Roller Rama Drama
By Ashley Renteria and Jonathan Celiz
Loud punk music, shouting, grunts and thuds. These are a few of the normal sounds you would hear while at a roller derby game. If you didn’t already know about Taft’s local women’s roller derby team, you will now. The not-for-profit team was started two years ago by Terra Bullard, whose derby name is “Das Booty.” Bullard started the Westside Wreck Hers because she was a member of the derby team in Bakersfield along with several other local Taft players and wanted to make a team here for her town. Today, the Wreck Hers are the first and only Taft roller derby team with 19 girls on the team who travel out of town to play in tournaments against teams from other cities.
On Saturday September 12th, the Westside Wreck Hers Roller Derby Team held a rip-roaring, full contact game at the Rec-n-Yard at 6 pm. The theme of the match-up was based on Superheroes and Villains; teams on each side showcased a Justice League and Legion of Doom. Members from both teams arrived dressed in costume, hair and makeup matching their superhero/villain alter ego. The excitement didn’t stop at the costumes however, as there were multiple raffle ticket opportunities, a half-time contest, food and vendors sold items such as Tupperware, beauty boot camp positions, and liquor tickets for the Beer Garden which were distributed by none other than the Oildorado Maids of Petroleum.
Bullard “Das Booty” gets tough with teammates.
Energy filled the Rec-n-Yard as the DJ for the Wreck Hers; Shantel Waldo, played 70’s punk rock to pump up the players and lively crowd during warm-ups and routine equipment inspections. As the game began, the girls fought hard in order to assist their jammer and score points, thus enabling tension to rise between comic rivals. The DJ switched up the mood from rowdy punk rock to cool 90’s East Coast hip hop giving the girls a fresh second wind. After 45 minutes of sweating, falling, jamming and endless scoring attempts to put the Legion of Doom villains in the lead, the half-time whistle blew and allowed the Wreck Hers a much needed break to rest and strategize their next moves. Half-time fun consisted of a costume contest where male volunteers had to get dressed in Wreck Hers outfits as quickly as possible, resulting in the winner being awarded with a Wreck Hers tee shirt. Raffle tickets were called out and the crowed re-energized with nachos and drinks.
Superheroes and Villains scramble to assist their jammer and block opponents.
The Superheroes and Villains were called back to finish off the game with the villains in the lead by just 16 points. The Justice League tried to make a swift comeback but couldn’t quite keep up with the Legion of Doom villains. As the score got closer the end of the game was near and the Superheroes were not able to defeat the Villains. The Villains were victorious on Saturday night’s game, having won by just 7 points. The Wreck Hers next home game will be on October 10th as part of the Oildorado celebration. Come show your support for the tough girls of Taft’s roller derby!
Superheroes and victorious Villains come together for a friendly after game shot.