Fit2BTide S06.E09: Druid City Derby

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Wvuafm tuscaloosa. [00:00:09] Speaker B: Happy Sunday, y'all. You are listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7, the capstone and Nika. I'm gonna be honest, we've already talked so much before we even started recording. You know, I don't want us to have to rehash everything that you just mentioned, but can you just give a quick psa to encourage our listeners to have light colored sheets and the purpose for that? And we will bring some context into this just a little bit. But I just have to. I feel like the world needs to know. [00:00:42] Speaker C: The world needs to know. [00:00:43] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:00:43] Speaker B: So it kind of. [00:00:45] Speaker C: Actually, my education started in the mid nineties. I got bit by a spider on my neck in my sleep. And the reason we knew it was a spider is because at some point in the night, like, I slapped at it, and then we found it dead in the bed. But I had dark colored sheets. Like, you know, in the mid nineties, it was all about the hunter green burgundy. And so I had a physician tell me, get rid of dark colored sheets. Get light colored sheets. Make it to where a spider would not want to crawl into bed with you. It doesn't want to feel. It doesn't want to feel exposed. So if it feels like it can hide in dark colored sheets and then also put a lot of light in your room and clean out from underneath your bed so it just doesn't make it conducive to spiders who want to hang out in your room. And so I've always done that, ever since I was 13, and I'm a smidge older than that now. And I got bit by a spider in the bed other night on my ear, and it's been, you know, not fun. [00:01:48] Speaker D: Not. [00:01:48] Speaker C: Not fun city. [00:01:49] Speaker B: Well, I just, for one, okay. I hate that you had to go through that. Number two, I'm really glad it was not a brown recluse and your earlobe has not, like, turned black and fallen off. But, I mean, I'm just thinking, like, this is just so good for everybody to know. Like, okay, how can we make our bed space not look like it could be a fun, like, blanket fortress for both? [00:02:11] Speaker D: Right. [00:02:11] Speaker C: And I think especially in Alabama, you know, with it, you know, southern yellow pines and pine straw and just all kinds of, you know, we have lots of spiders. Just, you know, clean out the clutter underneath your bed, make your room light and bright and airy so that spiders don't want to live, you know, in there. I really don't know I thought I was doing all the right things, so I don't know what happened. [00:02:34] Speaker B: Maybe that spider was just a daredevil, you know, maybe it fell off the ceiling. [00:02:39] Speaker C: I don't know. [00:02:40] Speaker D: You know? [00:02:41] Speaker C: And the thing is, thankfully, I'm not afraid of spiders, so this isn't creeping me out as much as I know those with arachnophobia out there listening or just dying right now. [00:02:49] Speaker B: Yes. [00:02:49] Speaker C: Had it been a snake or a lizard or something like that in my. [00:02:53] Speaker B: Bed, your house would be burning. [00:02:56] Speaker C: It would already be gone. [00:02:57] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:57] Speaker C: It would be completely leveled, and we would just start fresh. [00:03:00] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:03:00] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:03:01] Speaker B: Now, how did your girls feel about this? Like, I don't know if they have the heebie jeebies about bugs. Like, I feel like your girls are pretty brave where they're the ones. Like, your girls don't mind getting their hands dirty, like, playing outside. So I feel like they could be a little bit more adventurous. But I don't know if your recent experience has freaked them out. [00:03:19] Speaker C: My oldest one is okay about it, but my youngest one does freak out about creepy crawling things. She's scared of butterflies. My seven year old is scared of butterflies. She does not like anything that flies, crawls, nothing. [00:03:30] Speaker B: It could fly in your face. [00:03:31] Speaker D: You know, I'm just saying. [00:03:34] Speaker C: I mean, she'll get hysterical. I didn't tell them that really. I was just like, hey, I got bit by something, but I didn't really go into it because I didn't want to freak them out. But thankfully, their beds are loft beds. They have the white sheets, lots of sunshine in their room. So I'm about to. You know, I spray for bugs that we about to go all in on the spraying for the bugs now. [00:03:56] Speaker B: Well, I appreciate your mom discernment to not freak them out and not be fully transparent about it. [00:04:02] Speaker C: That would never go to bed. I mean, can you imagine bedtime every night? [00:04:05] Speaker B: Oh, it's already. It is what it is now, right? Yeah. [00:04:09] Speaker C: Okay. And to let them think that a spider could be in there with them. No, they would. And they don't want to call in the bed with me because I am Spider Central, I guess. [00:04:16] Speaker D: I don't know. [00:04:17] Speaker B: So, I mean, I guess we could. [00:04:19] Speaker C: Sleep in the car. [00:04:19] Speaker B: I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I don't want that for you. [00:04:22] Speaker C: No, thanks. [00:04:23] Speaker B: And I feel so weird that we kicked off the show like this. So for. If you are just now tuning in and you're like, why are they talking about spiders? You know, do we have. [00:04:31] Speaker C: You know, it's my preventative psa moment. [00:04:34] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:04:34] Speaker B: Do we have folks from, like, the arboretum coming today and talking about, like, you know, nature things? Not. Not necessarily. We actually have a really great show. [00:04:43] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:04:43] Speaker C: I'm really excited about this. [00:04:44] Speaker