This event will be hosted by Puget Sound Outcast Derby and will take place on October 18-19, 2014 ) at the Rat’s Nest, located at 19022 AURORA AVE N, SEATTLE, WA 98133.
There will also be a mandatory Officials’ Meeting on the evening of Friday, October 17, 2014. Exact time and location of the meeting to be determined.
Application deadlines:
Tournament Head Referee and Tournament Head NSO Applications
MRDA’s June 2013 Featured Skater of the Month: Sutton Impact of Southern Discomfort Roller Derby (London, UK)
June 3, 2013
Interview by Malcolm Sex
Sutton Impact demonstrating his trademark backwards blocking technique. Photo by Steve Newton.
What is your derby name?
I’m Sutton Impact. I chose it because my surname, Sutton, simply sounds a bit like “sudden” which in turn led to me thinking (which is hard for me) of other words I associated with sudden, and being a Clint Eastwood fan, Sudden Impact sprang to mind. I‘m just glad my parents didn’t name me Oliver (as in, “all of a sudden”)! Most people just call me Sutton which reminds me of my school days.
What number do you wear?
#3. It’s nice and simple and easy for the refs to call (hopefully, not often). I’ve also worked for the telecom company “Three” for the last ten years
What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
I played rugby for my school but spent most of my youth either cycling, on my Bauers stewarding at local roller discos, or street skating.
How did you become involved in roller derby?
Rollin StoneR (from the Royal Windsor Rollergirls) and I worked for the same company. He heard via mutual friends that I used to do a fair bit of skating, and as with many roller derby leagues, refs were in short supply, so he suggested I come along to a training session and the rest is history!
What is your preferred position on the track?
In the early days, I was alternating between jammer and pivot, but these days my preference is purely blocking. We’ve really been working on our general teamwork and walling which I believe has gone from strength to strength over the last few months.
Are you a founding member of Southern Discomfort Roller Derby? Can you give us a brief rundown of how the league got started?
Initially, men’s roller derby in the UK consisted of the refs from all across the country pulling together around mid-2009 to have enough players for some mixed closed door bouts.
In November 2009, this graduated to the first open door bout kindly hosted by the Lincolnshire Bombers (LBRG). During the following months, these bouts evolved further into “North” versus “South” contests with the Northerners skating under the moniker North England Roller Derby (N.E.R.D) and the Southerners coming together as Southern Discomfort. With the men’s game developing steadily, the core players from the London area met up in the famous Ace Café and agreed to formalise the league properly with the founding directors being Henry the Sk8th, Jay Pegg (now with Cowtown Butchers), and me.
How would you describe your skating style?
I’ve been skating for around 35 years. Being on skates is second nature to me. I’d describe my style as agile and sturdy with far too much backwards skating.
Sutton Impact showing his form. Photo by Steve Brown
So, Manchester, Montreal, and Southern Discomfort are all newcomers to MRDA. I think it’s safe to assume that Montreal will be bringing lots of hockey-style skaters and hits to MRDA, but the UK isn’t exactly a hockey powerhouse, so it’s not as predictable what we’ll see in the UK skaters. What do you see English skaters and teams bringing to MRDA?
UK skaters are a real mixed bunch of styles with artistic, roller hockey, jam, and street skaters coming together in a sport that is growing by the day. I feel the UK game has evolved from the “hit as hard as you can” mentality of the early years, and we’re seeing a more cerebral derby working it’s way through with well-drilled walls and strategies. But, rest assured: the Europeans still know how to hit. The acceptance of both Manchester and Southern Discomfort into MRDA will hopefully spur a large number of teams across Europe to join in the coming months. Most notable are teams such as Roller Derby Toulouse’s Quad Guards and Newcastle’s Tyne & Fear, who both performed very well in last year’s Men’s European Roller Derby Championships. They will, without a doubt, be eager to apply once they have achieved all the application criteria.
From following the New York Shock Exchange’s tour of the UK, I discovered teams in the UK and France have some amazing skaters. Is there any skater or team we should keep an eye on?
Southern Discomfort has developed a rivalry with the Quad Guards that culminated in the nail biting final at the Euros last year, where Southern Discomfort came back from a deficit of nearly 110 points with only about seventeen minutes left to win in the final jam by two points! This is how rivalries are made! The Quad Guards are a disciplined team with great walls and very energetic jammers.
We all know that UK teams are relatively new to competing at the highest levels of men’s derby. In my estimation, it seems that you’ve all responded very well to the challenges you’ve faced and continue to get better as a result. What do you think teams across the pond need to do to start breaking into the top ten spots in the rankings?
Distance is the biggest challenge to getting the sanctioned bouts required to be ranked. I have no doubt that European teams already have the ability to get into the top ten if given the opportunity (Southern Discomfort is currently #10 on Flat Track Stats.)
What team is Southern Discomfort’s biggest rival?
As mentioned before, Southern Discomfort has developed a rivalry with the French team, Roller Derby Toulouse Quad Guards. The tally is three wins out of three bouts for Southern Discomfort, but the last two games were won by one and two points respectively! Also being European Champions does put a target on us as the team to beat!
Sutton Impact takes on a wall of blockers while skating backward. Photo by Steve Newton.
If you were forced to play for another team in MRDA, but you could choose any one, what team would you play for and why?
I honestly cannot see myself playing for another team. Helping form Southern Discomfort and watching it grow over the last few years is a relationship that I cannot imagine myself having with another league.
Looking forward to the 2013 season, do you expect any relatively unknown teams to take MRDA by storm and drastically improve on last year’s performance? Perhaps a new member team from the UK?
Obviously, we’d love to make a mark in our rookie year in MRDA, but there are a number of teams out there that could create a stir. I’d love to see a non-US team make it to Champs in the same way Montreal and London have been threatening in the ladies’ competition!
The Shock Exchange did much to promote their “Shock the UK” trip last year. Can you give us some highlights from your perspective?
Without the Shock Exchange coming over to the UK, there simply would not have been any European teams joining MRDA, so that in itself was a key outcome of the trip. In the short time they were in the UK, they were keen to bout or scrimmage as many leagues as possible, but the main highlight for me was the Southern Discomfort versus Shock Exchange bout as I feel we made them work very hard for their win and showed that European men’s roller derby belongs in MRDA.
Attending the WFTDA Eastern Regional tournament last year, I learned from many of the London Rollergirls that scheduling competitive bouts can be a real challenge. Has Southern Discomfort run into similar problems?
