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Windy City Rollers Thu Nov 17 2011
Windy City Rollers All-Stars Fall in Derby National Championships
Photos and text by Steve Stearns
WCR's Yvette Yermaker (right) booty-blocks a Kansas City jammer.
The Windy City Rollers All-Stars have dominated WFTDA's North Central division for some time now, but when it came to last weekend's Continental Divide and Conquer national championship tournament in Denver, their luck ran out.
When WCR hosted last year's Uproar on the Lake Shore championships, they had the misfortune of being seeded to play the eventual winner of the tournament, the Rocky Mountain Roller Girls, in their first match. It seemed like their odds of advancing might be better this year -- but first they'd have to beat the Kansas City Roller Warriors, who beat WCR in a bout earlier this year.
It was a competitive match on Saturday, Nov. 12, but Kansas City got out to an early lead and managed to hold on until about midway into the second period. Windy City took over, and they looked to be on a roll with a score of 82-65 with 11 minutes left, but alas, the Rollers stalled. Kansas City rallied to win with a final score of 112-95.
Bork Bork Bork (left) and Jackie Daniels (center) swoop in to block Kansas City's jammer
While NYC's Gotham Girls would eventually win the championship, it was Kansas City that was the big story of the weekend. Although their win against Windy City would be their last of the tournament, they put a serious scare into both the Oly Rollers and the Texas Rollergirls in some of the most exciting games of the tournament. Kansas City player Snot Rocket would go on to win the tournament MVP for her efforts.
Gotham celebrates their status as the 2011 national champs.
With the end of Continental Divide and Conquer, the 2011 flat track season is at a close. Fortunately if you still need one more derby fix, the Chicago Invitational bout is this weekend, featuring a banked track derby tournament. The Windy City Rollers, the Gotham Roller Girls, the Rocky Mountain Roller Girls, and the LA Derby Dolls will all be competing for a $10,000 prize. Check here for more information and tickets.