D: Yes. So. [00:04:45] Speaker B: And we're about to have to take a break. I'm just gonna leave it as a teaser for our listeners. We're gonna take a quick break and then we are gonna introduce our multiple guests. I'll go ahead and shout out here. We have three guests, y'all. So you're probably like, oh, my Lanta. Like, what is about to happen? [00:05:01] Speaker C: But no more spider talk. So if you're scared of spiders just after the break, come on back, listen in. You'll be highly entertained. [00:05:07] Speaker B: Yes, absolutely. You were listening to fit to be tied with Sheena Anika on 90.7 the Capstone. [00:05:17] Speaker A: Wvuafm tuscaloosa. [00:05:27] Speaker C: Welcome back. You are listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Mika on 90.7 the Capstone. [00:05:32] Speaker B: Yes, you are. And if you are just now joining us, that's actually probably a good thing because we did go a little rogue, as we normally do in our intro. And so you'll just, we'll just have to tell you. Go back and listen to that if you're really curious about what we were just talking about. But today we are actually going to be talking about druid city Derby. [00:05:52] Speaker C: I'm excited. [00:05:52] Speaker B: Yeah. Have you ever wanted to do Derby, Nika? [00:05:56] Speaker C: I don't know if I'm brave enough. [00:05:57] Speaker B: Yeah, no, I'm like, am I tough enough? So you might be listening and thinking the same thing, like, is this for me? And so really, we're hoping today sheds a lot of light, especially with our guests. So without further ado, I do want to introduce our three guests. We have Holly Groff, Danielle Ryman, and Olivia Garner. So hello. Welcome, welcome. [00:06:17] Speaker D: Thank you all for having us. Yes. [00:06:19] Speaker B: And so I'd love for y'all to kind of take some turns and introduce yourselves. And Holly, we'll kind of kick off with you. [00:06:26] Speaker E: I'm Holly Groff and better known on the track as Hollandaise. Been playing with Druid City Derby. I think 2017 ish something around there. [00:06:35] Speaker D: I don't know. [00:06:35] Speaker E: I'm terrible at dates. I had to text the wife on the way over. I said, what year did I start playing? Because I never remember those things. Ask her. I'm terrible with anniversaries and dates, but yeah, with Druid City Derby and skater and also a coach for our junior team and also officiate some. And, you know, we have to do all of the. Everything of a volunteer run organization, so also a couple of terms on the board. [00:06:57] Speaker B: Hey, Enid. [00:06:58] Speaker D: A little bit of everything. [00:06:59] Speaker B: All hands on deck situations. [00:07:00] Speaker D: Yes. [00:07:00] Speaker E: I like to wear all the hats. [00:07:01] Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. Danielle? [00:07:03] Speaker F: Hi, I'm danielle ryman. I'm also sadistic sweetheart, or sweetie is what they call me for short. I actually started in august. My kids all play, too. I have three on the junior team, and my oldest, olivia, she's here today. She is transitioning onto the adult team as well. [00:07:20] Speaker B: Very nice, olivia. [00:07:22] Speaker G: Hi, I'm olivia garner, trauma queen or t for short. I've been playing on the junior roller derby team since about august, and I will now be transitioning into the adult team. [00:07:34] Speaker C: Oh, my goodness. [00:07:35] Speaker E: I'm super excited as a coach to start having some of our juniors agent up here. It's kind of exciting there. [00:07:41] Speaker B: So how old are you? [00:07:42] Speaker G: Come? [00:07:43] Speaker D: 1818. [00:07:44] Speaker C: Okay. [00:07:44] Speaker E: As of like. Yeah, just recently. [00:07:47] Speaker B: Oh, well, happy birthday. [00:07:49] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:07:50] Speaker B: Well, you know, one of the things that we were, nick and I were mentioning before we. We started this segment knowing that you guys were going to share your derby names. How did. How do you come up with them? [00:08:03] Speaker E: We get to choose them. Sometimes they're bestowed upon you. You know, our league is definitely about choosing, so, you know, mine is not super aggressive or like this anything, but definitely bodes to the dietician food service in me with hollandaise. Yeah. And eggs Benedict was always the specialty on holidays in my family, so when someone suggested that name, it definitely, absolutely stuck. I was like, that's me. [00:08:29] Speaker C: That's you. [00:08:30] Speaker E: So Hollandaise it is. [00:08:31] Speaker B: I love that. [00:08:32] Speaker F: It took me forever to pick mine, but eventually my friends came up with it because I am a sweetheart to everybody. But if you rub me the wrong way, I can be. I can be mean. [00:08:45] Speaker E: So how did trauma quaint come about? [00:08:46] Speaker G: Olivia, I'm very dramatic person, okay? I live for the drama. But she said something about my mom had mentioned trauma queen for roller derby, and it sounded tough. Yeah, you just went with it. And it kind of went with my number. [00:09:06] Speaker C: What's your number? [00:09:07] Speaker G: It's 1738 and the song trap queen by Betty Watt. Kind of. [00:09:12] Speaker B: Okay. [00:09:13] Speaker G: Kind of went with it. [00:09:14] Speaker C: All right. [00:09:15] Speaker D: I love that. [00:09:15] Speaker E: I got more about your derby name than I knew here. [00:09:17] Speaker C: I like this. [00:09:18] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:09:18] Speaker B: Like, we're learning all the things. [00:09:20] Speaker C: I'm learning all the things. So what got you interested? How did you stumble upon Derby? [00:09:26] Speaker E: I was a friend of a friend. I was one of those kids who loved the skating rink, like, way back in the day in middle school, that's been more than a few years now, but loved the skating rink and had also grew up playing team sports and really missed that. We don't always get that as an adult. [00:09:41] Speaker C: Right. [00:09:42] Speaker E: And I