Texas Rollergirls: End of an Era, Beginning of a New One

Teams change. Leagues change. Players come and go. But this year's draft and retirees for the Texas Rollergirls could be the biggest shake up the league has ever seen.

I'm left feeling a little bit like the reporters who had to cover Jim Thorpe's last time at bat for the Boston Braves. It will be great to see new faces on the bench, and there's a slew of fresh talents, many of them rec league alumni. There are also a few experienced transfers heading to town, like Fifi Nomenon from LA's Angel City Derby Girls, and Barbie Got Back, formerly of Illinois' Rockford Rage.

But it's going to be strange to see a Texas Rollergirls bout without Cheap Trixie or Curvette or Ryder Down or Vicious Van GoGo or Lady Stardust on the track. No more of RadioActive's cheerful grins or Dilla's cool approach to running the bench. No more Punk Rock Phil or Dagger Deb, the two most successful coaches in the history of flat track. No more of Belle Starr's shuffle and jive on the line. These are players who have defined the league and, in many ways, the sport.

And some teams will see more changes than others, especially with the newest rule change. Like many top-tier leagues, Texas will now allow players to elect to be travel-team only. Five players have elected to take that option (considering how much time training and prepping for home and travel play can be, who can blame them?) But that means the 2012 champions, the Hell Marys, will take to the track next year down six players and the core of their coaching roster. So no pressure on the newbies, I guess.

So farewell and hello, skaters new and old. May there always be fresh bearings on your wheels and Febreze for your wrist guards.

Hell Marys
Retiring: Punk Rock Phil & Dagger Deb (coaches), Bench Coach Ryder Down (bench coach), Beth Threat, Kat A Killzem, Tomax Blade
All-star: Luce Bandit, Polly Gone, Barbara Ambush
New skaters: Angel O, Brown Buttah, Rosie, Sandy Ravage, XXXTina

Honky Tonk Heartbreakers
Retiring: Tammityville Horror, Yellow DIE
All-star: Shortcut, Killbox
New skaters: Adde, Barbie Got Back

Hotrod Honeys
Retiring: Dilla, Kiss of Steph, RadioActive, Rita Menweep, Vargas Grrl, Vicious van GoGo
New skaters: Frankendoll, Glt-y, Kat Von Speed, La Dolce Beatah, Slamdra Dee

Hustlers
Retiring: Will da Beast (Coach), Acute Angel, Babe Ruthless, Belle Starr, Cheap Trixie, Curvette, Lady Stardust, Pussy Velour
New skaters: Bonnie Blitzkrieg, Fifi Nomenon, Hot Box, Killer Crouton, Shebola Virus

2013 Season Dates

Sun. February 10
Sat. March 30
Sat. April 13
Sat. May 11
Sat. June 8
Sat. July 13
Sat. August 10
Sat. September 7

More info about the Texas Rollergirls at www.texasrollergirls.org, and follow all our Roller Derby coverage on The Score blog.