The Rockin' City Rollergirls officially laced their skates for the first time in February, marking the inaugural season for Round Rock's newest nonprofit roller derby league.
The league launched last August as an outlet for North Austin-area women interested in roller derby.
"We wanted to have something for the smaller community that gives the same kind of derby experience as big towns," team member Melinda Corley said.
Corley, whose nickname is Mean Streak, said she always wanted to play roller derby. She is among many teammates recruited who had seen the sport on television or heard about it from friends.
"The unique thing about roller derby is that it's a contact sport, and there aren't really that many contact sports for women," she said. "It's a good place for creative, really driven people to go."
The Rockin' City Rollergirls competed in their first bout as a team in October 2011. This season, they will square off against various teams throughout Texas from cities such as Longview, San Antonio and Temple, completing their season in October in Denton.
The Rollergirls also seek more membership to the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, the governing body for women's flat-track roller derby, which would allow them to compete against teams throughout the country and the world for rankings.
Throughout the season, the team practices at Austin Sports Arena and at different schools and tennis courts throughout North Austin. They also host meet and greets, including one planned get-together from 1–5 p.m. March 9 at Red Rooster's, 109 E. Pecan St., Pflugerville, to connect with the community and raise awareness about the league.
Spectators will have a chance to see the Rockin' City Rollergils in action April 28 at their only scheduled home game of the season. Details on the game are to be announced, but Corley said spectators can expect to see a high-energy match filled with strategy.
In the few months of their existence, Corley said she's experienced a positive response to the league, signaling a potential for the team to grow.
"We have a lot of people who know how to play, bring in referees and how to stage events," she said. "I think we have the potential to grow into a highly competitive league."