We have indeed found it a challenge to get bouts over the last few years, but this is getting better with the emergence of more and more teams around the UK and Europe. We recently played a closed door bout against the London Rollergirls travel team London Brawling which was certainly a challenge and great preparation for both teams. We’ll be playing each other again the week before we fly out to the US (LRG will also be commencing a west coast tour in June).
Sutton Impact jamming by the opposition. Photo by Richard Nicholson.
Do you plan to make a trip to the US this summer to meet your sanctioned bouts requirement? What can those following MRDA expect to see from Sutton Impact and Southern Discomfort in 2013?
The Southern Discomfort players saved their pennies, fundraised, and received kind donations from the derby community, and were proud to visit the US last month! Southern Discomfort travelled to Eugene, Oregon for the Big O. The boys from the UK were greeted by what seemed like every roller derby fan or player in the area with warm smiles and thanks for travelling all the way across the pond!
We played the Drive-By City Rollers, Puget Sound Outcasts, and Deep Valley Belligerents with an additional hangover bout against the Lane County Concussion!
The initial bout against the Deep Valley Belligerents was the first men’s bout of the tournament and was a hard-hitting, closely-fought game with DVB emerging victorious 208 to 159.
Southern Discomfort’s second bout was against Puget Sound. We all knew Puget Sound would be a challenge, but Southern Discomfort held their own for the first half with the lead at some points, but Puget Sound showed their pedigree and opened up a lead after some power jams that earned them a well-deserved victory, 271-157.
The Drive-By City Rollers were up next, The L.A.-based team, made up of what seemed to be people that only knew how to smile, fought hard with the lead changing numerous times over both halves. With only a few minutes to go, Drive-By City eked out a lead of about 40 points (helped by Southern Discomfort not fielding a jammer!) Southern Discomfort utilized a late power jam to bring the game back to a 245 – 245 tie with one jam to go! Southern Discomfort got lead on the final jam, but due to a late call off and bodies flying in all directions, both teams were awarded two points! Southern Discomfort noted that a Drive-By City blocker had been sent to the box during the call off and used their official review (thankfully saved for this type of thing!) After the review that seemed to go on for an eternity, the head ref confirmed that Southern Discomfort got three points and the first win on US soil for a European men’s roller derby league, 248 to 247!
Finally, the host team from the Big O, the Lane County Concussion, had arranged for a hangover bout. Southern Discomfort now had the taste of victory and was keen to notch up another win! James Brains and the rest of LCC fought hard, but Southern Discomfort was unstoppable fighting through to a new high score of 544 to 76!
We originally hoped this would be enough for an MRDA ranking, but with the recent criteria change, we’ll need to get another sanctioned bout in to get ranked (fingers crossed for Manchester!) We were asked about the Mohawk Valley Cup but could only commit to one US tournament due to the travel costs.
Do you have any sponsors you’d like to give a shout out to here?
I’d like to give a big thank you to Double Threat Skates, the first derby-specific brick and mortar store in London, for sponsoring both me individually and Southern Discomfort as a league. They’re a crazy team that know and live derby (link to funny video), and I’d also like to give a shout out to Roller Derby City, who are amazingly supportive when it comes to supplying our uniforms and merchandise.
Is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you’d like to mention?
Skates set up: I am currently using both Riedell 695 and Bont Quad Racer boots. I have Reactor plates and gumballs on both with a selection of wheels ranging from classic old school SIMs 63 Rollersnakes, Radar Bullets, and Atom Jukes (from 88 through to 97 on both).
MRDA’s May 2013 Featured Skater of the Month: Seahorses Forever of Your Mom Men’s Derby
May 17, 1013
Interview by Malcolm Sex
Seahorses Forever basking in the 2012 MRDA Championship glory. Photo by Mr. McWheely.
What is your derby name?
Seahorses Forever
What is the history behind the name?
I heard the phrase ‘seahorses forever’ in a satirical video by Dan Deacon (contains cuss words) on YouTube a few years before I started playing flat track derby. I thought it was funny so it found its way on a list of potential future derby names.
My first involvement in roller derby was in 1998 on the television show Roller Jam. Roller Jam was a three-year trip on a seahorse starship. It was a crash course in the history of roller derby from some of its stars dating back to the 1950s, including Little Richard Brown from the movie Kansas City Bomber. Roller Jam was sports entertainment high on acrobatics and theatrics and an orchestrated story-line. After the show ended, I did what I could to keep up with, what at the time, was the almost non-existent world of roller derby.
I’m not sure how or exactly when I became aware of the flat track revival, but it was sometime soon after Roller Jam ended. The first person I knew involved in the revival was my arch nemesis from Roller Jam Mo “Quadzilla” Sanders. After Roller Jam ended, I moved back to Missouri and Mo moved back to Seattle, where he became involved with the Rat City Rollergirls. I kept in contact with Mo after the show was over and was aware of his involvement in the sport.
My first involvement in the flat track game was in Missouri in 2005. While attending some local speed-skating sessions, the rink operator approached me to start a women’s derby league. After a few months of convincing, I put some flyers together, started recruiting, and soon was coaching my first flat track derby practices. That’s where I began to learn and play the flat track game. I moved to Iowa to start playing men’s derby in 2010 with the founding of Your Mom.
What’s your athletic background?
My athletic background is mainly in skating. My father worked at a skating rink and both my father and older sister speed-skated on quads, so I was around skating before I could walk.
When I was two, I started learning to skate, and I skated my first quad speed meet when I was four. I’m now 35 and have been involved in roller sports consistently, competitively, recreationally, and on the manufacturing side ever since. I have competed in speed-skating indoors and outdoors on quads, downhill inline racing, jam skating, ball hockey on quads, puck hockey on inlines, aggressive inline skating, short-track ice speed-skating, legit banked derby, legit flat track derby, and sports “interwinement” theatrical derby. Out of all of these skating sports, over all, I have spent the most time speed skating. Besides skating, running and cycling are my favorite sports. I’ve run off and on since I was a teenager and cycled off and on since I was about ten. I’ve been running quite a bit lately and have been building a road bike to start riding again this summer.
Are you a founding member of Your Mom? Can you give us a brief rundown of how the league got started? Where did you get your skaters? How did you recruit?