had really, really missed that in my life. So when a friend of a friend brought it up, it took a little encouragement. Cause I was a little nervous there, for sure. So it took a little encouragement, finally got up the guts, and went to a recruitment night and been there since. [00:09:57] Speaker D: There you go. [00:09:58] Speaker B: Very nice. And then how about for y'all, you know, Danielle and Olivia? I got to chat with y'all a little bit before the show started, and I think y'all had mentioned that you're actually not originally from the Tuscaloosa community, so, you know, I'd love for you to kind of share, like, coming into Tuscaloosa. And then how did y'all get plugged into derby? [00:10:17] Speaker F: Okay, well, we're from southern Illinois originally. My husband works in the coal mines, and so he transferred here. So we just up and moved, and we moved during COVID so we made no friends. [00:10:29] Speaker E: It was. [00:10:29] Speaker F: It was lonely for a long time. Yeah. And then we. We go skating all the time because I grew up skating and loved it. And at the skating rink, we saw a flyer for recruitment night. So I talked her into doing it because I didn't know adults actually did it anymore. So I was like, you should do it. You should go out. She's like, okay, I'll do it. So we went to recruitment night, and I had all my kids with me. And so she goes out there, and then one of our other players, gastly, she came up, and she's like, well. [00:10:57] Speaker B: What are the boys doing? [00:10:57] Speaker F: Do they want to do it? I was like, I didn't know they could, but sure, they're like, yeah, we want to go. So they went out, and then. So now I have three out there, and they joined, and then she's like. [00:11:06] Speaker B: Well, what about you? [00:11:07] Speaker F: Have you thought about playing? I was like, I didn't know I could. [00:11:10] Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. [00:11:11] Speaker F: So then I went to the adult recruitment night the next week. [00:11:14] Speaker D: Okay. [00:11:15] Speaker F: We've all been there ever since. [00:11:16] Speaker D: Hi. [00:11:17] Speaker B: Like, just the power of, like, a recruitment flyer. [00:11:20] Speaker D: Yes. [00:11:20] Speaker B: Kind of going old school. [00:11:22] Speaker D: And there it is. [00:11:23] Speaker B: And, Holly, you're an og to the team, I would consider. [00:11:27] Speaker E: Not quite, but, yeah, I'm one of the. I'm one of the more vets now. [00:11:30] Speaker B: Yes. [00:11:30] Speaker E: Yes. [00:11:31] Speaker B: Can you give Nik and I some historical perspective on the derby? And especially with just you know, kind of, I guess, like in its iteration now. [00:11:40] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:11:40] Speaker E: Here in Tuscaloosa, we're only been around since 2015, so really still a very new team. So super proud of our team and where we're at. Not just our team anymore, our league. Cause we have multiple teams with the juniors, too. So, you know, started with some folks who had played derby in other areas. Kelly Wolf, a salty senorita, and Megan gunter of a hollaback girl got together and, you know, started some interest meetings and couldn't find a place to practice to start with. So the Barnes YMCA was one of the first practice. They didn't even have enough room for a full track in the gym, but they were awesome enough to be a community partner and let us start practicing there and then started practicing other places in town. And now we get to have our bouts at Bobby Miller center, part of the parks and recreation para facilities here in town. So we're glad to be a community fixture now. [00:12:39] Speaker B: That is so fun. I'm just like. I don't know, I guess I'm just. I'm just geeking out, like, because it's just so interesting to me because it's a world that I'm not a part of. Right. [00:12:48] Speaker C: You know? [00:12:49] Speaker B: Right. [00:12:49] Speaker E: We can bring you in. [00:12:50] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. [00:12:52] Speaker C: So tell the listeners out there who are maybe new to Derby, like, what? What is it? [00:12:58] Speaker D: What? [00:12:58] Speaker C: You know, what's the description? It kind of, you know, paint them a picture with your words, if you will. [00:13:05] Speaker F: I'll let you take that. [00:13:06] Speaker E: Okay. [00:13:06] Speaker D: Okay. Let's see. [00:13:08] Speaker E: They're gonna throw it back to me here. [00:13:10] Speaker D: Let's see. [00:13:10] Speaker E: You always want to say it's a full contact sport. It's like football. No, it's not, because there's no ball. So that's the first thing is we always confuse folks with that. But we are on a circular track. We do play on flat track. We play flat track derby. So there is bank track derby, like you've seen on maybe whippet or, you know, something like that. But we play flat track derby, so we're all on quad roller skates. We've got our safety gear on. There's no throw and elbows. It definitely is a full contact sport, but we're not throwing punches and elbows. But you've got two teams out there. You've got four blockers per team, and then you've got a jammer on each team, and they're designated with a cover on their helmet that's got a star on it. And your jammers are the ones that do the scoring. So they take off through the packs and you get points as you pass the other packs, the other people in the pack. We base position on hips. So as you pass the hips of the other skater, then you are earning points there. But you are playing offense and defense at the same time as a blocker there. So you are both trying to help your jammer through, and you are trying to. [00:14:14] Speaker C: Not the Jammer house. [00:14:15] Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. Okay, I know in just a second we'll have to go on a break, but what position Danielle and Olivia do y'all normally play? [00:14:25] Speaker F: I am a blocker. [00:14:26] Speaker B: Okay. [00:14:26] Speaker F: I don't have the stamina yet to be