Geology major Sarah Gray attempts to block Lolitas de los Muertos' Jammer Allie Bye from scoring a point at a match in August. (Photo courtesy of Devon Cadams)Roller derby enthusiast and geology senior Sarah Gray’s background in science inspired her track name, Nurse Not-So-Gneiss.
Roller derby players choose their own monikers, and Gray wanted hers to pay homage to her area of study. Gneiss in geology is a type of rock formed through environmental changes.
“I was flipping through a bunch of my astronomy and geology books and I’m like, ‘I need a name,’” Gray said. “Then I ran across ‘gneiss.’”
Gray led an athletic childhood that included being on her high school swim team. Two years ago, fliers posted on her community college campus triggered her interest in joining the newly formed Arizona Rollergirls.
Participants include mothers, doctors, bankers, teachers, psychologists, students and servers, with ages ranging from early-20s to mid-40s.
Scoring in roller derby is fairly unique in that the players themselves score points by passing members of the opposing team on the track.
Blockers — Gray’s position — try to prevent other players, or the jammers, marked by a symbol on their helmets, from passing them. Each player the jammer passes means a point for her team.
Gray insists that the sport maintains a friendly atmosphere, unlike the depictions in roller derby-based films like “Whip It.” Injuries tend to be accidental instead of purposeful.
“It’s fun to shoulder check somebody into the floor, but it’s not malicious,” Gray said. “I just love the sport.”
The Arizona Rollergirls started in 2010 and is now attempting to join the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, an international organization.
The Cadaver Crue is set to play against the Lolitas de los Muertos in the Season Two Championships for the Arizona Rollergirls on Saturday at the Broadway Recreation Center in Mesa.
Reach the reporter at tccoste1@asu.edu
