Houston Roller Derby Explained

Houston Roller Derby
Founded:2004
Metro Area:Houston, Texas
Country:United States
Teams:All Stars (A and B team)
The Bayou City Bosses
The Brawlers
The Psych Ward Sirens
The Valkyries
Machete Betties (rec team)
Tracks:Flat
Venue:Bayou Music Center
Orgtype:501(c) (3)
Affiliations:WFTDA

Houston Roller Derby (HRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Houston, Texas.[1] HRD was founded in early 2004,[2] and is a founding member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[3]

History

Originally formed in early 2004 as the Space City Rollergirls, Houston Roller Derby split from their founding group in the pursuit of an all-skater owned league, after the founding members of Space City attempted to fire the league's coed training team. The new league focused on democratic leadership, with decisions made by committees with elected leaders. HRD's first bout took place in October 2005 at the Pasadena Convention Center, and by this time the league had about 60 members and consisted of four teams: The Bayou City Bosses, The Burlesque Brawlers, The Machete Betties and The Psych Ward Sirens.[4] 2006 bouts took place at the Arabia Shrine Temple.[5] The 2007[6] and 2008 season bouts took place at the Verizon Wireless Theater, with additional games held at Jopa Sports in Shenandoah.[7] The 2009 and 2010 bouts took place at Kick's Indoor,[8] and the 2011 bouts took place at Houston Indoor Sports.[9] Houston Roller Derby filed as a public charity (Houston Rollergirls Inc. dba Houston Roller Derby) and received its tax-deductible 501(c)(3) non-profit status effective March 11, 2011.[10] HRD's season bouts from the 2012 season forward take place in downtown Houston at Bayou Music Center (formerly the Verizon Wireless Theater).

Teams

Houston Roller Derby consists of four home teams[11] that play within the league as well as against visiting teams from other WFTDA leagues. Houston Roller Derby also has an all-star travel team, formerly called HaRD Knocks but now referred to as the all-stars, which was formed in 2006 to play against other WFTDA leagues across the U.S. and in WFTDA tournaments and competitions. The HRD all-stars were one of twelve WFTDA teams who qualified to compete in the WFTDA Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2009.[12] League skater Windigo played for Team Canada at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.[13]

Houston Roller Derby formed the travel team in 2006 to play against other WFTDA leagues across the country and in tournaments and competitions. The team's first interleague competition was the Dust Devil National Flat Track Derby Tournament held in February 2006. The Texas Rollergirls from Austin won the 20-team tournament held in Tucson, Arizona; HRD placed 13th.[14]

WFTDA competition

Houston Roller Derby competed at the first WFTDA Championships, the "Dust Devil" tournament, in 2006, where they finished in 13th place.[15] Houston next competed at WFTDA Playoffs in 2008 as the 11th seed at that year's WFTDA Western Regional Tournament and finished in ninth place.[16] Ahead of the 2009 season, the WFTDA adjusted its structure, and Houston was placed in the South Central Region. At that year's WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament, Houston was the third seed and finished in third place with a 113–101 victory over the Dallas Derby Devils to qualify for Championships.[17] At Championships, Houston was eliminated by a 239–46 loss to Rocky Mountain Rollergirls in the opening round.[18] In 2010, Houston was the seventh seed at the South Central Regional, and finished in seventh place by defeating Dallas 150–69.[19] As the fifth seed at the 2011 South Central Playoff, Houston again finished in the seeded position at fifth, with a 173–157 victory over No Coast Derby Girls.[20] At the final South Central Regional in 2012, Houston was the third seed but went 1-2 and finished in ninth place by beating Jacksonville RollerGirls 255–155.[21]

