Krispy Kreme-Her and others set the foundation.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The same could be said of ARCH’s Sunday game with Denver. The ninth-ranked Mile High Club (3-5) has faced higher-ranked squads this season and is set to flex its proverbial muscles during the weekend.
Jammers Wilhelm and Gypin are the focal points of the offense while blockers Barrett, S.H. Long and others set up the walls.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
#15 Atlanta (3-1) are winners of three straight heading into Sibling Rivalry, including a 221-130 triumph over #33 Charm City on May 21. The Dirty South Derby Girls are paced in jamming co-captain Baller Shot Caller and Jean-Juke Picard while blocking is propelled by Wild Cherri, Axtual Malice, Queen Loseyateefa and others.
The aforementioned Minnesota (3-3) currently sits twelfth in the WFTDA rankings and has former ARCH All-Star Brickyard on its charter.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Meanwhile on the men’s side, the GateKeepers (6-0) claimed a trifecta at the aforementioned BrewHaHa Invitational and currently sport a 15-game MRDA winning streak.
Jamming will be paced by veterans Magnum P.I.M.P., Sweet Dave, ScreechAround and Corey Porter while Shane Bower, Kyle Stark and Sir Nixalot supplements.
Blocking will be anchored by Percy Controll, Spin Diesel, Bled Zeppelin, Wrecking Bill, The Doc, Inquadable Hulk, Kyle Stark, The Saint, Nate Bower, Specs, D’ Amaro, Uttendorf and Monster Jam.
On paper, the toughest challenge for St. Louis will be Friday night’s clash with the New York Shock Exchange, who finished fourth at the 2015 MRDA Championships. NYSE (2-0) overwhelmingly won both their games at the Battle of Bunker Hill invitational in May. Jammer Jonathan R paces the well-oiled machine alongside crafty veterans Kenbo Slice, Malcolm Sex, Abe Drinkin’ and I AM HAVOC.
Another mighty challenge comes in the form of Floridians’ Magic City, currently ranked eighth in the MRDA. The Misfits (1-0) pummeled Carolina, 350-36, in April to launch its campaign. Jeremy Strecker, Christopher Smith, Chuck Best, Michael Bratz, Token and experienced group of skaters are set to give the GateKeepers plenty of fits at Saturday’s nightcap.
On Sunday, St. Louis faces Denver in the two team’s inaugural meeting. The Ground Control (5-2) currently possesses a four-game winning streak via a sweep of games at the Mayday Mayhem invitational two weeks ago in Greely, CO. PBR, Stelly, Dr.Rob, Seoulless and a host of other returning starters are looking to play spoiler during their three-game docket.
The Sibling Rivalry weekend features a plethora of high-octane action as women’s and men’s teams look to make hard-charging pushes for upcoming post-season seeds in future post-season play.
Tickets are $10 for each night of the event or one can purchase a weekend pass for $25 by GOING TO THIS LINK.
The official link for this event CAN BE FOUND HERE.
Here’s the weekend docket of the St. Louis teams:
FRIDAY
6 PM GateKeepers vs. New York Shock Exchange
8 PM Arch Rival vs. Atlanta
SATURDAY
6 PM Arch Rival vs. New Jax
8 PM GateKeepers vs. Magic City
SUNDAY
5 PM GateKeepers vs. Denver Ground Control
7 PM Arch Rival vs. Denver Mile High Club
Here is a listing of the weekend’s Sibling Rivalry match-ups. Click on the graphic to enlarge.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
