SoDel Roller Derby kicks off 8th season Saturday, March 3
Story Location:
2201 S. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
United States
Southern Delaware Roller Derby kicks off its eighth season Saturday, March 3, with a bout that will attract roller derby talent from across the Mid-Atlantic.
Called the Black & White Scrimmage, Jamie Doerfler, team coach, said the coed event is expected to bring people from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The scrimmage is open to anyone who has passed a minimum skills test and has derby insurance.
Doerfler said the scrimmage is open to the public. Tickets are $10 at the door for skaters and members of the public.
Founded in 2011, Southern Delaware Roller Derby is an all-inclusive, flat-track roller derby league based in Dover. The team is co-ed, with an all-female all-star team that competes nationally called Southern Delaware Roller Derby All Stars.
Original team member Kasey Bennett said, SoDel has proven that women with differing personalities and various backgrounds can come together to make something great.
“This sport introduced me to the strongest women I know, and I am proud to count myself among them,” said Bennett.
The all stars open their season Saturday, March 31, in Hatfield, Pa., against the Buxmont Derby Dolls. The team’s first home game is Saturday, April 21, against NOVA, a team from Northern Virginia.
The team competed as a Women’s Flat Track Derby Association member for the first time in 2016.
Since then, said scheduler Cat Perfetti, the team has been fighting to improve its ranks on the national leaderboard.
“It used to be a scheduling nightmare to find teams willing to compete against us,” said Perfetti. “Ever since we’ve been nationally ranked, teams are reaching out to us.”
Doerfler said the team is always looking for more sponsors. She said money goes toward away game travel expenses, home game skating rentals, jerseys and other supplies.
Doerfler said new members, who want to compete against like-minded athletes up and down the eastern seaboard, are also always welcome.
“SoDel practices six hours a week at the rink, and we train on our own when not at practice,” said Doerfler. “We are made up of mothers, teachers, business owners, forensic analysts and more.”
SoDel’s home bouts take place at the Dover Skating Center, 2201 S. DuPont Highway, Dover. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. For more information go to sodelrollerderby.com.