Yes, I am a founding member of Your Mom. Your Mom got started with a series of phone calls between Dante Muse (Frank Not Sohotra) and me. Dante and I were friends through speed-skating in the early 1990s. After we both quit speed-skating around 1996, we stayed friends, remained involved in roller sports, and kept in contact with each other. While catching up with Dante over the phone in late 2009, we discussed skating sports in general and our involvement in skating at the time. Dante had watched the development of women’s roller derby the last few years and knew of my involvement. I told him about the progression of the men’s game and about my plans for a men’s league, where I was living in at the time. Dante was interested in playing the game and putting a team together. It didn’t take much convincing from there to get me to move up to Des Moines and start a team with him. After all, he was one of my childhood heroes, along with his brother Tony Muse (Peter Pan.) Within a few months, I was living in Des Moines, and Your Mom was having its first practices.
All of Your Mom’s early skaters were involved at one time or another in skating at one of the four Muse family skating rinks in Des Moines, Iowa. It was an interesting mix of speed skaters, jam skaters, hockey players, quad and inline skaters, and rink rats. Several of us were regional, national, or world champions. Most of the early skaters were involved in Dante’s roller dodge ball league at the rink he manages.
What’s the history behind the name “Your Mom?” A lot of people wonder about it, but your team website appears to leave that a mystery.
The history behind “Your Mom” goes back to roughly 2006 when I was coaching women’s derby in Missouri. Early on in my involvement in the women’s game, I was interested in starting a men’s league and playing. I thought about what the name and theme of this future derby league would be and what my derby name would be. Roller derby since its reincarnation has a pretty hardcore image, which is a reflection of the skaters who founded the flat track movement and its early adopters. The flat track derby revival was a vehicle for self-expression, and I’m more satirical in nature than hardcore. Consequently, the theme of the league I was envisioning was a reflection of that part of my personality. I decided to go against the traditional hardcore theme with a more lighthearted, satirical name and league theme. After deciding to go in this direction, some of the girls I was coaching at the time and some guys associated with the league, who were interested in playing the game, started coming up with lighthearted satirical derby names. By the time Your Mom was founded, I had a long list of satirical derby names to pick from. Some of the names on the list were The Fastest Rainbow Ever, Moon Flower, Mr. Bubbles, Star Catcher, and Sugar Boots. I think the first name I decided on was Dr. Sparkle or maybe Unicorn Master. I can’t remember. Years later, while talking to Dante about putting together a men’s derby league in Des Moines, I told him about the concept, and Your Mom progressed from there. I believe it was Dante who came up with the actual name.
How would you describe your skating style?
My skating style is a combination of all of the skating sports I have skated and all of the influences I’ve had in skating. While playing derby, I use mechanics from every skating sport. Roller derby is the mixed martial arts of rollers sports, which is how I think the sport should be viewed in the skating community. I recently learned some of the footwork from artistic skating, which has helped my derby game a lot. Our coach, Mark Muse, is an ex-artistic skater. He helped me early on with my artistic techniques. My roommate is also an ex-artistic skater and coach, which has furthered my progression in artistic and figure skating.
Without giving away any secrets, what is Your Mom’s philosophy behind the game? How do your strengths as an individual skater fit into that greater scheme?
It’s tough to define our philosophy as a team because there are so many influences that go into our game. We have a lot of skaters with previous skating sports experience, and at least six of those skaters are former or current derby coaches. Having that mix of skaters, we have different philosophies on how to play the game at times. It’s through our coach, Mark Muse, that all of these philosophies come together to produce Your Mom’s game. Mark is the older brother of teammates and Your Mom co-founders Dante and Tony Muse. He was their speed coach and coached most of the other founding members at one time or another, including me. Mark also coached some of the stars of the women’s game, including Atomatrix and Urrk’n Jerkin. Mark coached the US national speed team and was inducted into the Roller Skating Hall of Fame as a coach. Mark is an experienced skater, who competed in artistic, speed, and hockey. At the moment, he is coaching men’s and women’s derby, speed skating, and hockey. Mark’s name was brought up early on in Your Mom’s search for a coach, and we decided unanimously to approach him to help us. Mark, at age 56, could easily make the top end of our roster but is of best service to the team as the head coach. Brothers Dante and Tony both have input into our gameplay, and they both run some of our practices, but brother Mark is the general. The combination of the three super Muse brothers makes Your Mom tough to beat.
So, we all know Your Mom won the MRDA Championship tournament last year. How does it feel to be on top? Do you think starting the 2013 season on top will affect the way you prepare for bouts?
Being on Your Mom is great, and Your Mom being on top of men’s derby is even better. Our success makes us more of a target than ever before, so we have to expect more pressure from opponents this year. Everyone wants to beat the current champs, so we will have to be extra prepared.
So, having seen a few Your Mom bouts, I’ve noticed you use unique skates. Can you tell us about the skates you use?
What you’re probably noticing about my skates is the boots. The boots I skate on make it appear as if I’m skating on off-the-rack rental skates, and that is partly true. My boots actually are off-the-rack rental boots, and my bearings are rental bearings. My boots are from Skate Corral in Springfield, Missouri, the skating rink where I grew up. Skate Corral was the home of the largest speed skating competition throughout the ‘80s and into the mid-90s. After learning that the rink was sold to be turned into offices to house a local construction company, a group of speed skaters met up to skate the final session at the rink. During the last session, we decided to have a final race. Most of us were one-time quad speed skaters, so we decided to race on quads. At the time, I hadn’t owned a pair of quads for roughly ten years, so I pulled a pair of rentals off the rack to wear for the race. After the dust settled, I came home with the championship belt and the rental skates that won the race. A few years later, when I got involved in derby and skating on quads again, the skates became my quad skate of choice. After my first year with Your Mom, I upgraded my plate from the original Sure-Grip rental plates to a set of roughly 30 year-old, out-of-production Italian artistic plates. The plates once belonged to our Coach Mark. I believe they were the plates he competed on in the ‘70s but will have to check my facts on that one. The plates found their way to brother Dante and thanks to Dante eventually found their way to me. I’m using Snyder’s artistic toe stops at the moment because I believe they stop the fastest and Atom wheels because the chemist who pours their wheels has consistently produced the best wheels for the last 30 years. Finally, I use Hartford rental bearings because I’m not particular about bearings.
What team is Your Mom’s biggest rival? Is there something about playing them that makes you enjoy those bouts more than playing against other teams?
Without question, it is St. Louis. We have had an in-region rivalry with them since the giddy up, which spilled on to the national scene in the 2012 MRDA National Championship. They were one of the first teams we played, and the team we have had our closest games against.
