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Steel City Roller Derby or SCRD, is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2006, the league celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2016.[1] Steel City is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[2]

History and league structure

Steel City was founded as the "Steel City Derby Demons" in 2006,[3] after Natalie "Busty Brawler" Gilchrist, Pam "Suzy Sydal" Simmons, and Becky "Elsa Slam" Bauer were inspired to recruit skaters for a potential roller derby team after hearing from a friend about the L.A. Derby Dolls.[4] By early 2007, Steel City was ready to hold its first public games at BladeRunners in Harmarville,[5] and was announced as a new member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in May 2007.[6]

Upon its founding, Steel City had four teams, the Bitch Doctors, the Hot Metal Hellions, the Slumber Party Slashers and the Wrecking Dolls.[7] As of 2016, SCRD features two travel teams, including the WFTDA all-star A-team, Steel Hurtin', and the B-team (formerly known as the "Blitzburgh Bombers"),[8] Steel Beamers. Steel City also has a three team home league comprising the Allegheny Avengers, the Mon Monsters, and the Penn Bruisers.[9]

Then-league member Jennifer "Snot Rocket Science" Gaskins was a member of Team USA at the 2011 and 2014 editions of the Roller Derby World Cup.[10][11]

In 2011, Pittsburgh city councillor Natalia Rudiak sponsored a proclamation at Pittsburgh City Council that led to a declaration of September 13, 2011 as "Steel City Derby Demons Day" in recognition of the league's "community involvement, commitment to athleticism, and positive international representation of Pittsburgh".[12][13]

For much of its history, Steel City played its home games, and practiced at Romp N Roll, a roller rink in Glenshaw, which was announced to be closing in late 2016.[14] As of 2017, Steel City is holding its home events at the Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena in Cheswick.[15][16]

WFTDA competition

After gaining WFTDA membership in 2007, Steel City first qualified for WFTDA Playoffs in 2009, as the seventh seed at that year's Eastern Regional Tournament.[17] After opening the weekend with a sound defeat against Philly, Steel City bounced back with victories over the Dominion Derby Girls and DC Rollergirls to finish the weekend in seventh place.[17] In 2010, Steel City improved their Eastern Regional performance by taking the fifth-place game 151-121 over the Carolina Rollergirls,[18] and improved yet again in 2011, losing the third-place game 189-94 to Charm City to finish in fourth place.[19] At the final East Region Playoff in 2012, fifth-seeded Steel City lost their first games to Charm City and DC, but rebounded to set a then-new Playoffs record by defeating the Dutchland Rollers 476-107 to take ninth place.[20]

In 2013, the WFTDA moved to a top-40 Division system for Playoffs, and Steel City qualified at the Division 1 level for the tournament in Asheville, North Carolina, where they entered as the fifth seed and finished in fifth place with a 202-185 victory over Houston Roller Derby.[21] At the 2014 Division 1 Playoff in Evansville, Indiana, seven-seed Steel City finished in eighth place with a 184-170 loss to Toronto Roller Derby.[22] Steel City took seventh place at the 2015 Division 1 Playoff in Jacksonville with a 281-134 win over Charlottesville Derby Dames,[23] and as the tenth seed in 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina, Steel City defeated Ann Arbor Derby Dimes 258-105 to finish in ninth place.[24]

Rankings

Season Final ranking[25] Playoffs Championship
2007 NR[26] DNQ DNQ
2008 8 E[27] DNQ DNQ
2009 7 E[28] 7 E[17] DNQ
2010 5 E[29] 5 E[18] DNQ
2011 4 E[30] 4 E[19] DNQ
2012 9 E[31] 9 E[20] DNQ
2013 18 WFTDA[32] 5 D1[21] DNQ
2014 29 WFTDA[33] 8 D1[22] DNQ
2015 28 WFTDA[34] 7 D1[23] DNQ
2016 41 WFTDA[35] 9 D1[24] DNQ
2017 104 WFTDA[36] DNQ DNQ
2018 103 WFTDA[37] DNQ DNQ

References

  1. ^ Shaw, Aly (18 September 2016). "Steel City Roller Derby: A Queer Yinzer's Dream Team - QueerPGH". QueerPGH. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Steel City Roller Derby – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  3. ^ Batz Jr., Bob (22 March 2006). "Rink leaders bond while starting roller derby league". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006.
  4. ^ Conboy, Sean (May 2010). "The Steel Hurtin'". www.pittsburghmagazine.com. Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  5. ^ Batz Jr., Bob (18 January 2007). "Steel City Derby Demons put their bodies on the line for the thrill of the game". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  6. ^ "WFTDA Newsletter - May 2007". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  7. ^ Yogmas, Cindy (25 January 2007). "Roll Call". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  8. ^ Hare, Krystal (20 December 2012). "Pittsburgh's roller derby league is recruiting new members for 2013 – Point Park News Service". Point Park News Service. Point Park University. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  9. ^ Sholtis, Brett (8 December 2013). "Pittsburgh's Roller Derby teams provides aggressive outlet for the women who play - The Pitt News". The Pitt News. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  10. ^ Weisberg, Deborah (25 March 2016). "Roller derby more than 'just a workout'". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  11. ^ Talionis, Lex (15 October 2013). "2013-14 Team USA Roster Revealed | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  12. ^ "City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2011-2083". pittsburgh.legistar.com. City of Pittsburgh. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Steel City Derby Demons Day Proclamation". Steel City Roller Derby. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  14. ^ Deitch, Charlie (24 October 2016). "Pittsburgh's Steel City Roller Derby searching for new home in wake of Romp n' Roll closing". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  15. ^ "Intraleague Schedule". Steel City Roller Derby. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  16. ^ Deitch, Charlie (11 January 2017). "Pittsburgh's Steel City Roller Derby finds a new home in nearby Cheswick". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  17. ^ a b c Marshall, Justice Feelgood (11 September 2009). "Eastern Regionals Capsule Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  18. ^ a b Marshall, Justice Feelgood (26 September 2010). "2010 East Region Playoffs Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  19. ^ a b "East 3rd Place: 3E Charm City Advances to Championships Over 4E Steel City, 189-94 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  20. ^ a b Talionis, Lex (30 September 2012). "East 9th Place: 5E Steel City Pulverizes 9E Dutchland, 476-107 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  21. ^ a b Talionis, Lex (22 September 2013). "D1A 5th: (5) Steel City Comes Back On (7) Houston, 202-185 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  22. ^ a b Jennings, Hannah (21 September 2014). "D1E: Toronto Roller Derby Survives Steel City, 184-170". Derby Central. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  23. ^ a b Deadwards, Lisa (20 September 2015). "D1J 7th Place: #8 Steel City Meddles With #10 Charlottesville, 281-134". Derby Central. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  24. ^ a b "D1C: #10 Steel City irons #9 Ann Arbor, 258-205". Derby Central. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  25. ^ "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  26. ^ "Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007
  27. ^ "Rankings – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  28. ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  29. ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  30. ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  31. ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  32. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2013". WFTDA. January 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  33. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  34. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  35. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  36. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  37. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_City_Roller_Derby