A start-up roller derby team calling Marion home will hold a meet and greet during a fundraiser at Bob Evans this week. The Marion Marauderz are hoping to raise funds for jerseys and to help cover the cost of liability insurance they need in order to play against other teams.
From 6:00pm to 9:00pm Wednesday through Friday (February 25-27, 2015), customers at Bob Evans can present the flyer pictured and the restaurant will donate 15% of the diner’s bill to the team.
If you stop by Bob Evans during the event on Thursday, you’ll get a chance to meet the team with most of the members expected to be in attendance. The team will pose for pictures, sign autographs, and share their love and knowledge of roller derby with those interested.
Growing up as a regular session skater in the 70’s and 80’s, Tommie Blackledge DeAssis, a Marion native and team founder, says she has always loved skating, but life’s changes resulted in a 25 year hiatus. Coming back to Marion in 2005, her kids were being invited to birthday parties at the local rink, but “skate fever” really hit them around 2012.
“I saw the movie Whip It and it really triggered my desire to do something like (roller derby),” said DeAssis. Unfortunately, she found that the closest teams are in Mt. Vernon and Columbus.
“I had heard that there was some interest about a derby team starting at the local rink, but every time I asked, it was up in the air,” said DeAssis.
DeAssis says she was hesitant to make the commitment at that time because of distance and having young kids. She finally got “the gumption” to do something about it after being invited to skate in the Popcorn Parade last year with the Buckeye Beautyz Junior Roller Derby from Columbus.
“Tracie ‘Pairadice’ Lucas, the founder and head coach of Columbus’ only junior derby team, introduced me to the crazy world of derby soon after the parade and I decided, why not,” said DeAssis. “We have a perfectly good rink in town. Why not?”
Photo by Shannon Maynard Photography
With the help of several roller derby veterans, including Pairadice and Tracy Crawford, aka Choke-a-Cola, formerly of the Central Ohio Roller Dolls of Mt. Vernon, a team started to take form. Pairadice is serving as the team coach along with Spit, a referee-in-training and the team’s assistant coach.
The team is currently made up of about 11 active members, but to be fully rostered, they need 14. DeAssis says it takes on average about three years for a team to become WFTDA Apprentices before being fully sanctioned.
“From start to finish, depending on the skill level of the skaters, about 8 months of practice is pushing it to even be considered ‘scrimmage ready’ and even longer to be ’bout ready’,” said DeAssis. “We still have our work cut out for us, so please be patient.”
The team is currently looking for a new practice facility in Marion. If anyone is aware of a warehouse, church, school gym that would offer a location to practice, the team would like to hear from you.
You can learn more about the Marion Marauderz on Facebook by clicking here.
If you are interested in learning more about roller derby or if you are interested in joining, you are invited to get in touch through Facebook or by emailing [email protected].
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