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Appalachian Rollergirls Travel to Greensboro Sunday to Take on the Gate City Rollergirls in the Final 2012 Bout

By Paul T. Choate 

The Rollergirls are looking finish the season with an impressive 8-1 record when they take on the Gate City Rollergirls of Greensboro on Sunday. Photo by Louis “A Boy Named Tsunami” Keiner and courtesy of Appalachian Rollergirls

Nov. 12, 2012. The Appalachian Rollergirls (7-1) will travel to Greensboro on Sunday, Nov. 18, for their final 2012 bout against the Gate City Rollergirls (4-3) in what has been an extremely successful season. The bout takes place at the Greensboro Coliseum with the doors opening at 4 p.m. and the match at 5 p.m.

“I think it will be interesting because Gate City is the first team we ever played and they formed around the same time we did. So I think it will be interesting to see where they’re at as a team,” said Jennele “Coco Janel” Vaquera, team co-captain and owner of Lucky Penny in downtown Boone.

In only their second season, the Rollergirls have posted some impressive wins against teams in much larger markets, including Charlotte, Asheville, Richmond, Va. and Savannah, Ga. In the Gate City bout they are looking to bounce back from the only blemish on their otherwise-perfect record, which came on Aug. 25 when they fell 126-87 to the Music City Brawl Stars of Nashville, Tenn. 

“I think overall it was a really good season for us,” Vaquera said. “We had a lot of new skaters join the team and I think the team has evolved overall as far as being a cohesive group of people and a team.”

Vaquera also noted that several High Country locals have been good about making the trip for away games and that the Rollergirls have had cheering sections at some away bouts. 

“We’ve had a good traveling presence,” she said.

The bout takes place at Greensboro Coliseum’s Special Events Center and the west wing B doors will open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10, $8 with valid student ID and kids 12 and under get in free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

For more information, visit appalachianrollergirls.com.

Appalachian Rollergirls Accepted as Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice

By Staff Reports

Nov. 12, 2012. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is proud to announce today that Appalachian Rollergirls have been accepted as an “Apprentice” affiliate of the WFTDA, the governing body for women’s amateur flat track roller derby.

“We are excited and honored to be accepted into the WFTDA Apprentice program. Becoming a member allows us to further the mission of the Appalachian Rollergirls; to encourage female athleticism, empowerment, and community awareness through activities, events, and charity involvement, as well as entertain people. Also, joining the WFTDA community will help bring further attention to roller derby and promote it as a sport at the national level.” says Jennifer Pillow (Rolli Cannoli), the teams President.

As an Apprentice affiliate of the WFTDA, the Appalachian Rollergirls joins the ranks of more than 100 all-female, skater-owned-and-operated leagues nationwide that have united to lead the growing sport of women’s flat track roller derby.

WFTDA apprentice leagues are matched with veteran member leagues who guide them in the processes and requirements necessary to become a full member of the Association.  Additionally, the mentor offers advice and information related to the management and development of the apprentice league.  WFTDA Apprentice leagues are considered “pre-members” of the WFTDA and have access to many of the resources and benefits of full WFTDA membership.

One of the benefits of becoming a WFTDA Apprentice team is the opportunity to bout against other WFTDA teams that may provide more of a challenge and assist the Appalachian Rollergirls in raising their skill level. Currently, ARG is scheduled to bout against several WFTDA teams over the next few months starting with the Gate City Rollergirls from Greensboro, North Carolina at the Greensboro Coliseum’s Special Events Center.

About the WFTDA
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the governing body for women’s flat-track roller derby, and a membership organization for the leagues to collaborate and network. The organization created and maintained the first standardized rule set for the flat-track game, now in its fourth edition. The WFTDA also serves as the sanctioning body for games, hosts tournaments, sets safety standards and provides insurance to athletes and leagues. There are currently 138 WFTDA member leagues and more than 75 apprentice leagues in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

About Appalachian Rollergirls
The Appalachian Rollergirls are an 18+ all-female skater-run flat track roller derby league based in Boone, North Carolina. Our mission is to encourage female athleticism, empowerment and community awareness through activities, events and charity involvement. 

Appalachian Rollergirls was founded in March, 2010 by an ASU student making a post on Facebook. Thanks to Facebook and a local businesswoman, over 80 women showed up at Skateworld to check out the revival of roller derby. ARG has since attracted more than  20 very committed women from around the high country.