If you were forced to play for another team in MRDA, but you could choose any one, what team would you play for and why?
I’ve watched and been involved in the inception and progression of skating sports prior to derby, and the progression of these skating sports abroad has been of particular interest. It’s going to be interesting to see how the sport progresses throughout the world, where it will grow the fastest, who will have the strongest programs, and how the international growth of the sport will affect the game. At this time, London and Montreal are the only other international MRDA teams, so I’d be interested in playing for either of them, especially experiencing the flat track movement from an English perspective.
Looking forward to the 2013 season, do you expect any relatively unknown teams to take MRDA by storm and drastically improve on last year’s performance?
Yes. I think there is a good possibility of a relatively unknown team taking MRDA by storm. The Men’s Roller Derby Association is only three years old, so it’s still the Wild West. There’s the possibility of some unknown gunslinger walking into town, shooting a bunch of dudes, then taking off with their stuff. I think that’s how it worked in the Wild West.
Is it true the mayor of Des Moines honored Your Mom?
Yes. Everyone got to hang out with the mayor, and he declared Your Mom Day in Des Moines. It was rad. I think everyone got medals and got to go on a hot air balloon ride with him. I’m not positive because I wasn’t there and actually don’t know much about the subject, but I heard it was a good time.
I already mentioned winning the 2012 Championship above. Other than that, do you have any memories that stick out from 2012?
My favorite memory, besides winning the Championship, was skating at Spring Roll. Spring Roll was my first men’s derby tournament. Beating the number one-ranked and defending national champion New York Shock Exchange was a highlight of the trip as well as meeting some of the Magic City Misfits. The Misfits are a team of pro and semi-pro jam skaters from Florida. While filming Roller Jam in Orlando in the late ‘90s, I skated adult sessions at one of the sport’s rebirth places, Semoran Skateway. Seeing the jam skating at Semoran got me interested in jam skating again, and I’ve jam skated off and on and followed the sport since. A few of the Misfits grew up skating at Semoran, so it was cool meeting and talking to some of them about their experiences in derby and jam skating. I finally got to skate against them in the semi-finals of the 2012 MRDA Championships.
Have you taken a step back or a break from derby at any point since Championships?
Yes. From November to roughly February. During that time, I skated a few practices here and there and played a few games but nothing consistently. I’d been involved in the flat track game for roughly eight years and was in need of a break. Although I took some time off from derby, I actually skated more than normal. I spent most of my skating time jam skating, sharpening up on my quad skating fundamentals and relearning inline speed skating.
What do you do to prepare for your games? Do you have any pregame rituals?
MRDA’s March 2013 Featured Skater of the Month: Ace of Skates of the New York Shock Exchange
March 7, 2013
Interview by Malcolm Sex
Ace of Skates prepares for battle. Photo by Walter Romero.
What is your derby name? What’s the history behind it?
My derby name, Ace of Skates, is a play off of the Mötörhead song “Ace of Spades.” I assure you it has nothing to do with the 1990s band Ace of Base or the TV show Ace of Cakes! This year however, I will be skating under my real name. As much fun as derby names are, I was never really diehard about it. And, after having played competitive sports my entire life under my real name, I figured I owed it to myself to skate under my real name starting this season.
What number do you wear? Why did you choose it?
I chose my current number as an homage to one of my all-time favorite music genres and record labels. Originally my number was 2-Tone, in reference to the influential ska record label out of the UK in the early 1980s. But, over time due to various rules changes and the cost of practice jerseys, I decided to stick with only 2.
What is your preferred position on the track?
On the track, I am primarily a defensive blocker, and I believe it’s the best position in the sport. Day in and day out, it’s my job to make jammers’ lives as difficult as I possibly can. I love working with my teammates to completely shut down an opposing teams offense, and I enjoy when we can get the opposing jammer to abandon trying to score and switch over to playing defense. That’s pretty much an ideal jam.
Other than the New York Shock Exchange travel team, do you play, referee or coach for other teams?
I am currently in my second season managing the Wall $t Traitors. They are the B team for Gotham Girls Roller Derby. Managing the Traitors has been a wonderful experience. It has really shown me a lot about what it takes to be a successful team on and off the track.
What’s your pre-derby athletic background? How has it influenced your skating style?
My skating style is heavily influenced by my ice hockey background. Having played goaltender, I spent large parts of my youth trying to do whatever I could to develop my lateral movement, agility, and balance to be as quick and efficient as possible when moving around the goal crease to get in the optimal position to make a save. I feel that these skills have helped me on the track tremendously in all aspects of roller derby. Despite my experience, I still find there’s tons of room for me to improve and grow as a skater.
If you needed to take one other skater in all of MRDA onto the track in a key moment of a bout, who would it be?
One of the most amazing things about the Shock Exchange is how everyone seems to be able to step up during critical moments. The team has a way to just make it work. It might not always be pretty, but no matter who is out there, we have built a level of trust that helps us achieve success whoever is on the track.
Ace of Skates donning the jammer star. Photo by Sean Hale.
MRDA has a history of great rivalries. The Shock Exchange is part of several. What is your favorite MRDA rivalry?
Without a doubt, St. Louis! Every time we play the Gatekeepers, it reminds me exactly why I play roller derby. They are one of the most talented, put-together organizations out there. When we play those guys, we both always step it up to a new level with some new skill or strategy developing as a result of our bouts against each other. A NYSE/St. Louis bout is really an exciting thing to be a part of!
If you were forced to play for another team in MRDA, who would you play for?
I have thought about what would happen if I had to move for work or some other reason, and it’s an easy decision. I could not skate for anyone but NYSE. They are my extended family. I have our team logo tattooed on my skin. Those guys are my brothers. I had to try on another MRDA team’s jersey when we were getting sized for new uniforms, and I cannot tell you how uncomfortable it felt not having NYSE across my chest.
In 2013, do you expect any relatively unknown teams to take MRDA by storm?
I am really excited to see what develops from the international teams this season. With Canada and the UK in the mix, I’m sure we are going to see a lot of new skills and strategies. It reminds me of when the NHL began having an influx of European skaters in the early ‘90s. Up to this point, the sport contained only American and Canadian skaters, and it was always played a certain way. Suddenly, skaters from other countries entered the NHL and brought with them an entirely new skill set and attitude towards how the game should be played, which in turn revolutionized almost every aspect of the game. I see the addition of international men’s teams as a great opportunity for yet another evolution of our continuously evolving sport.