a jammer. [00:14:28] Speaker B: Okay. [00:14:29] Speaker D: Yes. [00:14:29] Speaker C: I like that keyword. [00:14:30] Speaker D: Yes. [00:14:31] Speaker E: That's an important word in there. [00:14:32] Speaker F: I plan on getting there, but I've. [00:14:34] Speaker G: Done a little bit of both. But I'm more of a blocker. I'm better at it. [00:14:38] Speaker B: Okay, nice. I'm like. I'm like, what would I be? Nika, what would you be? [00:14:43] Speaker C: If you just said the word stamina, then that's not me. That has to be a block or two. [00:14:48] Speaker B: Yeah, I feel like, Nika, I'm gonna go ahead and, like, plant this in your head. Like, by the end of the show, we might need to come up with what our derby names might be. [00:14:58] Speaker D: Definitely. [00:14:59] Speaker B: So we'll be. I'm just planting that in the back of our head, but we've got to. [00:15:03] Speaker C: Take a quick break. [00:15:04] Speaker B: Y'all listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7, the Capstone. [00:15:14] Speaker A: WVuaFm tuscaloosa. [00:15:23] Speaker C: Welcome back, listeners. You're listening to fit to be tied on 90.7, the capstone with Sheena and Nika. And we have the druid city derby ladies with us today. [00:15:32] Speaker B: Yes, we do. We. We are blessed to have three guests with us today to talk about their experience on the derby. And so if you're just now joining us, we definitely encourage you to listen in on the beginning parts of the show just to kind of know a little bit more about the story of our guests, Holly Groff, Danielle Ryman, and Olivia Garner. And, you know, really now would love to kind of transition to, you know, we talked a little bit about game logistics for Derby, but now I think Nick and I were a little. We're kind of curious. How do you condition yourselves for the sport? Y'all just acknowledge that it takes some, like, stamina and endurance, you know, full contact sports. So I'm just like, okay, how do y'all prepare yourselves? [00:16:16] Speaker D: Right? [00:16:16] Speaker E: You know, there is no preparation. No. [00:16:20] Speaker F: I didn't realize how out of shape I was until I started. I really was. But practices, the two hour practices, we do do some conditioning exercises in there and a lot of stamina exercises there, too. But I also joined the gym and I try to go at least three times a week to that so I can build up muscle and endurance, knock some people out. [00:16:44] Speaker E: Yeah, definitely. [00:16:45] Speaker C: How far would you say in a game, mileage wise, you skate. [00:16:52] Speaker E: Sometimes. Well, the idea is to slow the other, especially if, like, sweetie and I and team mostly blocking as well. We're. Sometimes we're playing some offense there, but a lot of times we're trying to slow them down. So really we're not trying to move that fast. But let me tell you, like, muscles engaged, blocking during is a. Yeah, it's not like just cardio skating. Endurance. It's a different level there. So, yeah, depends on what you're doing in the game a little bit as to how much, how much you are. We do have, it's not a standard that our WifTA women's flat track derby association is the governing body that we play under, and at least our adults do. And they used to have a standard of 27. [00:17:40] Speaker D: Five. [00:17:41] Speaker E: You had to do 27 laps in five minutes as it used to be a basic skill. So. [00:17:45] Speaker B: So you're booking it. [00:17:46] Speaker C: I wish you seen my face right now. [00:17:48] Speaker D: Yeah. Excuse me. What did you just say? So, you know, in a game that's. [00:17:50] Speaker E: If we're going that fast, then actually something's gone wrong with our strategies there. But we do have to pass that skill because it is a quick game and I think I'm kind of like, sweetie, we put that once I started it, like, spurred me into doing a little bit more. So I think we've probably got everything on the team from the 4 hours of practice a week is probably most of their physical activity, which kudos to them because we're up and we're doing something, and I think that's awesome to folks that maybe were already super active to begin with. Some of us that it kind of like re spurred some, hey, I want to be a little bit more in shape to do this some more. [00:18:31] Speaker C: So as a side tangent, I love that because, you know, we always encourage people who think of exercise as a dirty word. They're like, I don't want to go get on a treadmill. I don't want to go swim laps. You find something fun and those 2 hours fly by and then you wake up in the morning and you're glutes remind you that you, like, were doing something yesterday. [00:18:54] Speaker E: So, yeah, I'll be real honest. After that first recruitment night, you try to squat to use the restroom the next day and those quads holler at you. And it was like that for a while. [00:19:05] Speaker C: You had fun yesterday. [00:19:06] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. [00:19:08] Speaker B: I love that. So other than the, like 27 laps within five minutes, are there other types of requirements that, you know, that. That are utilized to kind of determine, like, somebody's ready to be like, you know, an active member in a bout? [00:19:24] Speaker F: Oh, yeah, there's laterals. You have to be able to do laterals. [00:19:27] Speaker C: What is a lateral? [00:19:28] Speaker F: Well, it's where you turn your feet sideways and you skate to the side. [00:19:32] Speaker C: Uh huh. [00:19:32] Speaker F: As quick as possible. [00:19:33] Speaker C: So you gotta know how to skate pretty well, which is why I'm thinking. [00:19:37] Speaker E: You don't have to when you start. [00:19:38] Speaker F: You don't have to. They train you from. You can't even skate. They will train you how to skate. And, um. [00:19:43] Speaker C: Okay, that's good to know. [00:19:45] Speaker B: Okay. [00:19:45] Speaker E: And let's see, t, if the junior coaches did our job, what was the very first thing you learned? [00:19:49] Speaker G: I think the very first thing