Greenville Derby Dames

Pyro
Greenville Derby Dames

How did you become involved with Roller Derby?  Met a coach at Bike Night
How Long Have You Been Involved in Derby?  Starting my 4th Season
Any Hobbies Outside of Derby?  Pool, Hunting, Riding Motorcycles
Day Job to Feed Derby Habit?  District Manager at Valet Waste
Favorite Food? Steak
Favorite Music to Get You Bout Ready?  Rock
Favorite Thing About Reffing?  The After Parties
Most Hated Thing About Reffing?  Expelling a Skater
Most Challenging Thing About Reffing?  Seeing all of the penalties
Most Common Misconception About Refs?  That we're the bad guys. We're just there to keep the skaters safe and to keep the game flowing smoothly.
How Do You Prepare for an Upcoming Bout?  Make sure all of the positions are covered and browse over the rulebook
How Has Derby Changed You?  It consumes all of your spare time and fills up your friends list on Facebook
Worst Injury?  Broken Ankle
Favorite Position to Ref?  Head Ref
Least Favorite Position to Ref? Outside Pack Ref
Do You Have A Favorite Call to Make?  Not really...I love them all!
Favorite Derby Moment?  When the first whistle blows.
How Do You Handle the Stress/Pressure's of Reffing?  I know that my fellow Zebras have my back.
How has time/experience changed how you ref a game?  As the game and strategy of derby evolves, so must the referees.  We are constantly discussing rules and clarifications on new situations.
Advice for new refs?  Learn the rules and DON"T DATE MY GIRLS!!!!  

Explosive derby action rocked the Dame Dome Saturday night.  If you weren’t there, YOU MISSED OUT. Period.  The Dames broke their attendance record with their 2012 season opening bout. Over 600 people attended the muscle bruising double header.  The dames first ever complete ticket sell out.

The opening bout featured Greenville Derby Dames two intra league teams, The Dames of Destruction vs. The Victorious Secrets.  There were fresh faces to be seen for this season opener with many of the girls making their bouting debut. The teams fought valiantly from the first whistle blast, but it ws the VictouriousSecrets that took the early.  Penalties spilled forth for the Dames of Destruction.  A mistake the Victourious Secrets took full advantage of in both halves.  The final jam saw a 30 point gain by Aim and Kil (AK)for the Victoious Secret’s cementing the win with a final score of (133-70).  Dita Von Beast took MVP blocker & Dolly Decker took MVP jammer for the Dames of Destruction.  Hellvis took MVP blocker & Stevie Wounder took MVp jammer for the Victorious Secrets.  Expect the Dames to seek blood thirsty retribution next time these two teams square off.

The headlining bout featured The Greenville Derby Dames All Stars hosting the Dixie Derby Girls from Huntsville, AL.  This was the second chance the Dames had the chance to prove themselves against a WFTDA team.  The night held hard hits, solid walls, and a evenly fought match for points.  The bout started with eRacer facing off against Lorena Block-it.  Lorena drew first blood by ending the jam with six points  for the Dames.  Annathrax went toe to toe with B.O.A. for the second jam and added four more points to the Dame’s lead.  Dixie gained 12 more points as they strategically called off the jams to shut out the Dames over the next five jams.  The first half rolled forward with both teams seeing very little point gain.  The night was devoted to strategy as the trend for ending the jam early continued adding only a few points at a time and the Dames trying to keep themselves out of the penalty box.  At the half the Dames were down by one point.  The teams took to the track after the intermission only to have Dixie shut the Dames out three more times.  In the end endurance won the night for the Dames as many of the fatigued Dixie skaters found themselves in the penalty box and on the injured list.   The Dames took full advantage of Dixie’s shortcomings and had Lorena Block-it score in excess of 25 points in two of her jams.  By the end of the game the Dames had gained a solid lead with a final score of 179-100. 5 Scar General took MVP Jammer and Cake Face Killa took MVP Blocker for Dixie. Lorena Blockit took MVP Jammer and Conway Hitty took MVP Blocker for The Dames.  The applause was overwhelming as the Dames reveled in their second WFTDA team win. 

 

 

Name: Kevin Upton ( K. Devil )
League Affiliation:Co-founder/ Coach: Greenville Derby Dames
Number of years involved in derby: 4 years

