Southland Slashers bring roller derby to Channahon
By Dick Goss dgoss@stmedianetwork.com February 7, 2013 7:36PM
Updated: March 10, 2013 6:17AM
It’s not the roller derby you grew up watching on television.
But it is roller derby.
The Southland Slashers, a local organization that plays out of the Godley Park District and Channahon Skateland rinks, have an event scheduled Saturday night at Channahon that is sold out.
“We have a junior girls bout followed by an interleague adult bout,” said Slashers public relations director Tiffany Lausch, a Wilmington resident and a member of the adult team. “Our junior girls will play against the Chicago Riots. Our adult teams for the interleague bout will be divided into the Voodoo Dolls and Bayou Bombshells.”
Lausch noted this roller derby “is on a flat track and is more athletic than what we watched on TV. We’re very real, not just putting on a show. People do get bumped and fall down, but there’s no intention to punch anyone or pull hair or anything.”
The Slashers have about 25 skaters on both their junior and adult teams. Most reside in the areas immediately south and west of Joliet.
The league is a women’s league. “We’re in the process of starting a men’s league,” Lausch said. “Right now, most men we have are refs and coaches.”
Lausch said opponents have come from DuPage County, Peoria, Bloomington, southern Wisconsin and western Indiana.
The Slashers have scheduled tryouts for adults Feb. 20 at Channahon and for juniors Feb. 24 at Godley. Visit www.southlandslashers.com for information or check the Slashers’ Facebook page.
