Mixed news for the Texas Rollergirls: In the latest Women’s Flat Track Derby Association rankings, released on July 21, travel team the Texecutioners dropped from No. 4 to No. 5. It’s not that surprising after their 125-65 blowout at the hands of New York’s Gotham Girls Rollerderby on June 21 during the East Coast Extravaganza. Neither a 135-48 victory the next day over the Cincinnati All Stars or a 165-30 evisceration of No. 24 Houston HaRD Knocks on July 13 could take the edge off, and so Gotham flies from No. 5 up into the No. 2 slot.

But before there’s too much doom and gloom at the rink that built flat track, some good news. On July 19 (probably a little too late to have any real effect on the rankings), Texas traveled to Kansas City to push No. 1 ranked national champions the KC Roller Warriors to a narrow 101-102 win for the home team. While it’s still a defeat, taking Kansas to the mat in their own house has got to be a warning to every other team that no one should count the Texecutioners out before the Western Regionals in October.

This article appears in July 25 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.