that I learned was crossovers and how to, like, properly skate. [00:19:55] Speaker E: Okay, well, then t could obviously skate to start with. Usually we start with standing and falling and safe falls. Safe falls are actually really important. [00:20:04] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:20:04] Speaker E: So we really do start super basic, like. [00:20:07] Speaker D: Yep. [00:20:07] Speaker E: Derby stance and how you stand and how you fall, you know? Cause we do wear protective equipment. We try to avoid those falls on the tailbone. So you learn to fall forward on those knees. [00:20:16] Speaker B: So I love that for our listeners. [00:20:18] Speaker C: Who have, you know, their ears are perking up, but they're like, I don't need an emergency room co pay. [00:20:24] Speaker B: Yeah, you do. [00:20:25] Speaker C: Y'all get the training. [00:20:26] Speaker B: I love that. [00:20:27] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:20:27] Speaker E: It's a full contact sport. There's always risk. But we definitely, we have a sets of minimum skills. So sweetie actually advanced really fast. In fact, we were in the same pack at our season opener. So I was super happy to have her in a pack. Cause she's great to play with. So had lots of fun. I think we work really well together. And then. So we all have to have sediment skills before we get to full contact. And then our juniors actually bout at multiple levels. So, like, t, you started off like with actual play at level two. So can you explain level two just a little bit? [00:21:05] Speaker G: Level two is not full contact just yet. You have to stop before you make contact with the other players. So it slowly introduces you into the full contact of the sport in the game. [00:21:20] Speaker E: And since there's a lot going on the track, you start to get that, like, you know, like we said, offense and defense at the same time. It kind of helps with some of that transition. So our juniors actually play at both levels, two and three, which three is just like adult derby and full contact, but our juniors work up through that and then our adults don't play at that. But we also structure kind of your introduction to drills. As you get to move up in what types of drills you're doing, then it a similar skills check off there. [00:21:46] Speaker B: So what kind of blocks are legal and illegal? I'm like. Cause I'm just thinking about, like, what can you do? What can you not do? [00:21:54] Speaker E: So you can't block to the back because that would be unsafe. We don't want, you know, folks going face forward. That's fine, et cetera. But basically between the neck and the knees on the front side is legal to make contact too. And you can make contact with all of those areas. And your arm above your elbow is legal. [00:22:16] Speaker D: Okay. So. [00:22:16] Speaker E: But once we get to elbows, it's illegal, but. [00:22:19] Speaker C: So we can't throw back to knees. [00:22:20] Speaker E: Nope. [00:22:20] Speaker C: Cannot throw back. [00:22:21] Speaker E: No, no. Throw in now. Now when we're blocking, I can trap you essentially in my armpit pocket if I'm doing a good job. [00:22:28] Speaker C: So you can headlock someone? [00:22:29] Speaker E: No, no, they can't lead with their heads. [00:22:32] Speaker D: Safety first. [00:22:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:22:33] Speaker E: All right. Okay, so I'm gonna probably lack of a better term, side meat. I'm gonna trap their side meat in my armpit. [00:22:40] Speaker D: That's really nice, huh? [00:22:43] Speaker B: I would like for you to use. [00:22:44] Speaker C: That the next time you are feeling threatened, like at a gas station, lock eyes to the perpetrator and say, try me one more time and I'm gonna lock your side meat in my RMP. [00:22:56] Speaker D: That's it. [00:22:58] Speaker C: I love it. [00:22:59] Speaker E: They would go running. [00:23:00] Speaker B: I love it, I love it, I love it. [00:23:02] Speaker C: So is this a year round sport? [00:23:06] Speaker D: We do. [00:23:07] Speaker E: Do you wanna take some time off? [00:23:09] Speaker D: We do. [00:23:09] Speaker E: We generally take a little break, like thanksgiving, to new yearish time. Cause, yes, breaks are important and, you know, our yes. Want to avoid burnout and keep it fun, but we essentially bout all year our home bouts for all of us this year, adults and juniors, we started in March and we'll go through November will be our last one. So we have most months. We have one a month. I think we've got six home dates this year. And our juniors, technically their season runs from September through. That's the start of their season. And if we've just started branching into some competitiveness, that's gonna take a little while for our junior team before they're super competitive, but they're doing awesome. Their competitive season really runs January through May. [00:24:01] Speaker B: Okay, nice. So, Holly, I know one of the last times we had you on this show to talk about the derby. I feel like that was pre COVID. And, of course, during that time, we didn't necessarily have the junior teams as part of the derby. So when did that. I'm actually curious, like, when did that start? And I guess who kind of planted the idea for having the. [00:24:22] Speaker E: We've been thinking about it for a long time, folks that had on the team that had kids, you know, you see that kid at the skating rink, the kids that come to the bouts that are interested and didn't have one here in town, and our sister league of the Steel City Slayers that are over in Birmingham, the junior team over there, they had some transition they were going through and actually came over and started practicing for a little while, which was the start of our junior team, which was only not quite two years ago now. So it's very new. [00:24:59] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:25:00] Speaker E: We brought in that they're ten to 17 or the age range that we take. Some teams will start younger. We start at ten. And