Garnet Grit girls take fifth at state

Wrangell's roller derby season came to a positive close last Saturday, with the Garnet Grit Betties taking fifth place at the third annual United We Roll: Alaska Statewide Tournament in Palmer, May 15–17.

"It was a great way to end our season," remarked the team's coach, Shawna Buness. Though the Betties played in two bouts the previous season, this year was the team's first full schedule, and it finished with five wins and three losses.

Ten teams of rollergirls from around the state came together for the competition, as well as two coed teams.

For the Betties' first bout, it met up against last year's champions, the Juneau Rollergirls.

"We played really well," Buness said. "They just outplayed us." The Rollergirls won the bout 148 to 31.

The Betties won its next match 170 to 95 against the Kenai team, Far North. The two teams had never squared off before, but despite its smaller size the Wrangell team was able to hold a lead throughout the bout.

"That was really exciting getting to play a team we've never played before," said Rachel Coblentz, who was named Wrangell's Most Valuable Player of the tournament for blocking. Lizzy Romane was named the team's MVP for jamming.

The Betties then faced Juneau again in the loser bracket and lost again 148 to 31.

"They beat us again, and it knocked us out of the tour," Buness said. However, she said the experience was a fun one and that she was looking forward to next season.

"It's such a big family. It's like meeting for the first time long-lost friends," said Charlie Ross, one of the three referees Wrangell brought along.

"It went great. It went absolutely awesome," he said of the tournament. Ross also participated during the co-ed match, where a pickup team played against the Frozen Chosen from Fairbanks.

"It was competitive at first. But once the other team started getting more organized, they started dominating the ring," Ross said.

Now that the season is over, the Garnet Grit Betties will begin holding tryouts for next year's team.

"We'll be focusing this summer on recruitment," said Buness. "It allows us to really focus on our new skaters and give them the one-on-one training they need."

She said "fresh meat" tryouts would be held at the Hope Community Church of God roller rink at 6:30 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday, beginning in June. Prospective skaters need only bring themselves and a bottle of water.

"We have everything else they need to at least try it out," she said.

Another bout is planned as well, with available players partaking in a mash-up match during the 4th of July celebrations.