“The night I fell in love with a Roller Derby Queen.
Around and round, oh, round and round.
Meanest hunk o’ woman that anybody’s ever seen.”
-- Jim Croce, “Roller Derby Queen.” 1973
 
JACH NEWS SERVICE
 
NOTE: Brawlin' Dolls Oct. 10 bout ticktets can be found at www.brawlindolls.com. See the Brawlin' Dolls at the Lafayette 7 Theater Oct. 2-3 for the premiere of "Whip It."

WEST LAFAYETTE – With a major movie about roller derby, Whip It , hitting the big screen in October, a group of Lafayette women are working to make their own name.

Alone in what looks like a cavernous Family Sports Center at the edge of West Lafayette, Beth McAuliffe leads 10 other women skating around a painted oval on a gym floor designed to basketball.

Decked out in helmets, elbow and knee pads, they follow each other, concentrating on technique and speed. It’s crunch time for the Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls and not a moment to lose. This practice came a week before their July 25 bout in Florence, Ky. against the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollers.
 
But members of Lafayette’s very own roller derby team have their hearts set on October 10. After a little more of a year in existence, the team is preparing for its very first home bout against the Circle City Socialites from Indianapolis at the Family Sports Center. (Editor's note: Contact Lafayette Brawlin' Dolls at: lafayettebrawlindolls@gmail.com)
 
Did You Say Roller Derby?
 
The picture iconic singer Jim Croce painted in his hit song “Roller Derby Queen” is one of the lasting images most in the general public have of roller derby – banked tracks, lots of hard hits and fights and some “mean hunk of women.”

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The Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls, while up for good physical roller derby bout, don’t fit the stereotype. McAuliffe, who owns the team with Carie Mondero, is an oncology nurse. Renee Lewis is a stay-at-home mom. Rebecca Nicholson-Weir is study to get her doctorate in English at Purdue University. Abby Phagan is a retired Navy veteran.
 
The ages of the Brawlin’ Dolls range from 22 to 37, many of them coming on board during the first callout on April 1 of last year and Dolls promotions during the Mosey Down Main Street events and last year’s Layflats Music Festival.
 
“I think a lot people don’t know about derby today,” said McAuliffe, a former swimmer at Lafayette Jefferson. “They think it’s rough and staged because back then it use to be. It’s rough but it’s definitely not staged. When we talked with a lot of girls initially they say ‘Yeah, I can do that,’ but then when reality sets in they realize it’s not for them.”
 
McAuliffe said she was looking for something that challenged her physically and got her out into the community. She said she thinks once people see the Brawlin’ Dolls in action that they will be an attraction.
 
“This is so much fun and a lot of work,” said McAuliffe, who also is working to attract sponsors for its Oct. 10 home bout, organize transportation for its next road bout Aug. 29 at Beloit, Wis. against the Stateline Derby Divas. “It’s a business so there is a constant to-do list a mile long. It’s been a wonderful adventure so far.”
 
Each girl has her own nickname. McAuliffe’s is “Biscuits N Crazy.” She said her three daughters, ages 8, 7 and 4, have come up with their own roller derby names.
 
“They were with me during our first bout and cheered me on,” McAuliffe said. “I think it’s nice for them to see me doing something I really enjoy and I think that’s important, especially with girls.”
 
Roller Derby’s Nuts and Bolts
 
What’s the objective of roller derby? In a short-cut description, each team has two jammers and a pack of blockers. The jammers score points for her team by passing the opposing team’s blockers. The more blockers the jammer passes, the more points she scores. That’s where things get very interesting, because those blockers, who are usually in a pack, don't exactly give that opposing jammer a free pass and can physically block her or knock her down while at the same time trying to help their own jammer score points.
 
McAuliffe said there are limits to how physical the blockers can get to keep the jammer from passing them but they can still land some pretty good shots in the process.
 
“It gets pretty physical and you’re hitting people with all you have,” McAuliffe said. “There are two 30-minute halves so a bout last about 1 ½ hours. Most places have after parties, so we play these girls and then hang out with them. It’s a neat, supportive feeling. People are willing to keep what happens on the track on the track.”
 
It’s A Blast
 
Renee Lewis, 29, said she played sports briefly at Harrison High School. The mother of one said she thought the idea of joining the Brawlin’ Dolls would be fun.
 
“I checked the practices out, bought my gear and it's been a blast ever since,” Lewis said with a laugh. “Girls got anger in them and if they can get it out without getting in trouble, bring it on. I’ve been telling everyone I know because a lot of people don’t know about us. I hope this place will be pretty packed for our first home bout.”
 
Rebecca Nicholson-Weir, 31, came from Amarillo, Texas to attend Purdue. She said she was encouraged by her husband, David Weir, when she heard about the Brawlin’ Dolls a year ago.
 
“It’s been great,” said Nicholson-Weir, who is two years away from her doctorate in English. “I think my husband is okay with being a ‘Derby Widow.’ He was the one who told me I really ought to do this. I work in my mind so much that it’s nice to do something that puts me in my body and reminds me I have a body.”
 
Abby Phagan, 28, spent four years in the Navy before a relationship led her to Lafayette. She admits that one has to be “a little crazy” to put on skates, fly around a rink and bang with other women.
 
“I use to be in the Navy and I haven’t been in that team atmosphere since the military,” said Phagan, who is now in cosmetology school. “We couldn’t be any closer. Women can be a little catty at times but we are really close. We could use more recruits.”
 
Tim Kraska attends practice with wife, Emily. He serves as a bench coach and enjoys that his wife is a roller derby queen.
 
“It’s been great for her,” Kraska said. “It seems a little dangerous but she’s really taken to it and the family loves it. Her first bout was a really learning experience. A home bout will be a big undertaking but I think they will have a really good turnout. I hope they will be able to build from there and I think it will take off.”
 
Things To Do Before Oct. 10
 
McAuliffe said the Brawlin’ Dolls could use more recruits and sponsors. She said her immediate goal is to attract more supporters and join the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, roller derby’s national association. She said the Dolls also need men and women to referee and help with other aspects for their home debut.
 
The Brawlin’ Dolls may get a little assist indirectly from Hollywood. On Oct. 9, the movie “Whip It” will premiere in theaters across the country. “Whip It” is a movie about a Texas teenager who leaves the teen beauty queen circuit to join a roller derby team. The film is Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut and stars Academy award nominee Ellen Page (of “Juno”) and Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden as her mother.
 
“We know about the movie and we hope to do a promo at the movie theater,” McAuliffe said.
 
The Brawlin’ Dolls, though, are looking to have their own big lights and big stage on Oct. 10 at the Family Sports Center.