our junior team is an open gender team. So, like, Tia's playing with her brothers there, too. [00:25:13] Speaker B: Yeah, I just. I'm geeking out. I'm learning. Yeah, we've got to take a break, y'all. But don't worry, because we still have our fabulous guests with us for the rest of the show. You are listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7 the capstone. [00:25:32] Speaker A: Wvuafm tuscaloosa. [00:25:42] Speaker C: Welcome back, listeners. You're listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7 the capstone. And we have hollandaise, sweetie, and tea here with us today. And if you don't know what that means, you need to go back and listen to the rest of the show. Cause we have had some really great information with our wonderful guest today. [00:26:00] Speaker B: Yes, we have. And so, you know, with Druid City Derby. So excited to be talking about it today and actually just thought of something. You know, I think, holly, I can't remember if we talked about this when you were actually on the show with us before or if it was just kind of in passing at another event, because I think I'd made the comment to you of like, oh, I'd like to do this, but I actually just had a baby and I'm breastfeeding. And you told me a story, I think, about somebody with a league in Mississippi and like the homegirl was like on the track and then would like go over to the side and breastfeed her baby real quick and then like roll back on. [00:26:43] Speaker E: We are all, you know, there's all walks of life and all types of folks, and we're all in, you know, all in our different stages of life of where we are. So absolutely, it's something that I think especially I like to pride Druid City derby, that we fit into some of those lifestyle types of things and definitely embrace that. But absolutely wherever you're at. And we'd like to build up also on skills of things. So, like we talked about, whether it's, you know, you're coming back from having a baby or you're currently, you know, breastfeeding, or you're in shape or you're not in shape or whatever the case that might be, then, then we like to like to have a place for people and to build up to that. And, you know, I was not in very good shape when I started and it took me, I spent over a year before I bouted of checking off my skills, which was not completely atypical there, sweetie. [00:27:43] Speaker F: Took me six months for my first boat. [00:27:45] Speaker E: So she was actually a pretty accelerated timeline there in the skating rink. So, yeah, that definitely helps. [00:27:54] Speaker C: So those who might want to join, there's no pressure to feel like, hey, you better get up to this kind of speed or you just go home. There's no pressure. [00:28:02] Speaker F: They work at everybody's individual pace, so if you take two years before your first bout, that's fine. They work with you wherever you're at. [00:28:10] Speaker E: And even if you don't want, if you don't want full contact, we also need officials. So our officials are also, we have skating officials, so we've got, what is it, seven skating officials and eleven non skating officials per game to officiate. So it's a really heavy need for officials there. So we have folks that are on skates that they still need a lot of the same skills. And then, of course, they're working on rules and hand signals. And believe it or not, whistling is its own skill. Try a rolling whistle that's required for that non skating official position. And then if you really just want to be with what I think is a pretty cool group of people, then we also take non skating officials. We need non skating officials. So happy to have folks that just want to be a part of the awesome group and be around the sport and maybe be back in a team sport environment, but maybe being on skates is not for them anymore. [00:29:06] Speaker C: So if someone wanted to dip their toe into just watching it, where can they come watch this action unfold? Can they? Is it open to the public? [00:29:15] Speaker E: Absolutely. Absolutely. Our next home bout is April 27 at Bobbie Miller center on 69 south in the Tuscaloosa area. And we'll actually have three bouts that day. We've got triple header again, so we'll have our sister team, Steel City slayers, are kicking off the day playing Atlanta roller derby junior team at 1230. And then 03:00 you'll see our druid city daredevils junior team in action. And then at 530, let's see, Druid City daredevils are playing vet City, I believe. And then our adults are playing peach State at 530. [00:29:52] Speaker B: Okay, now, how far have y'all traveled for a way bout? Let's see. [00:29:59] Speaker E: I think the furthest I've traveled, not with Druid City derby, with a state team, was Pennsylvania. [00:30:06] Speaker B: Okay. [00:30:06] Speaker E: And I'll go to Michigan with the state team this year. [00:30:08] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:30:09] Speaker F: And then probably went for the juniors, was Thibodeaux, Louisiana? Yeah. [00:30:19] Speaker E: Our juniors were just in their first tournament, so that was a fun tournament. [00:30:22] Speaker G: That was a fun tournament. [00:30:22] Speaker B: That is awesome. Now, as a volunteer organization, I guess now I'm just thinking, like, how do you raise the money to support what you do? You know, do your members find that because they love and they're committed to this, like, it does take, you know, putting in, you know, some of their own finances to really make this happen? Kind of. What does that. What has that looked like for y'all as an organization? [00:30:46] Speaker E: Yeah, we pay dues, which essentially covers our practice space, is the most. So I think sweetie said she was super happy to have the whole family, except for maybe when she gets that quickbooks dues invoice there. But. But, yeah, so we do essentially cover our practice space, and then we've got a lot of really awesome supporters in town. The community has really embraced us, and then we'll be out there doing some traditional