By Chris Nobbe

sports @ goBEACONnews . com

Local Ladies Find Great Enjoyment in Roller Derby

“ For the love of the game .” This phrase is often used to describe why people continue to enjoy sports well into

adulthood . For two women from Southeastern By Indiana , the “ love ” they Maxine have found is for a sport that Klump is an extension of being a “ rink rat ” while growing Community

up . Jamma Correspondent Kelly and Crystal Armbruster both compete with the Cincinnati Rollergirls axineklump ( CRG . thebeacon ), which @ yahoo is an . com organization with teams that compete in the Women ’ s Flat Track Derby Association ( WFTDA ).

Neither Ms . Kelly nor Ms . Armbruster was familiar with the sport when they first became involved with the team . Ms . Kelly had lost sixty pounds and was looking for a way to continue to stay active on her fitness track . Ms . Armbruster heard about the team and its Monday Night Derby held in Colerain . In fact , both of them got their first introduction to the sport at Monday Night Derby and began attending the classes to learn skills for the game .

Jamma Kelly is known as Cincy Psych-o ( because what would roller derby be without nicknames .) Ms . Kelly ’ s is based on her career as a school psychologist ), is a veteran of the derby . She joined classes in the fall of 2011 , tried out in January of 2012 , and was quite fortunate to make the team on her very first tryout . Becoming a part of the team on the first tryout is rare , as the administrators of the team , most of who also skate for the team , acknowledge

. Making the team typically takes a year in the organization .

Ms . Kelly had been off of her skates for over twenty years when she became involved with the team . “ I found it very empowering to be on skates again in my late 30 ’ s ,” said Ms . Kelly . For her , one of the joys of the sport is , “ Seeing the twinkle in the little girls ’ eyes when they see you skate and want to be just like you ,” said Ms . Kelly . “ It is an amazing feeling to empower little girls by doing something that you love .”

Crystal Armbruster , aka Crystal Whip , said , “ I was hooked and knew it was something I would like to pursue ,” after attending just two Monday Night Derby sessions . Ms . Armbruster made her start in the sport in January of this year . For her , the “ dreaded 27 / 5 laps ” ( 27 laps in 5 minutes ) proved daunting at first , but she achieved this required skill within two months . “ Derby , just as in life , shows us that no matter how many times you are down , if you work hard enough , you can get back up and master the skill ,” said Ms . Armbruster .

Both of these women recall many wonderful times on skates as young girls . They both feel those experiences are part of the reason they became involved in the sport , yet both acknowledge that the team will accept any level of skater in their open tryouts held throughout the year . Attending Monday Night Derby is encouraged to help acquire skills for the track and the tryout .

Ms . Kelly and Ms . Armbruster are excited to promote the sport by sharing their experiences with anyone who asks , which is quite frequently when someone hears they are involved with roller derby . Ms . Kelly wears her CRG apparel nearly everywhere and finds that this often sparks conversation . She often skates on the track at the Aurora ballfields and has had a few young girls join her with their

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Crystal Armbruster in a competition ( Photo by Jeffrey Sevier )

skates while their brothers have football practice .

Ms . Armbruster mentioned that she pushes out any articles and information on social media from the CRG posts to all her family and friends . She also stated that she is conscientious about motivating skaters who are new to derby and come to Monday practices by always offering encouraging words . The same was done for her when she began , and she knows how vital that can be to someone who is pushing for that next goal to make the team .

Ms . Kelly praised the attendance of many from Southeastern Indiana who have come out to support her on the team through the years . She stated , “ They came out to represent Southeastern Indiana in droves because we represent our own .” She is quite excited about the increase in the number of fans from our area with the addition of Armbruster to the team .

CRG has three more games remaining on their fall schedule played at Skatetown USA on Highway 747 ( Princeton- Glendale Road ) in West Chester . These games are on Oct . 22 , Nov . 11 , and Nov . 18 with games beginning at 7:30 P . M . Their WFTDA competitive home season , played mostly in the spring , is at their new home Schmidt Fieldhouse on the campus of Xavier University due to the closing of the Cincinnati Gardens last year . Schmidt Fieldhouse was described by one member of the team as fitting “ the derby vibe ” and a venue for the sport with the old gym feeling and intimate seating to view the floor .

