Steel City Roller Derby

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]

Steel City Roller Derby
Metro areaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
CountryUnited States
Founded2006
TeamsSteel Hurtin' (A team)
Steel Beamers (B team)
Blitzburgh Bombers (developmental team)
Former Teams
Allegheny Avengers
Mon Monsters
Penn Bruisers
Track type(s)Flat
VenuePittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena (Cheswick, PA)
AffiliationsWFTDA
Websitewww.steelcityrollerderby.org

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. 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. Marshall, Justice Feelgood (11 September 2009). "Eastern Regionals Capsule Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  18. Marshall, Justice Feelgood (26 September 2010). "2010 East Region Playoffs Recaps | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  19. "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. 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. 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. Jennings, Hannah (21 September 2014). "D1E: Toronto Roller Derby Survives Steel City, 184-170". Derby Central. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  23. Deadwards, Lisa (20 September 2015). "D1J 7th Place: #8 Steel City Meddles With #10 Charlottesville, 281-134". Derby Central. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  24. "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. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  33. "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  34. "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  35. "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  36. "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  37. "Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
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