Why did you want to coach roller derby? I met a roller girl (Annathrax) who is now my wife. She played for a league that was in need of a coach when their coach decided to take a break. I stepped in and applied my sport playing experience to their training and fell in love with Roller Derby. 
What was the hardest thing about coaching the team? Learning how to teach and coach so many different personalities. Gaining a new players trust. Most importantly is getting everyone to buy into the discipline and training. 
What was the most fun thing about coaching the team? Watching the hard work put to test. Seeing the confidence on the face of all my skaters. Watching them execute and play the game like there is no tomorrow. Seeing the smiles from a hard fought victory is the best feeling and the most fun part of coaching.
What qualities make a skater great? Her work ethic for starters. The greatest skaters are always challenging themselves. Good attitude is very, very important. Being able to take constructive criticism is a key part to becoming a great skater.
Which skater do you most admire? I admire my wife Annathrax the most. Without her none of this would be possible. I also admire all the skaters Past, Present, and Future that have and will help the Greenville Derby Dames to continue to reach their goals and be successful.
Which coach or manager do you most admire, from any sport? I admire any coach who believes in his/her team and continues to push them to compete and win.
What are your favorite non-derby sports to play or to watch? Outside of derby im a football fanatic.
Do you have any advice for skaters just starting out? Make an effort to get to know your teammates, Do not judge yourself based on the ability of others. Your skills will come. If you need to throw up, do it. Then get back on the track and finish your laps. Talk less, skate more and Listen to your coach. He/she is coach for a reason.
Do you have any advice for those interested in coaching derby? Here are some keys I go by that have helped me along my way. Its from an article i read posted by TXRD.

•  We are all Unique!
•  Humans are Limited Capacity Processors!
•  Multitasking!  Eeek!!!
•  Trust, Trust, Trust!!! Respect, Respect, Respect!!!
•  Your Training Program must Compliment your League
•  Unified and Happy Teams Win
•  Focus on what you have
•  Skills and Characteristics that can be taught v. those that cannot be taught
•  Have Realistic Expectations
•  Being Challenged is Fun
•  Winning is Uncertain, Playing Good Derby is Not

What league(s) are you/have you been affiliated with? GDD only
How long have you been skating (derby)? 3 years in April
How did you discover roller derby? I went to the starbucks down the road to get my mom a gift card for her bday and there was a recuitment poster hanging up so I took the info and it kinda just went from there
List your notable derby injuries...ruptured bursa in right knee... twice and plantar facitis in left foot
What do you do to get in to “derby mode”? Listen to music and watch derby youtube videos
How did you select your derby name and number? My coworker suggested abacus and i suggested frostborn bitch but my grandma didnt like the latter so we went with Abacus. My number is based off of 2 numbers that are always popping up 6 and 19
How do you pay the bills, feed your derby addiction? I am a senior payroll specialist for Paychex, Inc a national payroll provider.
Most notable derby accomplishment? The first time I got MVP. I only went in like 6 or 7 jams the whole bout but after it was all over the other team came up to me and said that every time they saw me out there they were scared.
Favorite food? Hard to say, I guess that would be hot wings
Favorite derby moment? Anytime my team is winning
Any hidden talents off the track? None, sorry I am lame ; )
Any hobbies besides derby? I used to play world of warcraft but derby now consumes every bit of my free time.
Favorite book? The Harry Potter series.  
Favorite song that gets you pumped for derby? Anything by The Sounds
What celebrity should totally do derby? Thats a tie between lindsey lohan and pink. pink would be awesome and lindsey would be a trainwreck which would provide for much enterainment.
Do you have Tattoos? What, where, and why? None, i am afraid of needles (and I am a big chicken)
What is something that most people don’t know, or would never guess about you? I cannot stand being late or starting things late. I keep myself to a strict schedule to make sure I get all of my home, work and derby stuff done.
What was your previous athletic background, if any? None, unless you count the 2 summers I played softball when I was 12 and stood in left field bored out of my mind.
Which skater inspires you most, and why? Deranged from RMRG. She is a badass that can block and jam and she is on Team USA. 
Do you have any advice for skaters just starting out? Do not give up. You will have to push yourself harder than anything else you ever had. Don't be afraid to ask questions when it comes to gear, rules, strategy and what you personally need to improve on. If you dont ask they you will never know.
Favorite Derby Gear? 187 KNEE PADS, I KNOW THEY ARE EXPENSIVE BUT BUY THEM NOW!!! YOU WILL THANK ME LATER!!!
List 3 things that you plan to accomplish in 2012. Mastering the backwards block,have an undefeated season for both All Stars and Bad News Babes, and taking home the 2012 State Championship Trophy.

What do the Greenville Derby Dames and the Road Warriors have in common? Why Jay Handler a.k.a Pass Da Mic! The Greenville Derby Dames invaded the Wine, Women and Warriors night at the Greenville Road Warriors Game at the Bi-Lo Center on January 12th. The Dames recruited, networked, met a few of the players, ran a booth in the concourse and of course – even got a little ‘Rowdy’. It was a great first event for our 2012 Season – be on the look out for more Greenville Derby Dame Neet N Greets! 

Come ring in the 2012 season, Derby Dame style! Meet the roller girls who are the Greenville Derby Dames, get info on our upcoming season and also where you can be spotting the Dames throughout the year! It's always a great time when the roller girls are in the house! See you at Baileys!! 


Saturday January 14th 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. @ Bailey's Sports Bar & Grille