Illinois Valley News

(From left) Rollergirls Amber Griffin, Christina Weir and Tiffennee Griffin. (Photo by Madeline Leverett, for Illinois Valley News)

Most days, they fill a variety of roles in the community, including single mothers, waitresses, surgery counselors and even a mortician.

But when it comes time to practice, the members of Southern Oregon Rollergirls roller derby team strap on their helmets and pads, and become completely different people.

Roller derby is experiencing a national resurgence in popularity, and that has spread to the local level. As such, the 28 Rollergirls members hope to ride that momentum to create a new pastime for adult women looking to add excitement to their lives.

That certainly was the case for Tiffennee Griffin, who graduated from Illinois Valley High School in 2006. Griffin was active in Cougar athletic programs like volleyball and softball.

But she said that the opportunity to participate in those kinds of opportunities dried up once she hit adulthood.

Luckily for Griffin, Christina Weir, her cousin and a Selma resident, introduced her to roller derby. Griffin joined with her sister Amber, a 2007 IVHS graduate, and now commutes from Eugene twice a week for team practices.

“I was always super aggressive in high school. I had a lot of energy,“ Griffin said. “This is a good way to get out aggression.“

Before joining the team, the sisters said, they had never donned roller skates. Now they“re known as the “Twisted Sisters,“ and have helped the team earn its reputation as the “smallest, cutest team that knocks down much bigger girls,“ Griffin said.

Because of her inherent abilities, Tiffennee is known by teammates as “T“Naturoll.“ Amber has been dubbed “Ammonition,“ and Weir is known as “Richter,“ after the scale formerly used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

Cameo Longiotti, team secretary, describes the game as “very physical.“ Five people each from two teams take their places on the flat track. Four team members, the pivot and three blockers, are in the front; jammers in the rear.

The first lap around the track determines the lead jammer. Both jammers score points by making their way through the pack as the pivot controls the speed.

“It actually has a lot of strategy,“ Longiotti said. “It has more rules than football.“

Players aren“t allowed to use their elbows, knees or anything below them — and shoving, punching, kicking and hitting in the back are strictly prohibited. Despite those restrictions, bouts are not for the timid, and can still become rather rough and tumble in the full-contact sport.

Observed Griffin, “I couldn“t tell you how many times I“ve been elbowed in the face.“

Longiotti, who goes by the nickname, “Half-Pint Dynamite,“ said that one of her legs was broken in February, and that another girl suffered a broken elbow in a competition. Griffin said that girls often compare their bumps and bruises, and post photos of those on their MySpace and Facebook pages.

Rollergirl Holly Campbell lives out toward Selma, and has many relatives throughout Illinois Valley.

“Hollywood,“ as she“s known in these circles, became familiar with the sport while living on the East Coast and sought to become involved after moving back to the area.

“I like the athleticism of it all,“ Campbell said. “You have to be in shape.“

Campell said that she also appreciates the camaraderie that comes with being part of a team. It is a commitment, though, as 75 percent attendance at practice is required to participate in the events.“

A lot of us put in a lot of time at home,“ Campbell said. Longiotti said that the team began in January 2009. Unlike many sports, roller derby goes year-round.

“December is about the only month we take off,“ she said. Derbies take place monthly, and the team competes against counterparts from Eugene, Portland, Bend, Corvallis, Reno, Nev., and Redding, Calif. 

Another team is being started in Roseburg, Longiotti said, adding that the Rollergirls team hopes to travel to Canada for competitions next
year.   

In the meantime, roller derby is getting quite the grass-roots following in the area. Longiotti said that the team hoped for around 400 people to turn out for its first home bout. Instead, she said, approximately 1,000 showed up, and they had to turn people away at the door.

“It“s amazing how big it is,“ Longiotti said. “We never thought we“d have the turnout that we do.“

Fresh from a bout in Sonoma, Calif., the girls are preparing to host a team from Rainy City, Wash. July 24 at
the Medford Armory.

Tickets are cheaper in advance, but will be available at the door. Kids 6 and younger are free, and there is a small admission fee for children 6 to 12.

The theme for that bout is, “A Midsummer Night Scream,“ in tribute to Shakespeare“s classic play. Longiotti said the event also will feature a performance by local band Electric Storm, and is intended to be family friendly.

“We want to make it something that appeals to all ages,“ Longiotti said.

Funding for the team comes primarily from dues paid by its members and sponsorships. The team has thus far gotten commitments from Pabst Blue Ribbon, Unique Tattoo & Piercing, Castle Superstore, Jack“s Board House, and Air Tec Heating & Cooling, but is actively seeking more.

A car wash is set for July 11 at Abby“s Pizza on Williams Hwy. in Grants Pass from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The team is always looking for more members, and has a current need for larger players to serve as blockers. Participation currently is limited to girls 18 and older, but a junior league could be formed later.

Volunteer spots also are available to those who cannot skate or otherwise play.

Long-term, Longiotti said that she would like to see the squad split into two teams, one for home bouts; the other for road contests.

“A lot of younger girls are interested,“ Longiotti said.

For more information, visit sorollergirls.com or e-mail southernoregonrollergirls@gmail.com.

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