fundraising, too. So, yeah, we got some Boston butts coming up for sale soon. Okay. So, yeah, we've got to do it all. [00:31:19] Speaker D: Okay. [00:31:20] Speaker B: Now, I. You know, I'm just. I'm thinking about the time that we have with y'all, and, you know, so what I think I'm getting from this, and, Nika, I feel like you're picking up on this, too. Is I can tell probably a lot of people are joining for having that sense of community and really kind of feeling like y'all are a family. And is that. Would that be a correct assumption? [00:31:43] Speaker F: Even in six months time that I've been there? I feel like I've known them forever, and they. Everybody's welcoming, everybody's friendly, and it's a. [00:31:50] Speaker C: Great environment, so we're, you know, feeding the social part of us, but also the physical. I'm loving it. I'm loving that you're having fun and you're exercising and you're not really realizing that you're exercising, because I feel like that's a big thing for us today, trying to find the time to nurture a hobby, but be around friends and be physical, and this is just all rolled into one. [00:32:13] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. And then if you're doing some, like, additional time in the gym to really, like, help your skills during practices, like, even just, you know, thinking of it in that phrasing of, like, oh, this is strength and condition conditioning for my sport, as opposed to, well, I'm going to exercise. [00:32:30] Speaker C: I'm just here wandering around aimlessly. No, it's like, I'm going in here because I got to make this quad stronger so I can sit down on the toilet tomorrow. [00:32:37] Speaker E: Yes, I'm 43, so for me, yoga is also really important because I need the flexibility. Those hip flexors are not super happy after practice if I'm not taking good care of my body there. [00:32:48] Speaker F: You hold a lot of muscles. [00:32:52] Speaker E: I think it's also helped me find what type of activity I like. So I remembered I like being around people. So maybe I'm not gonna go, like, hop on the treadmill or go do something individually, but maybe a group exercise class at the rec center is more my jam because I feed off of other people. [00:33:10] Speaker C: Sure. [00:33:10] Speaker E: So, like, something where I have energy of other people, you know? So. And that's nice to, like, figure out whether you're that solo person or whether you're that group person. I'm a group person. [00:33:21] Speaker B: I love that. Now, t for you as part of the junior team, and I know you're about to make that transition to the adult team, what would you say to listeners who maybe are interested in joining that junior team, but they're a little bit nervous? Like, what are, you know, what are some words of wisdom you'd want to share? [00:33:40] Speaker G: Definitely don't be nervous. Like, everyone is so welcoming. Welcoming. Like she said, I went in, and I made so many friends just on the first day. I took my time with it all, they helped me through everything I needed to know, and I moved up pretty quick, I think. Yeah, just have fun and be yourself and don't be scared. [00:34:04] Speaker B: Okay, nice. Now, who makes a good. I don't want to say audience member, but, yeah, audience member. Like, do y'all encourage people making, like, signage for their favorite, like, derby member? [00:34:16] Speaker C: Like, you like, a lot of screaming. [00:34:17] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. What kind of energy level do we need to bring? [00:34:21] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:34:22] Speaker E: So sweetie and t were just talking about the tournament in Thibodeaux, which the daredevils were playing in, but also a couple of the coaches played in a mashup mixer where people from all different teams just. So I was playing. There's people from all over the United States, actually Canada as well, that were playing that day. And, yeah, me and one of the other coaches were in it. And so, sweetie, in particular, they went and made signs. [00:34:45] Speaker D: Oh, nice. [00:34:46] Speaker B: Okay. [00:34:47] Speaker D: Yes. [00:34:47] Speaker F: And every single gym, I like to yell. [00:34:50] Speaker G: We lost our voices on that game. [00:34:52] Speaker E: It was awesome. And, yes, that's the best. Like, every single jam that one of us was out there, we could hear our people, and everyone knew what side of the arena our people were at because. [00:35:02] Speaker F: Yeah, yeah, we love to hear the support. [00:35:04] Speaker B: Okay, well, Nico, we might have to bring our kids to a bout. [00:35:07] Speaker C: They can yell. I'll tell you that. We might want somebody to get behind, and they will yell and, yeah. Be all on your team. [00:35:16] Speaker B: Well, we might have to do that. And y'all just thank you so much for being on the show. You know, we're about to have our last segment, but just the fact that you kind of shed some light on Druid City derby. Now, Holly, what? Where can folks go if they want additional information about upcoming bouts or even just about the team to potentially join in the future? Is there a website you can. Absolutely. [00:35:37] Speaker E: Druidcityderby.com. You'll find out about us there and then on all the social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok. [00:35:44] Speaker B: Okay. [00:35:45] Speaker C: Yeah, check us out. [00:35:46] Speaker D: Well, we'll do. [00:35:46] Speaker B: I've seen y'all on the tinsel trail, too. Yes, yes. [00:35:49] Speaker E: Definitely have to have a tree every year. [00:35:50] Speaker B: Absolutely. Okay, well, y'all, we're gonna take a quick break. You are listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7, the capstone. [00:36:02] Speaker A: Wvuafm tuscaloosa. [00:36:11] Speaker B: Hey, listeners, you're listening to fit to. [00:36:13] Speaker C: Be tied with Sheena and Mika on 90.7, the capstone. [00:36:17] Speaker B: Yes. And if you are just now joining us, let me just say you gotta go back. You gotta listen to the rest