Redneck Betties preparing for foreign invasion
A pair of Swift Current roller derby girls will be collecting frequent flyer miles this season as their passion and dedication to the sport have resulted in some exciting opportunities both north and south of the Canadian borders.
Miss Koozie and Shell on Earth, the youngest and one of the most senior members of the Redneck Betties, will be busy competing with different teams all across the Western Hemisphere this season.
Miss Koozie, 14, was recently named to the AAA team based out of southern Alberta, which is comprised primarily of players from Southern Alberta, in addition to herself and one from Saskatoon. Miss Koozie, who is primarily a blocker, tried out for the team in Medicine Hat in September.
“We’ve had one game in Medicine Hat against Misdemeanours, the fifth ranked junior team in the world. We lost, but we put up a really good fight. We’re kind of expecting to do really well. We have some high level coaches and some very high level players. A lot of them are on Team Canada Junior as well.”
The AAA team will see action in Spokane, Washington; Los Angeles; Eugene, Oregon, Kansas City; Calgary; and possible Kalamazoo, Michigan if things go well.
“I just want to put my name out here and make people remember me. Be able to teach people, but also be able to learn from people and just see myself grow as a player,” said Miss Koozie.
She has been involved in roller derby for five years. “My mom started playing when I was five and then my dad started coaching. He now refs and then my mom is retired, but not really. I decided that I wanted to play too.”
She said her favourite part of the sport is the people.
“The community is just amazing. But also just the rush and adrenaline you get from playing a game is amazing.”
Locally, Miss Koozie will suit up for both the junior Ra Ra Riots and the Redneck Betties this season. “I think we are going to have a pretty good year,” she said of the Redneck Betties. “Last year we had two players get hurt, but one of them should be coming back this year, so I think we should be pretty strong. The biggest thing for us is just numbers. We have a good coach, good training, and I think we will do pretty well.”
One of the players that Miss Koozie can learn from is teammate Shell On Earth, who was an original member of the Redneck Betties nearly 10 years ago.
“I’m as stubborn as they come. I always say I can’t leave anything in the middle. I can’t quit until I’m done. I have to finish, I have to be the best that I can possibly be and I don’t think I’m there yet,” she smiled when asked about her longevity in a physically demanding sport.
Shell on Earth is currently in the midst of her third season on Team Sask, which will be heading back to Philadelphia for the Battle of the All-stars on February 13-16.
Shell on Earth was with Team Sask at the Battle of the All-stars last season.
“Last year our Team Sask, which are most definitely the underdog in that arena, we actually broke a record for the largest jump in the standings that the tournament had ever had. We were pretty proud of that result actually. We were the surprise that they were not expecting.”
Team Sask likely won’t be able to surprise as many opponents this time around.
“We are honestly hoping to do a bit better, although we will be less of a surprise. We are hoping to do a bit better this time. We lost some of our key jammers going into that one and had a jammer injury throughout that one. We’ve had a pretty big jammer focus this season and that’s where points score. We’re really hoping that that’s going to make the difference for us and hopefully we can surprise them again.”
Shell on Earth said she had two main takeaways from her time with Team Sask so far.
“That I’m better than I thought I was and I still have a long way to go. It’s a balance when you play at that level because you have to accept that you’re good enough to be there to show up and try out. As a humble person that can be hard thing to put above your name. But you also are so inspired by all the people who are so much better than you when you play at that level. It just makes you want to do more, faster and better. It’s a great experience.”
Redneck Betties fans will be able to watch Shell on Earth blocking again this season.
“I’m a blocker tried and true. It’s my love, it’s where I want to be. Every so often someone gets an idea, but we put that to bed quickly. I’m a blocker at heart. I have a protective nature and so it’s where I’m the happiest.”
Like Miss Koozie, Shell on Earth is optimistic heading into the Betties’ 10th season.
“I think we’re really strong, really exciting. As part of our 10th season we were asked to participate in a tournament in Iceland, so we will be heading there with a really strong team… That’s a really exciting opportunity for us. Most of us feel like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”