CADILLAC – Northern Michigan’s roller derby rivalry will be renewed this weekend at the Wexford County Civic Center.
The Traverse City Toxic Cherries and the Kalkaska-based Small Town Outlaws will clash Saturday night in their annual meeting.
With the sport of roller derby booming throughout the country, several teams have sprouted up around the state, with teams calling Mt. Pleasant, Kalkaska, Traverse City and parts of the Upper Peninsula home.
“Most women in their 20s, 30s, 40s don’t compete as a team anymore. A lot of them will run 5Ks, but not a lot participate in team sports,” Traverse City’s Nicole Farkas said. “To have that kind of competitive environment, hitting people and doing things that after the game is over, you think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I did that.’
“All the hours we spend stressed getting here from work and we put in all that hard work, I think the greatest thing about, you know, playing roller derby and especially game days is just all of that work paying off and doing something together with all of these great, amazing women.”
Founded in 2012, the Small Town Outlaws are seeking their second win in five bouts against the Toxic Cherries.
“We want to beat Traverse City very badly. I mean they’re our other local team,” Small Town Outlaw Kaitlyn Adams said. “We want to be the best team in northern Michigan, so we would love to beat the other northern Michigan teams.”
Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday, with the bout starting at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Children 10 and under are free with paid adult admission. Limit two child tickets per adult admission.
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