The Shock Exchange ruled the Men’s Derby Coalition (the precursor to MRDA). And now, unlike any of the other original four teams, the NYSE remains among the most competitive teams in MRDA. This is all despite losing some of their biggest names after Championships in 2011. How has the Shock Exchange managed to stay relevant?
We have never been known as the team with the most talented jam skaters. We don’t have any speed skating medals hanging up on the wall, but we have always relied on our teamwork and knowledge of the game to set us apart and keep us on top. We have never been a team with one star who carries us on their shoulders all season. We are a group of skaters who are able to work together and take great pride in our ability to play as a team.
The NYSE is the elder statesman atop MRDA, and currently, some relatively young teams are making waves in the world of men’s derby. Do you think the age of the Shock Exchange, and the fact that it’s so well established, helps (or hurts) the league?
NYSE has benefited greatly from having veterans with 6+ years experience in our ranks. Those experienced skaters are the ones molding our new skaters, who will inherit the team and be tasked with leading it someday. Who better to learn from than a teammate with over 20 career wins and multiple championships on his résumé?
Ace of Skates demonstrates he can stop jammers no matter what direction he is facing. Photo by Mr. McWheely aka Bob Dunnell.
What’s your fondest memory of the 2012 MRDA season?
My favorite memory of the 2012 season has to be our come-from-behind victory over Magic City to capture 3rd Place at Championships. The bout seemed to start in fast-forward: everything was happening so quickly. Before we knew it, we were facing a 50+-point deficit. In true NYSE fashion, we dug deep as a team, worked through injuries, and chipped away at the Misfits lead until we took control and finished the bout with the final score in our favor. It really felt like the team earned the win, and I can assure you that my bronze “Gateway to the Best” medal is one of my most cherished possessions.
What should we expect to see from Ace of Skates and the Shock Exchange in 2013?
You’re just going to have to wait and see!
You are a standout among the skaters who have encountered your play, but in the world of MRDA, you’ve generally flown under the radar. I’m sure playing with Jonathan R and Abe Drinkin’ helps keep the spotlight away. Do you like your role on the team?
One of the nice things about skating with so many great players is that I am left alone by other teams to do my thing while they concentrate on more of our big-name skaters. I really enjoy being able to cause problems for our opponents while they focus their manpower on some of NYSEs more notable names. That said, as I mentioned before, with NYSE, teamwork reigns.
What kind of skate setup do you wear? Are there any specific gear or sponsors you want to plug?
Currently, I am a member of Radar Labs. We are a group of skaters selected by Radar Wheels to help evaluate, test, and develop new products for our sport. Radar Labs excites me a lot. I see the potential to develop the next big evolution in derby equipment as a result of our hard work. I also spend many of my weekends working at Five Stride Skate Shop in Brooklyn, NY. There really is no better way to learn about new gear and find the perfect set up than by learning from shop owners Gotham’s OMG WTF and Bonnie Thunders. As far as my current skates, I currently use the following:
Mangnum, p.i.m.p. (left) with Magnum, p.i.m.p. (right). Edited by Steve Dixon.
MRDA’s February Featured Skater of the Month: Magnum, p.i.m.p.
Interview by Malcolm Sex
What is your derby name? What’s the history behind it?
Magnum, p.i.m.p. – It is a mash up of Magnum, p.i. and 50 Cent’s song “P.I.M.P.” Everyone just calls me Magnum, though.
What number do you wear? Why did you choose it?
L7 – My derby name is on the arrogant side. I wanted to balance it out with L7, since it means you are a square. I also really like ambigrams, and if you have the right font, L7 can be spun 180 degrees and look exactly the same.
What is your preferred position on the track?
Last year, I jammed the majority of the time but I really prefer blocking. I like organizing my blockers and adjusting to the fast, changing dynamics of the pack. Being at the giving end of a hit is better than being at the receiving end, as well.
There is a really funny part of the movie I’m Still Here with Joaquin Phoenix where he is trying to rap but is struggling and simply says to the audience, “This is hard.” Just like rap, people who are good at jamming make it look easy, but it is still hard. It’s an inside joke we say sometimes when we have a rough jam, simply… “This is hard.”
What’s your pre-derby athletic background?
I grew up playing any sport I could get my hands on. Like many of us in derby, I grew up in the rollerblade generation. They came out when I was in grade school. My friends and I were on them constantly. I played a lot of roller hockey and a year of ice hockey in high school, but my main sport was lacrosse. I won two state championships playing lacrosse in high school then went on to captain/coach the club lacrosse team at the University of Dayton. The mix between the skating skills of hockey and the body positioning and physicality of lacrosse really helped shape my skating and coaching techniques of today.
As I understand it, you are an original member of the GateKeepers. How did you get involved in roller derby? Give me a brief summary of your derby career: from the time you first discovered it to your current team and league position.
I first got involved in roller derby in 2006 when the Arch Rival Roller Girls were forming their team. I started as a referee, became the Head Referee, and then moved into coaching their travel team. In 2009, Bat Wing and I started the GateKeepers. I have been President of the league and Coach of the travel team since the league’s inception. From 2011-2012, I was Vice President of the Men’s Roller Derby Association.
I am easing my load for 2013, however. I am more active in running my family’s business lately, so I stepped down from coaching ARRG, my Board position with MRDA, and being President of the GateKeepers. I will continue to coach the ‘Keepers in 2013 along with being VP of the league.
Since the Gatekeepers’ win against the New York Shock Exchange at Spring Roll in 2011, we’re all aware that you play on the ‘Keepers’ A team. Do you play for any other teams inside or outside of the league?
My local team is the Dogtown Red Rockets. I have had a lot of fun playing with exhibition teams throughout the years, too. I played for Team seXY (men’s), captained a bout with Team Hate Machine (coed), and played for Atom Wheels (my sponsor’s coed team). Most recently, I joined Team Xtreme (coed) and am excited about the talent level assembled on that team. Looking to the future, I am geeking out hard about playing in the Derby Ink Invitational; a banked-track tournament that will be on pay per view and have cash payouts. I’m skating with the Derby Merc’s, and the names on this team are jaw dropping. How would you describe your skating style?
I skate with high intensity and am physical. I don’t like blockers to be comfortable when I am jamming, so I keep the pace fast and am physical so I can open up holes.