In 2013 the WFTDA restructured playoffs again, and under the new divisional model Houston qualified as a Division 1 team as the seventh seed for the tournament in Asheville, North Carolina,[22] and finished in sixth place after a 202–185 loss to Steel City Derby Demons.[23] Houston was the ninth seed at the 2014 Evansville Division 1 tournament, but lost their three games to finish in tenth.[24] In 2015, Houston competed as the third seed at the Division 2 Playoff in Cleveland, and finished in fourth place, losing their final game to Santa Cruz Derby Girls 154–141.[25] Houston returned to Division 2 in 2016 at Wichita as the second seed, but ultimately finished in sixth place, ending their weekend with a 184–181 loss to the Boulder County Bombers.[26] In 2017 Houston returned to Division 1 Playoffs as the eleventh seed in Dallas, but lost to Queen City Roller Girls 195-104[27] and to Atlanta Rollergirls 323–143 to finish out of the medal round.[28] In 2018 Houston received an invitation to a WFTDA Continental Cup, but declined their invitation.[29]

WFTDA competition, including championships, went on hiatus following the 2019 competition. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to the sport, leading to the cancellation of the 2020 Championships and subsequent years. In 2023, the WFTDA announced a significant restructuring of its competitive play system, with a return to playoffs and championships in a new regional format for 2024.[30]

Rankings

SeasonFinal ranking[31] PlayoffsChampionship
200620 WFTDA[32] - 13
200721 WFTDA[33] DNQDNQ
20082 SC[34] 9 WDNQ
20093 SC[35] 3 SCR1
20107 SC[36] 7 SCDNQ
20115 SC[37] 5 SCDNQ
20127 SC[38] 9 SCDNQ
201326 WFTDA[39] 6 D1DNQ
201445 WFTDA[40] 10 D1DNQ
201549 WFTDA[41] 4 D2DNQ
201652 WFTDA[42] 6 D2DNQ
201733 WFTDA[43] CR D1DNQ
201831 WFTDA[44] DNP CC NA WestDNQ

