NRG

Roller Derby Offers Easter Weekend Alternative!

March 31, 2015 by April Abernathy

It’s one of the longest-running rivalries in flat-track roller derby and it will renew on April 4th! The Naptown Tornado Sirens and Warning Belles will go against the Ohio Roller Girls out of Columbus.

The action kicks off at the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds at 7:00 that evening, with the undefeated Tornado Sirens battling the Ohio All-Stars. The second bout of the night pits the Warning Belles against the Ohio Gang Green.

Both teams met last season, with Naptown bringing home wins for both the Sirens and Belles.

The Tornado Sirens come into this bout undefeated at home.

Tickets are available through BrownPaperTickets.com or through local vendors around the city.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for season ticket holders and 6:00 p.m. for the general public.

“We know it’s going to be a busy weekend in Indy,” says league spokeswoman Devon “Peyton Slamming” Dean. “But, people will be looking for alternatives for affordable family fun outside of downtown Indianapolis.”

14127277623_8232321258_z — Photo by Tom Klubens

Former Roller Derby Teammates Reunite as Foes March 6th

March 1, 2015 by April Abernathy

The Naptown Tornado Sirens are back in action on Friday, March 6th at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, facing off against the Fort Wayne Derby Girls.

Fort Wayne’s roster is made up of many former members of the Tornado Sirens, including players who were on the team that went to Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) World Championships in 2011 and 2012.

Because skaters pay to play, they can also choose where they play, even if it means a long commute several times a week.

“It’s going to be an emotional night for everyone involved,” says league spokeswoman Devon “Peyton Slamming” Dean. “Naptown fans know most of the players on the track as current or former Tornado Sirens.”

Dean also says she expects some conflicted emotions from the fans.

Fort Wayne is coming off a decisive home opening victory against Bleeding Heartland (Bloomington). The Tornado Sirens are undefeated so far this season.

The night’s featured charity is the ATI Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping children with physical impairments get the resources they need for a better quality of life.

The night will also be part of the on-going celebration of the 25th anniversary of “NUVO,” Indy’s alternative voice and a longtime Naptown sponsor.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, or at local vendors around the city. More information is available at Naptownrollergirls.com!

Doors open at 6:30 p.m for the general public, with the first whistle at 7:30 p.m.!

Roller Derby at the Coliseum February 7th

January 29, 2015 by April Abernathy

Celebrate Valentine’s Day Early with the Naptown Roller Girls!

Coming off a decisive victory over Nashville in front of a crowd of more than 3100, the Naptown Roller Girls are back at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Saturday, February 7th!

The Tornado Sirens will take on the Demolition City Roller Girls from Evansville.

The Sirens come into this bout following a decisive victory over Nashville on January 17th.

Demolition City made their first-ever playoff appearance in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Division II tournament last season.

The two teams met up last season at the Naptown practice space for a closed bout, with the Sirens taking the win 221-88.

Doors open at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at 5:30 p.m. for season ticket holders and 6:00 p.m. for the general public. The bout starts at 7:00 p.m.

This bout’s featured charity is the March of Dimes.

“We hope people want to celebrate Valentine’s Day a week early with us,” says league spokeswoman Devon “Peyton Slamming” Dean.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, or at local vendors around the city. More information is available at Naptownrollergirls.com!

Do You Have What it Takes?

January 10, 2015 by April Abernathy

Change Your Life in 2015 and Join the Naptown Roller Girls!

If your New Year’s resolution is to get in shape and change your life, the Naptown Roller Girls want you!

The Naptown Roller Girls will hold a recruitment workshop on Saturday, February 21st, 2015 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at our private practice space with try-outs immediately following.

It is highly recommended that participants who plan to try out also attend the workshop.

Interested ladies (18 years and older) who want to learn are encouraged to attend.

The workshop will be run by members of Naptown’s world-class training committee.

The workshop is $40. Payments can be made via PayPal at payments@naptownrollergirls.com (please put “Workshop” in the note).

All on-skates participants must provide their own skates, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, helmet, and mouth guard. Gear can be purchased at Vital Skates in Fountain Square (1022 Virginia Avenue).

For more information and to RSVP, email freshmeat@naptownrollergirls.com.

NRG is Back!

January 7, 2015 by April Abernathy

Roller Derby Returns to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum January 17th!

The Naptown Roller Girls make their triumphant return to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Saturday, January 17th!

The Tornado Sirens and Warning Belles will take on the Nashville Roller Girls in a fast-paced, hard-hitting roller derby double header.

The two teams have a long history, with Nashville being the Tornado Sirens’ first-ever opponent in 2007.

Doors open at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. The night will kick off with the internationally-ranked Tornado Sirens battling the Music City All-Stars at 7:00 p.m.

The second bout will pit the Warning Belles against the Music City Brawl Stars.

Partial proceeds from this bout will benefit the Hoosier Environmental Council.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” says league spokeswoman Devon “Peyton Slamming” Dean. “We’ve made so many great memories already in the Coliseum and this should be our most competitive season yet!”

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, or at local vendors around the city. More information is available at Naptownrollergirls.com!

Naptown Roller Girls Return to TV this Winter

November 28, 2014 by April Abernathy

The Naptown Roller Girls will be back on HTSN (Channel 6.2) this winter, as well as streaming via naptownrollergirls.com!

Indianapolis’ premiere roller derby league made the jump to television two seasons ago, with bouts shown on tape delay.

