Source: CVDaily Feed
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LOGAN – Roller derby is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and a group of women are ready to bring it to Cache Valley. Julie Young and Amber Greening are two of the women who commute so they can participate with the Junction City Roller Dolls, a women’s roller derby league based out of Ogden. However, with growing interest, the women think an extension of the Junction City Roller Dolls could be created so women would not have to commute every week for practices.
“We’re thinking we could just work as part of Junction City and expand to have a home team based in Cache Valley and then a home team based in Ogden. Then we could play each other and the best of the best from those two home teams can make up a travel team. Then we’d be even more powerful,” explained Young, whose derby name is Tic Tac Flo.
The women are holding a meeting about the expansion where those interested can come and learn more about this full contact sport on roller skates. The meeting is Friday, August 23 at 6 p.m. and will be held at Natural Philosophy 155 N. Church Street in Logan. There will also be discussion on where the team could potentially hold practices.
Greening, who stands at five feet tall and is the shortest woman in the league, says that you don’t have to be a certain size or personality to do roller derby.
“There is a perception sometimes but derby, I feel like, is really for any girl that has the passion, the heart to play and the willingness to learn,” she said.
Greening’s derby name is Muggsy Rogue, a spin-off of Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues, the shortest man to ever play in the NBA.
“I get that a lot from people, ‘You play derby? But you’re so little.’ But sometimes I’m harder to hit. For me it’s a challenge and I love playing team sports,” explained Greening.
“I went to a game and thought, ‘I want to do this,’” said Young, who has done derby for four years now. Her husband told her he didn’t think she was mean enough. “I told him, ‘Well, I’m doing it now.’”
Young and Greening encourage those with any interest in this sport to attend the meeting, regardless of if you know how to skate or not.
“You just have to learn the rules and what to do on skates. I hadn’t skated when I joined since my 5th grade end of year party,” admitted Young, who is now a member of the Junction City Roller Dolls’ travel team.
The Junction City Roller Dolls have a double header this Saturday, August 24 at the Golden Spikes Event Center in Ogden. They will take on Provo and Grand Junction. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the bout starts at 6 p.m. Since it is a special back to school bout, kids 12 and under get in free. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Young said there will also be a silent auction and the proceeds will go to CAPSA.