Other than being one of the Gatekeepers’ top jammers, what would you say are your greatest strengths as a skater?
I take pride in my awareness of what is going on at all times during a jam and recognizing the next best play as well as being able to skate through contact.
What is your proudest accomplishment in roller derby and why?
Having the GateKeepers ranked #1 in the first official MRDA rankings was a great accomplishment. It took a lot of work and hard fought bouts to have the other leagues consider us the best team.
Up until recently, you worked for the MRDA. What did you do? What do you believe MRDA will have to do to maintain its position on the cutting-edge of flat track roller derby?
I was Vice President of the Men’s Roller Derby Association. I believe the MRDA needs to continue its strong growth pattern by helping developing leagues. I also believe that the MRDA needs to take a more active role in regulating ringers and satellite players. It is very concerning to me when MRDA teams build their roster like an exhibition team.
Magnum in action. Photo by Tom Klubens.
Which one of your teammates do you look up to most, and why?
I have endless respect for Percy Controll. He did not have a strong skating or athletic background prior to derby but turned himself into a nationally elite player winning DNN’s blocker of the year in 2012. He pours his heart and soul into the GateKeepers. As captains of the travel team, we work great together, and with Percy as our current league President, I know we are in good hands moving forward.
MRDA has a history of great rivalries. The GateKeepers are an important element in several just in the past two years. What is your favorite MRDA rivalry, and why?
I love to play the New York Shock Exchange. They develop their talent from within and have great teamwork. We are truly tested every time we play them. They are a solid bunch of guys, too. There can’t be enough praise for a team with strong character.
If you were forced to play for another team in MRDA, but you could choose any one, what team would you play for and why?
Great question! That’s a hard one. I would have to say the Magic City Misfits. I have known a lot of those guys for a while now and like playing with and against them. They have some players that are extremely dynamic skaters and fun to watch.
Looking forward to the 2013 season, do you expect any relatively unknown teams to take MRDA by storm and drastically improve on last year’s performance?
They are hardly unknown now after their 2012 MRDA Championship tournament performance, but the Mass Maelstrom are opening a lot of eyes. They remind me a lot of the GateKeepers. I also think the Race City Rebels are positioned to have a strong showing in 2013 as well.
Who was it that thought up the GateKeepers’ beard thing? How can I get one of those awesome beardanas?
Somehow we ended up with a bunch of dudes who dig beards. We have an award at the end of the year for the best beard, and when someone is growing a strong one, it gets commented on. We feel each beard has its own aura, and sometimes a beard will go bad, and you’ll need to start fresh… like if you have a run of bad luck, we’ll say the beard has turned. We do the beardanas for special events like Spring Roll. I am sure we can get you one.
What is your best memory of the 2012 MRDA season?
Hosting the MRDA Championships was amazing! Playing in the Championship bout in front of our home fans was something I’ll always cherish. The energy was off the charts. The venue was packed, and playing for a Championship is why we train so hard. Weekends like that truly make all the work and sacrifice worth it.
I don’t want to pour salt in a wound, but given the fact that it’s been months since Championships, how do you feel about the final bout?
Looking at the final bout is all about perspective. In the grand scheme of things, it was the second best thing that could have happened. We made it to the Championship bout, were leading the majority of the game, but caught some tough breaks at the end to lose by one. It was a great game… everyone enjoyed it. Our team is as hungry as ever to win it this year. In 2011, we finished 4th, learned some lessons, came back, and finish 2nd in 2012. We learned even more in 2012, so 2013 is looking good. Plus, we appreciate being an elite team. It would be very short sighted to be bitter about losing when, as a team, we are in such a fortunate spot.
Does the fact you came so close to winning make you prepare or motivate you differently for the 2013 season?
We know we can play with any team. It really puts the focus on us to continue to develop and improve as a team. Considering how close the game was, it is all about who can work harder and smarter until the next year. That’s why the ringer issue is such a problem, it takes the focus off of internal development, and the team’s improvement comes from an outside source.
Have you taken a step back or a break from derby at any point since Championships?
I take a month off of skating every year after championships. It is a great time to heal and take care of personal projects that have been neglected. This is also a great time to get in better shape because practice doesn’t get in the way of going to the gym.
What should we expect to see from Magnum, p.i.m.p. and the GateKeepers in 2013?
People should expect to see a team that works hard and plays well together. We have some great new talent coming up from within the organization that should make an impact on the 2013 season. We had very little turnover from last year and our charter is deep. 2013 should be a good year for St. Louis men’s derby.
You have a reputation as one of the great leaders in men’s derby. Do you have any advice to give those trying to lead newer MRDA teams up in the rankings?
Newer team leaders need to focus on developing the talent in their league. Invest in their skaters as much as they invest in themselves. Take pride in a teammate beating you at practice. Encourage players on a different local team than you. If you see something that will make a leaguemate better, tell them to their face the second the jam is over. Encourage selfless play and skaters without egos. When you have a team full of skaters that care more about the name of the front of the jersey than the name on the back, you can go anywhere. We were in a tight game a while back and had some people in the box and asked DXL to sit out a jam. With a smile on his face, he said, “I’ll win this one from the bench. No problem.” Great attitudes like this breed greatness in teams. As the founder of a league, do you have any special advice to someone trying to start a league in their town?
It is more work than you can image but even more rewarding. Roller derby, as a sport, rewards hard work. Great players are made through long hours and dedication: leagues are no different. Get a name, a logo, and spread the word! Get skaters, a practice time, and don’t look back. And above all else, set the example of what you want your league to be. Be welcoming, encouraging, positive, excited and determined.
What kind of skate setup do you wear? Is there any specific gear that you want to plug?
I am sponsored by Atom Wheels and couldn’t be luckier. Their wheels are the best in the industry. I skate on Juke Alloys. I love the push and responsiveness of alloys. Nylon hubs are too soft: responsiveness is lost, and they are more work. I have been on Luigino’s boots and plates for about a month now and starting to get a real feel for them. I have never had a boot that enveloped my whole foot like this before. Atom is a great company, and Julie Glass really cares about the people she involves in her team. I am very fortunate to be with Atom.
Finally, is there anything I didn’t ask you about that you want to talk about?
I’m very lucky to have the support of my wife Downtown Dallis in the sport of roller derby. She bench coaches our travel team and my local team. She is a demon on the track and a sweetheart in life. Having someone supportive of the time and energy it takes to play derby should not be taken for granted. I’m a lucky guy, indeed.
