Colorado sports teams have seen their fair share of championship victories, from the Denver Broncos to the Colorado Avalanche. But could Denver Roller Derby join the list next?
Denver Roller Derby’s all-star team, the Mile High Club, will head to New Orleans Nov. 9-11 to compete in the international championships for women’s flat track derby.
Mile High Club is ranked fifth in the world this year behind teams from Australia, New York, Oregon and Missouri, and is no stranger to the world championships. The team has been ranked in the top 10 for almost a decade, said Tracy “Disco” Akers, who’s been with the league since the beginning.
"You see a lot of leagues come up and down and drop,” Akers said. “We've been able to sustain everything and I think this league has such a positive culture and that's what really keeps it afloat.”
This year Mile High Club has their eyes on the top prize in New Orleans: the Hydra Trophy.
“We've been really putting in some work in the last couple seasons to really get up there and not only medal but to win the Hydra which is the world championship trophy,” said Mile High Club co-captain Cailin Klein—a.k.a “Sharon Tacos.”
Fellow team captain Hilary Buscovic—a.k.a “Scald Eagle”—chimed in.
“Which creates a natural and amazing hashtag for us called #MileHydra," Buscovic said.
The international championships are set up with a 10-team bracket. Mile High Club got to bypass the playoffs this year because they were ranked as the No. 4 seed team. Their first game is against the fittingly named Arch Rival Roller Derby from St. Louis.
“Since the rankings came out they have switched to No. 4 and we are No. 5 technically speaking, mathematically,” Buscovick said. “But physically speaking, I hope to set the record straight with them when we play them on Friday."
“Our games with them have always been pretty close. I feel like if we were to pick a rival it would probably be them," Klein said.
Denver Roller Derby has seen steady growth over the years as the sport becomes more popular. Many of the players attribute this to the league’s culture, including Buscovick, who said derby has something special that other sports can’t quite match.
“The community of roller derby is next level compared to just town sports you'd play after you graduate high school or college,” she said. “It's a very accepting community for no matter what your gender identity is, no matter what your sexual identity is, no matter what your identities are, there's a place for you here."