Each bout will air a handful of times the week before the next home bout, as well as in real time on the league’s website.

The season kicks off Saturday, January 17th, 2015 against the Nashville Roller Girls.

Season dates are:
Saturday, January 17th
Saturday, February 7th
Friday, March 6th
Saturday, April 4th (at the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion)
Saturday, May 23rd
Saturday, June 20th

Naptown Roller Girls Make History January 25th!

January 22, 2014 by April Abernathy

It will be a family affair when the Naptown Roller Girls take to the track on Saturday, January 25th at the Indiana Convention Center. For the first time in NRG’s history, a mother and daughter will play on the same team.

Michell “Woe Mamma” Kyger and 18-year-old Katie “McFly” Kyger will both be on the track as part of the Naptown Warning Belles. Kate recently joined the league after aging out of Indianapolis Junior Roller Derby (IJRD). Her mother is in her second season with Naptown.

“I am thrilled to be able to realize the dream of skating alongside my daughter,” Michell says.
The Warning Belles will be part of a derby double-header, taking on the Twin City Derby Girls (Champaign/Urbana, IL). The bout starts at 6:00 p.m.

The second bout of the evening features the internationally-ranked Tornado Sirens battling Ka-Boom, a regional all-star team. This is the last home bout before the Tornado Sirens enter WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) – sanctioned play for playoff consideration this fall.

Tickets are on-sale at Ticketmaster outlets, the Lucas Oil Stadium box office, and local vendors.

Partial proceeds will go to benefit Special Olympics Indiana.

Naptown Roller Girls Return to the Local Airwaves!

January 15, 2014 by April Abernathy

The internationally-ranked Naptown Roller Girls will return to HTSN (WRTV-Channel 6.2) this season. Fans will be able to watch the league’s home bouts (on delay) and learn more about one of top 20 roller derby leagues in the world!

Our sold-out December 28th bout will be broadcast on January 18th at 10:00 p.m., with encores on January 19th at 8:00 p.m. and January 21st at 7:00 p.m.

Our January 25th bout will be shown on HTSN on February 8th at 5:00 p.m., with encores on February 9th at 8:00 p.m. and February 11th at 7:00 p.m.

Our February 15th bout will be shown on March 9th at 5:00 p.m., with encores on March 10th at 7:00 p.m. and March 11th at 10:00 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring the thrill of flat track roller derby to the local airwaves again,” says league spokeswoman “Peyton Slamming” (Devon Dean). “We are so thankful for the love and support Central Indiana shows us each season.”

Tickets for the league’s second home bout of the season (1/25) at the Indiana Convention Center are on-sale at all Ticketmaster outlets

Naptown Roller Girls Kick Off Eighth Season Against Indy’s Internationally-Ranked Men’s Derby Team

December 9, 2013 by April Abernathy

It will be a historic battle for the city and state December 28th, as the Naptown Roller Girls kick off their eighth home season at the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The roller derby double-header kicks off with the Naptown Warning Belles taking on the South Bend Roller Girls. This will be the first time these two teams have met. The second bout will pit two hometown teams against each other – the Tornado Sirens will battle the Race City Rebels, Indianapolis’ premiere men’s derby team.

The Tornado Sirens are currently ranked #12 in the world by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The Rebels are ranked #9 in the world by the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA).

“While the two teams have never played each other publicly, they have scrimmaged against each other at practice,” says Naptown league spokeswoman Devon Dean (“Peyton Slamming”). “Men’s derby is growing in popularity all the time and Race City provides a strong opponent for us to kick off the season!”

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the first bout starting at 6:00 p.m. The second bout will start at approximately 7:30 p.m. That night will also usher in a new era for NRG, with many new faces on both the Warning Belles and Tornado Sirens. Partial proceeds from the bout will go to the National Kidney Foundation. Naptown is proud to support NKF, including having two kidney donors in our ranks.

Naptown Roller Girls Head for Roller Derby Playoffs

September 3, 2013 by April Abernathy

Siren co-captain Maiden America (Melissa Smith) Photo by Tom Klubens

Naptown to Compete in Division 1 Tournament in Richmond, VA

The Naptown Roller Girls will be going to Richmond, Virginia September 13^th-15^th to compete in playoff action as part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The Tornado Sirens qualified for the 2013 WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs as the No. 13 seed overall (3^rd in the division).

“I am looking forward to Division 1 Playoffs this year because for the first time ever we will be playing teams from all of the country in order to qualify for Championships,” says Siren co-captain Maiden America (Melissa Smith). “It’s a wonderful step forward in roller derby, and I am excited and prepared to embrace this opportunity with my team!”

The WFTDA Playoffs and Championships bring together the most talented, highly trained and committed skaters and officials from WFTDA member leagues worldwide.

With a significant shift in the WFTDA competitive structure this year, the 2013 Playoffs will bring a new level of excitement as many teams will meet on the track for the first time in the playoffs.

In prior years, teams were seeded into WFTDA Playoffs based on geographic region. With the introduction of a WFTDA-wide rankings system this year, teams can end up playing opponents from anywhere in the world. There are seven teams that have qualified for Division 1 Playoffs for the first time.

This will be Naptown’s fourth playoff appearance. Depending on the outcome of the playoffs, the Naptown Tornado Sirens could be headed to their third consecutive Championship appearance (the first and only league in Indianapolis to do so).