Effective immediately, enrollment is open for membership in the Men’s Roller Derby Association for teams that qualify.
Applications will be accepted through 30 November, 2012. After the application is submitted, it may take up to 3 weeks for your application to be approved. This will allow MRDA member leagues the proper time to follow up on questions and to vote on your request.
For more information on becoming a member league – please contact our Director of Member Relations: Uncle Jesse McNasty at: [email protected]
For full details, and to download the MRDA Application, visit the Membership Requirements section here: http://www.mrda.org/membershiprequirements/
It’s only fitting that the most important bout of the 2012 season was also the closest. Your Mom Men’s Derby, in their first MRDA Championships appearance, defeated the St. Louis GateKeepers on the final jam, 136-135.
The GateKeepers, hosts of 2012 Champs “Gateway to the Best,” looked like they had the Championship wrapped up with a 20-point lead and five minutes left. It seemed even more likely as Your Mom jammer Peter Pan ran two minutes off the clock with a 2-0 penalty-time-killing jam. But, jammer penalties proved to be the GateKeepers undoing on the final two jams. GateKeepers jammer Debaucherous Prime went to the box on the penultimate jam allowing Your Mom’s Frank Notsohotra to score fourteen unanswered points. Notsohotra donned the star again on the final jam. And, a high hit by GateKeepers jammer Magnum PIMP gave Notsohotra the opportunity to score the five points needed to earn Your Mom the highest honor in men’s roller derby.
The third-place bout was nearly as exciting as the Championship. The New York Shock Exchange overcame a 66-point first-half deficit to defeat the Magic City Misfits, 199-157. Magic City jammer Jeremy Strecker earned tournament jammer MVP for his efforts as Abe Drinken from New York won tournament Blocker MVP. In the fifth-place game, Puget Sound came back in the second half to defeat the Mass Maelstrom, 221-137. Eighth-seed Mass Maelstrom provided the tournament with the only upset of the weekend, defeating sixth-seed Portland Men’s Roller Derby 169-157 on Saturday night.
The teams that placed were:
Your Mom Men’s Derby – Des Moines, Iowa
St. Louis GateKeepers – St. Louis, MO
New York Shock Exchange – NYC, NY
Magic City Misfits – Jacksonville, FL
Puget Sound Outcasts – Olympia, WA
Mass Maelstrom – Lancaster, MA
Portland Men’s Roller Derby and the Dallas Deception had impressive performances but did not place in the top six.
For more in depth recaps of the weekend’s events, visit Derby News Network.
And, as always, visit MRDA for the latest updates as we ramp up for an exciting and change-filled 2013 season.
Joining MRDA in June of 2011, Your MOM Men’s Derby was able to squeeze in the four MRDA bouts needed to qualify to be ranked for the 2011 MRDA Championships. Yet, despite only losing by 43 points to then-#1 St. Louis GateKeepers, Your MOM finished one spot away from an invite to Champs. This year is a completely different story. Due in large part to a 199-150 victory over defending-Champion New York Shock Exchange at Spring Roll this year, Your MOM is attending the 2012 MRDA Championships in style as the #1 seed.
All three Your MOM skaters I interviewed agreed Spring Roll was their favorite part of 2012: “Playing our first Spring Roll really felt like a ‘welcome to the club’ party for us,” Your MOM’s Peter Pan said. “Up until that point, we felt a bit like outsiders. Meeting a bunch of other players from all over really inspired us to be more focused and committed to the sport.”
“At Spring Roll, I got the chance to skate against three teams I’d never skated against and meet skaters from around the nation,” Your MOM’s vicious blocker Seahorses Forever added. Your MOM won all three of their games at Spring Roll beating Pioneer Valley Dirty Dozen (318-59) and Harm City (427-50), but beating the Shock Exchange was what really skyrocketed Your MOM putting them on everyone’s radar.
“Beating the Shock Exchange was my favorite moment of the 2012 season,” Your MOM’s Frank Not Sohotra affirmed. It was especially thrilling for Frank Not Sohotra, who was returning from a torn ACL/ meniscus that sidelined him for nine months.
Going into the final rankings, Your MOM had a 6-0 record that included a 257-143 trouncing of #5 Puget Sound at home, a win that avenged a big loss from the previous season. But, last month, in a bout that will not count toward the rankings, a short-handed Your MOM team was dominated by the #2-seed GateKeepers, 330-78. This loss spoiled a possible undefeated season.
In addition to bouting the top competition, Your MOM is engaged in meticulous training for Championships. “We are actively trying to practice every scenario that may come up,” Peter Pan said. “We have our own style, and we imagine teams have adapted and learned how to counter the way we play. Conversely, we have tried to watch and learn from our more successful and experienced opponents and adapt more to their style of play.”
So, what can we expect from Your MOM? “The blinding seductive beauty of glorious white hot sexy derby magic illuminated by emerald seahorse sunshine and other stuff too,” Seahorses Forever said.
Peter Pan (real name: Tony Muse); who along with his brother, Frank Not Sohotra (Dante Muse), has won multiple world championships in speed skating; preferred to offer an understatement: “You may see a fast guy or two.”
Peter Pan added: “We appreciate how much we have been accepted into the community despite only playing the sport a few years. We understand we make all kinds of rookie mistakes a team playing at our level shouldn’t make, but it is only because we are still rookies. We are not just speed skaters playing roller derby. We actively train and practice to succeed specifically at roller derby, and we even watch other teams in an effort to learn from them. We are scared every time we play but also pumped at the opportunity to overcome our own fears and other’s doubts about us.”
Your MOM’s first-round opponent is the Mass Maelstrom. And, though it should be a good, fast-paced game; the Mass Maelstrom will likely be over-matched against a Your MOM team that regularly defeats lower-ranked opponents by over 200 points.
Tickets are still available for the MRDA Championships “Gateway to the Best,” taking place October 20-21 in St. Louis, Missouri. Visit Brown Paper Tickets for more information. And, keep your browser refreshed at MRDA for more team profiles and interviews.
The hosts for the 2012 MRDA Championships, the St. Louis GateKeepers, are one of men’s roller derby’s most successful teams. Founded in 2009 and MRDA members since September of 2010, the GateKeepers have a large pool of talent to draw from boasting three full home teams, an all-star travel team, and a b-team. They are labeled “blue collar” because of their work ethic and no-nonsense style of play. And, despite their #2 seed coming into the Championships tournament, the GateKeepers will likely be the team to beat based on recent performances.