The team averages between 600-800 spectators for their competitive season , and the atmosphere is always fun for all ages . Although a smaller setting , spectators can be right near the action and see the sport up close . The event has all the entertainment value of any other sport . The action is exciting , fast , and certainly aggressive and physical at times . Announcers help to give some insight to spectators to understand what is happening . Entertainment is provided during the breaks to keep the crowd involved ( including the “ wave ” being started by the skaters and carrying around the venue ). Skaters are readily available after the game to interact with the crowd , even holding an

Ms . Kelly often skates on the track at the Aurora ballfields and has had a few young girls join her .

open skate after the last event to allow several little girls the chance to skate with their favorite Cincinnati Rollergirl .

The Cincinnati Rollergirls are always looking for new interest . One can become involved by attending Monday Night Derby at The Skatin ’ Place in Colerain at 8 P . M . Check out their website at cincinnatirollergirls . com . The team information can also be found on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Youtube .

South Dearborn CC Invitational a Running Success

The 18th annual South Dearborn Cross Country Invitational was held in Aurora on September 16 . Many area schools competed in this annual meet as well as schools from other areas of the state and even Kentucky schools . The competition was keen , and the weather was quite moderate on the Saturday morn to provide great conditions for racing .

The varsity boys ’ race began the morning with 110 competitors from the eighteen teams lined up across the starting boxes . The teams were split into two divisions by school size but raced simultaneously .

In Division I , state-ranked Jennings County had a strong performance with all five scoring runners in the top 8 for a score of 19 . ( A score of 15 is the best you can do in a cross country meet .) The Panthers had the individual champion as well with Dalton Craig finishing the 5K race in 16:31.4 .

The scoring in Division I was rounded out with Batesville ( 53 ), Rushville ( 107 ), South Dearborn ( 129 ), Franklin County ( 134 ), Greensburg ( 135 ), and Madison ( 163 ).

In Division II , Rising Sun senior Trevor Levi was the top area finisher by placing second in the division at 16:58.9 . The team placement saw Williamstown ( KY ) take the title with 62 points followed by Southwestern ( 65 ), Rising Sun ( 93 ), Oldenburg Academy ( 99 ), Beechwood ( KY ) ( 104 ), South Ripley ( 130 ), Jac-Cen-Del ( 145 ), and Milan ( 164 ). Three teams did not have enough competitors to qualify for a team score .

As the morning sun warmed the air and burned off the early fog of the day , 105 girls competed next . A young and

South Dearborn students recently competed in the Pay It Forward 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament .

talented Greensburg team , with five of its seven varsity runners being freshmen , took the Division I title scoring 33 points to Batesville ’ s 55 in second . The individual champion was Greensburg freshman Hanna Brenner in 19:28.1 .

The remaining teams in Division I were Rushville ( 77 ), Jennings County ( 90 ), Madison ( 124 ), Franklin County ( 149 ), and South Dearborn ( 168 ).

Division II results saw Oldenburg Academy take first place with 62 points behind Melinda Eckstein ’ s second place division finish in 20:44.1 . Beechwood ( KY ) followed with 67 , Jac- Cen-Del ( 79 ), Switzerland County ( 110 ), South Ripley ( 128 ), Milan ( 136 ), Rising Sun ( 147 ), and Southwestern ( 162 ). Three schools did not field an entire team for the girls ’ race .

Coach Jeremy Baney and the host Knights had a wonderful course set for the meet . The course allows for challenging racing as well as providing a great venue for spectators to enjoy and cheer for nearly the entire race on a 5K course .

South Dearborn Competes Well in 3-on-3 Pay It Forward Tournament

Two young groups of South Dearborn students recently competed in the Pay It Forward 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament held at Tyson Activity Center in Versailles on September 16 . The tournament was held as a benefit for both the Tanner Tucker Memorial Scholarship Fund as well as the Ripley County Community Foundation .

The first team of South Dearborn youth , who went by the name of Knight Ballers , consisted of sixth graders Gabe Arnsperger , Brodie Teke , and third grader , Carson Davidson . This team competed in the 4-6 grade bracket and were successful in bringing home the first-place trophy for the day and went undefeated during the day ’ s competition .

The second team was the South Dearborn Navy team comprised of fourth graders Noah Rogers , Alix Probst , Grady Walter , and third grader , James Hughes . Competing in the same 4-6 bracket with a younger team presented some challenges , but they were able to compete well and win third place in the tournament .