From left: “Garnet Grit Bettie” teammates Erika Galarza, Lucy Moline-Robinson and Mikki Kauppila make their rounds at the Church of God during their most recent practice on Oct. 14. The team, which is comprised of 20 players and two referees is preparing for battle with other roller derby teams across Southeast.
Wrangell, are you ready for some roller derby action?
If not, hold on to your kneepads because the borough’s “Garnet Grit Betties” roller derby team is about to swing into action.
The team, which currently comprises 20 participants and two referees, is the brainchild of Wrangellites Shawna Buness, Mikki Kauppila and Jennifer Wiederspohn. The three have spent the past few months recruiting the women to take part in setting up the team – which could end up competing across Southeast.
Buness said her team is getting ready for competition – from wherever it might arise.
“We’re a part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association,” Buness said. “While there is no team in Ketchikan or Petersburg yet, they have contacted me about how to start one after we got started as a group.”
According to Buness, Juneau already has a league, and Petersburg may not be far behind, though she adds they’ll be ready if our sister-city to the north ponies up.
“We have someone coming to do a camp with us on the first weekend of November, and she is pretty awesome, so we’re here to help. We should be ready by May to take on anybody,” said Buness.
And while the team has no sanctioned rink to allow home games, Buness added that it is in the works.
“Finding a place to play is something we are looking into and we are working on it,” she said.
Anyone interested in being a referee for practices or matches should contact Buness.
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