In 2012, with a brutal schedule including bouts against four teams qualifying for Championships, the GateKeepers only lost one game. Their loss came in May at Spring Roll to the New York Shock Exchange in a controversial bout in which the Shock Exchange came back on the final jam to win by six. The GateKeepers avenged that loss in New York in August with a decisive 197-141 victory. “MY FAVORITE MOMENT OF 2012 HAS TO BE GOING INTO NEW YORK AND BEATING THE SHOCK EXCHANGE AT HOME,” St. Louis blocker extraordinaire Wrecking Bill said. Wrecking Bill wanted his quotes to be in all uppercase. It is not wise to argue with such a scary blocker St. Louis all-around great skater Magnum PIMP echoed Wrecking Bill’s sentiment: “Traveling to NY to play the Shock Exchange then taking on the Connecticut Death Quads and Gotham Roller Girls in back-
to-back hangover bouts was a great experience. Being able to play that much high level derby in one weekend was a blast.”
After the end-of-season rankings were released and the seeding set for Championships, the GateKeepers played #1 Your Mom Men’s Derby. The GateKeepers destroyed the short-handed Your Mom team, 330-78, to give Your Mom their only loss of the season. This catapulted the GateKeepers to #1 on Flat Track Stats.
“I am most interested in skating against Des Moines (Your Mom) at Championships. They have an aura about them now,” Magnum PIMP said. “They used to be just a bunch of hot shot skaters, but now they have the strategy down too. I would love to face them in the Championship bout and have a legendary showdown.”
Wrecking Bill is more interested in setting straight the GateKeepers’ losses at last year’s Championships, where they finished in fourth. “I LOVE SKATING AGAINST EVERYBODY, BUT I HOPE WE GET A CHANCE TO RECOUP OUR LOSES AGAINST PUGET AND MAGIC CITY.”
The GateKeepers take on the Dallas Deception in the first round of Championships in a rematch of a June bout, which the GateKeepers won 340-83. The Deception will likely put up more of a fight this time around as they’ve continued to develop as a team. You can expect high-level team play from both teams.
“We play a straight-forward game. We play derby how it was intended to be played. We don’t rely on rule loopholes or shenanigans to win bouts,” Magnum PIMP said. “We don’t have any satellite skaters or ringers. If someone wants to skate for the GateKeepers, they have to make a commitment to our team and make practices regularly.”
Wrecking Bill agreed: “THE GATEKEEPERS HAVE A GREAT TEAM CONCEPT AND RELATIONSHIP THAT IS UNMATCHED. WE HAVE PLAYED AND TRAINED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS. WE DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. WE PLAY HARD, TOUGH, AND FAST WITH SOME GREAT INDIVIDUAL SKATERS THAT HAVE ALL BOUGHT INTO THE TEAM.”
Tickets are still available for the MRDA Championships “Gateway to the Best,” taking place October 20-21 in St. Louis, Missouri. Visit Brown Paper Tickets for more information. And, keep your browser refreshed at MRDA for more team profiles and interviews.
One cannot talk about the history of men’s flat track roller derby without extensively referencing the #3-seed New York Shock Exchange. The Shock Exchange participated in the very first men’s flat track derby bout (against Pioneer Valley) and are the only MRDA-founding team to qualify for the 2012 MRDA Championships). Winners of the 2011 Championship, the Shock Exchange earned a trip to this year’s event by amassing an 8-2 record in 2012 including victories over three other qualifying teams. But, the defending champs will have their work cut out for them this tournament season.
The Shock Exchange were stunned in their first bout of the 2012 Spring Roll when upstart and current #1-ranked Your Mom Men’s Derby handled them 199-150. “Playing Your Mom was fun because we had been hearing about them, and it was inspiring to see the things they can do,” Shock Exchange’s Abe Drinkin said. “So many of them have been skating for a long time in different disciplines. It’s an inspiration for me to try the skills they’re using and build up that skating skill.”
Later that Spring Roll weekend, the Shock Exchange narrowly avoided a loss to the St. Louis GateKeepers by coming from behind on the final jam. In August, the #2-seed GateKeepers avenged that loss in New York, 197-141. To wash the taste of defeat from their mouths, the Shock Exchange went out the next weekend and won the Mohawk Valley Cup, an eight-team tournament hosted by the Quadfathers.
In addition to Spring Roll, Abe Drinkin’s other favorite moment of 2012 was visiting the Men’s European Roller Derby Championships: “There were so many interesting things happening and so many great guys. The best part was that they have a lot of the same strategies we do, but they also do a bunch of other things. There were a lot of fresh takes on the sport, and I was able to bring that back to try with my team.” Next month, the Shock Exchange travel to the UK as a team to see how they stack up against the European competition.
In the meantime though, the Shock Exchange are playing hockey. You heard right. In an effort to prepare for Championships, Abe Drinkin said the Shock Exchange are trying a unique approach. “We’ve been playing a lot of street hockey. More than anything, it’s just fun to watch my teammates find fun new ways to work together. Some of the guys never touched a hockey stick before but are now scoring machines.”
Two traits that make the Shock Exchange dangerous are their mastery of the rule book and their experience. The Shock Exchange are the only participants in this year’s Championships to have played all the other teams in the past two seasons. “We have a little familiarity with everybody, and no matter who we play, we are going to have a great time,” Abe Drinkin added.
First on the docket is Portland Men’s Roller Derby. The Shock Exchange dominated Portland at Spring Roll 270-82. But, Portland has matured a lot since then. “I’m very excited to see the progress Portland has made since Spring Roll,” Abe Drinkin said. “They were a lot of fun to play against and were definitely improving throughout the weekend. I think they’re going to bring a very strong team to Championships.
They have such smart and skilled players who bring a lot of intensity to the game.” Fans can expect to see two teams who use the rule book to their full advantage when Portland and New York meet. Think full-contact chess.
In closing Abe Drinkin offered this anecdote: “I love derby fans. Last year, I had a bunch of fans tell me after the tournament that my underwear was hanging out all day. This year, feel free to tell me sooner…unless, of course, you like my underwear hanging out. If that’s the case, you should buy me a drink instead of just staring.”
Tickets are still available for the MRDA Championships “Gateway to the Best,” taking place October 20-21 in St. Louis, Missouri. Visit Brown Paper Tickets for more information. And, keep your browser refreshed at MRDA for more team profiles and interviews.