of this show because we have been talking all about druid city derby today. And today we have had guests Holly Groff, Danielle Ryman, and Olivia Garner, also known as Hollandaise, sadistic sweetheart, and trauma queen. [00:36:36] Speaker C: I love it. So that begs the question, Sheena, what would your derby name be? [00:36:42] Speaker B: I really. I don't know. Like, I've been thinking about it, and I feel like I need something semi food related. Like, you know, part of me wants to be, like, sour patch kid, because, like, I can be sweet, but I can. I can be, like, a little sour. Okay. [00:37:02] Speaker D: But I don't. [00:37:03] Speaker B: We'll see what happens. We'll see. I don't know. [00:37:05] Speaker C: Same. [00:37:05] Speaker B: Yeah, I have to massage that a. [00:37:07] Speaker C: Little bit more, I would say during the break, you know, as a throwback to, like, Ludacris and, you know, just my age, if I could do more than just put, what, your side meat in my. [00:37:20] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:37:20] Speaker C: If I get throw bows, I would probably be like, you know, bringing it, kicking it back old school. Like, dj dirty elbows. [00:37:26] Speaker D: I like it. [00:37:27] Speaker B: I like that. [00:37:29] Speaker D: It's just. [00:37:29] Speaker C: Just old school. To remind everybody of my age, you. [00:37:31] Speaker E: Might spend a lot of extra time in the penalty box. Bring it on, you know? [00:37:35] Speaker D: Yes. [00:37:36] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly. Oh, my goodness. Okay, so at this point in time, this is where we normally ask our guests, like, something kind of random and just kind of in the spirit of everything we've been talking about today, I'm actually curious, like, what gets you hype? Like, what is your personal hype song? Like, whether it's, like, ready for about or ready just to kick butt for a day at work or school or whatever else. Like, what is your hype song? And it could be. It can be a current hit. It can be something from the eighties. Like, what. What's just getting your energy level up right now? [00:38:13] Speaker F: I find it funny that you're talking about Ludacris because she plays travel softball as well. And that's always been our hype song. Before games or anything, we listen to rollout by Ludacris. [00:38:25] Speaker G: We each got our own parts. It's our go to song. [00:38:27] Speaker D: Okay. Okay. [00:38:28] Speaker B: So would you say that that's what y'all would both say? [00:38:34] Speaker E: My playlist will probably give you whiplash in the eclecticness of it, so there's a little bit of everything on there for when it was 27 five days, enter Sandman. Because, I don't know. That's not necessarily my pre bout, but that was definitely my 27 five song. It's also about just. It's almost five minutes long, so it works perfect. [00:38:54] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:38:55] Speaker D: Okay. [00:38:55] Speaker E: It's also a pretty good tempo for it. [00:38:57] Speaker B: Yes. There you go. [00:38:58] Speaker D: Now, do you. [00:38:59] Speaker B: Okay, so, like, in your office, like, if I were to come, like, near the, like, you know, earmark or bama dining offices and, like, where you're. Could I hear, like, could I hear that? [00:39:08] Speaker E: Like, there might be some metallica in there, but there's probably also. There's gonna be a little bit of a mix of everything. [00:39:14] Speaker C: Okay. [00:39:15] Speaker B: And we can appreciate that. [00:39:16] Speaker C: Yeah, like, I can totally appreciate that. [00:39:17] Speaker D: Yeah. I'm like. [00:39:18] Speaker B: I look at unknown, like, you're just, like, such a lover of music, and then, like, you know, and we're all, like, similar in age, so I feel like just, you know, all of the, like, quote unquote throwbacks. Yes. [00:39:28] Speaker C: Because if you look at me, you would think I was a swifty or, you know, and, I mean, I loved the Britney Spears and everything, but now I, you know, like, my go to song is outkast Bob bombs over Baghdad. [00:39:41] Speaker D: Yes. [00:39:43] Speaker C: I'm always going to go back to the old school hip hop rap. Like, that's just my jam. I love my britney and I love my nsync. But now we're going to do some cypress heal. Insane in the membrane. [00:39:54] Speaker D: Yes. [00:39:55] Speaker C: We're insane in the brain. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Gotta do a little bit of that. What about you, Sheena? [00:40:00] Speaker B: So I'm definitely feeling some bobbi brown. Like, my prerogative right now. So again, like, throwback kind of round. [00:40:06] Speaker C: I heard that. [00:40:07] Speaker E: I mean, Whitney Houston always puts me in a good mood, so it sits on there, too. [00:40:11] Speaker B: So hopefully, you know, we're inspiring some musical selections. Again, thank y'all so much for being on the show. You know, I wanna say, like, are there any catchphrases for the derby in the sense that, you know, with, like, Alabama, we have roll tide, anything that's like, kind of a. Like, I don't know. [00:40:32] Speaker E: The one and only DCD is our chair at the end, so drink city derby. [00:40:37] Speaker D: Okay. [00:40:38] Speaker E: The one and only DCD. [00:40:40] Speaker B: Well, y'all be on the lookout for some DCD. Check out the website. Hopefully we see y'all at a catch about. Yes, I know. I'm like, we really need to coordinate. [00:40:48] Speaker C: Roll up hyped after blaring your hype song in the car. [00:40:53] Speaker D: Yes. [00:40:53] Speaker C: And come and cheer the ladies on. [00:40:55] Speaker B: Yeah. Go to their social media, like, pick out a couple of the derby members. Members and make a poster for them. Bring all the energy. [00:41:02] Speaker F: We definitely love it. [00:41:03] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:41:04] Speaker B: Well, with that said. Thank you listeners. You have been listening to fits be tied with Sheena and Nica on 90.7 the Capstone. [00:41:15] Speaker A: WVUA FM, Tuscaloosa.