Partial WFTDA sanctioned results

In media

In 2009, members of Houston Roller Derby were featured in Hard Knocks: Rolling with the Derby Girls, a photo collection book by Houston photographer Shelley Canton.[45]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Houston Roller Derby – WFTDA. wftda.com. 22 August 2016 . WFTDA. 25 March 2017.
  2. Web site: Plocek. Keith. Roller Grrrls. Houston Press. Houston Press. 25 March 2017. 12 January 2006.
  3. Web site: Member Leagues. WFTDA. 25 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20060409234803/http://www.wftda.com/leagues.html. 9 April 2006. April 2006.
  4. Web site: Branch. Jennifer. Roller derby brings in change of pace. Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle. 25 March 2017. 24 October 2005.
  5. Louis B. Parks, "Houston Chronicle," May 28, 2006, "Good bad girls: The women of Roller Derby are a hit in Houston", accessed February 25, 2010
  6. Web site: Houston Roller Derby kicks off its second season. Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle. 25 March 2017. 12 April 2007.
  7. Web site: Cochran. Eliott. Ladies in the streets. Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle. 25 March 2017. 22 June 2008.
  8. Web site: Houston Roller Derby 2010 season promises thrills, competitive action. Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle. 25 March 2017. 14 March 2010.
  9. Web site: Guerrero. Mauricio. Women's roller derby really packs a punch. Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle. 25 March 2017. 3 May 2011.
  10. Web site: Exemption Verification. aixtcp.cpa.state.tx.us. Comptroller.Texas.gov. 25 March 2017.
  11. Web site: Home . houstonrollerderby.com.
  12. Craig Malisow, "Houston Press," Nov. 11, 2009, "Houston's Roller Grrls Headed To National Championship", accessed February 25, 2010
  13. News: Mercy Less . Team Canada Roster Announced . 9 December 2011 . Derby News Network . 5 August 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111205005943/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2011/08/team_canada_roster_announced . 5 December 2011 .
  14. Lana Berkowitz, "Houston Chronicle", April 6, 2006, "Rollergirl has Killa instinct", accessed February 25, 2010
  15. Web site: February 2006 Dust Devil Invitational Rankings. WFTDA. 25 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20070223171740/http://wftda.com/stats2/2006_Tournaments.htm. 23 February 2007.
  16. Web site: Marshall. Justice Feelgood. Western Regionals: Complete Capsule Recaps Derby News Network. Derby News Network. 25 March 2017. 8 October 2008.
  17. Web site: Marshall. Justice Feelgood. South Central Regionals Capsule Recaps Derby News Network. Derby News Network. 25 March 2017. 25 September 2009.
  18. Web site: Marshall. Justice Feelgood. 2009 Nationals: Capsule Recaps Derby News Network. Derby News Network. 25 March 2017. 14 November 2009.
  19. Web site: Marshall. Justice Feelgood. 2010 South Central Region Playoffs Recaps Derby News Network. Derby News Network. 25 March 2017. 8 October 2010.
  20. Web site: South Central 5th Place: 5SC Houston Survives 7SC No Coast's Comeback, 173 – 157 Derby News Network. Derby News Network. 25 March 2017. 2 October 2011.
  21. Web site: Talionis. Lex. SC 9th Place: 3SC Houston Ices 10SC Jacksonville, 255-155 Derby News Network. Derby News Network. 25 March 2017. 7 October 2012.
  22. Web site: September 20-22, 2013: Asheville, North Carolina - Women's Flat Track Derby Association. wftda.org. WFTDA. 25 March 2017.
  23. Web site: Talionis. Lex. D1A 5th: (5) Steel City Comes Back On (7) Houston, 202-185 Derby News Network. Derby News Network. 25 March 2017. 22 September 2013.
  24. Web site: D1E: Results Derby Central. Derby Central. 25 March 2017. 22 September 2014.
  25. Web site: Deadwards. Lisa. D2C 3rd Place: #1 Santa Cruz outsteps #3 Houston, 154-141. Derby Central. 25 March 2017. 25 August 2015.
  26. Web site: D2W: #8 Boulder County makes playoff history defeating #2 Houston, 184-181. Derby Central. 25 March 2017. 21 August 2016.
  27. Web site: Deadwards. Lisa. D1D: #6 Queen City freeze out #11 Houston, 195-104. Derby Central. 4 January 2018. 22 September 2017.
  28. Web site: Khaos. Merry. D1D: #5 Atlanta prevails over #11 Houston, 323-143. Derby Central. 4 January 2018. 25 September 2017.
  29. Web site: 2018 WFTDA Playoff Bracket Releases to a Record Number of Declines . The Apex . 10 January 2019 . 16 July 2018.
  30. Web site: 21 February 2024 . WFTDA Announces New Regional Competitive System and Championships. . Women's Flat Track Derby Association.
  31. "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  32. "12/8/2006 WFTDA National Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]
  33. "Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007
  34. Web site: Rankings – WFTDA . wftda.com . WFTDA . 25 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202070211/http://wftda.com/rankings . 2 February 2009 . dead .
  35. Web site: Rankings – WFTDA. wftda.com. WFTDA. 25 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20100430194525/http://wftda.com/rankings. 30 April 2010.
  36. Web site: Rankings – WFTDA. wftda.com. WFTDA. 25 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20110302222136/http://wftda.com/rankings/. 2 March 2011.
  37. Web site: Current Rankings. WFTDA. 25 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20120125085842/http://wftda.com/rankings. 25 January 2012.
  38. Web site: Current Rankings. WFTDA. 25 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20130320122723/http://www.wftda.com/rankings. 20 March 2013.
  39. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2013 – WFTDA. wftda.com. January 2014. WFTDA. 25 March 2017.
  40. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA. wftda.com. January 2015. WFTDA. 25 March 2017.
  41. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA. wftda.com. January 2016. WFTDA. 25 March 2017.
  42. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA. wftda.com. 6 January 2017. WFTDA. 25 March 2017.
  43. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA. wftda.com. 5 January 2018. WFTDA. 5 January 2018.
  44. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA . wftda.com . 7 January 2019 . WFTDA . 23 January 2019.
  45. Web site: Rolling with the Derby Girls. 29-95. Houston Chronicle. 25 March 2017. 15 October 2009.

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