Community welcomes roller derby girls at first bout in Cape Girardeau

If Jennifer Craig, also known as SK867-5309, and the rest of the Mississippi Mavens ended their first home scrimmage Friday without bruises, it'll be a shock to not only them, but also to the sold-out crowd of roller derby fans who showed up to cheer them on at the Arena Building.

The bruises may be worth it though, as the Mississippi Mavens beat the Broadway Bawlers 76-74 at the Capetown Smack Down, a special night for the competitors who were showing off their skills on home turf for the first time since beginning training as the Cape Girardeau Roller Girls in April.

"This is a lot of people," Craig said. "When you're out there, though, you don't even notice."

Tickets sold before the event hit more than 700, according to Damaris Cain, a friend of the roller girls', who also helped sell tickets.

The door tickets went in less than 10 minutes Friday, according to Cain. She said they turned away several people after tickets ran out.

"I wish I could have sold them tickets," Cain said. "I think it's great to watch girls play a full-contact sport."

Many of the spectators agreed with Cain, calling the evening new and exciting for Cape Girardeau. Several people in the audience, which consisted of all ages, had never been to a roller derby bout before but were there supporting someone they knew.

"My auntie Tiff is SE-MO Shocker," said 9-year-old Karli Lanigan, who sat with her friend Kalli Mayfield, also 9, holding Mavens signs. Lanigan's aunt, Tiffany Seymour, helped coach the Mavens. Lanigan and Mayfield said they'd both like to be skaters someday but aren't sure they know how yet.

"If I skate, I fall on my butt," Lanigan said.

Stacey Matlock, mother of two derby girls, had to cheer for both teams. Her first daughter skates as Sadie-istic for the Mavens, and Violet Vavoom skates for the Brawlers, partly as a jammer. Jammers start behind the group and must skate through the pack of blockers to score.

"The whole family is here. It's great," Matlock said. "I say they can hit each other, but no one else can hit them."

Kelley Petitt of Chaffee, Mo., came with her daughter, April Ressel, to watch the roller derby because from ages 9 to 22 she was involved in roller derby and skated at her hometown rink. Petitt, 45, said she was pleased that there were younger and older people in the crowd and was happy the team received a warm welcome from Cape Girardeau.

"I enjoy everything about it. I think I would really like to try out," she said, giggling.

Log on to www.capegirardeaurollergirls.com/schedule for information on the team's next bout and when it practices.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau MO