CHICAGO Sept. 24, 2012 The Windy City Rollers All-Stars championed the North Central Region Playoffs tournament, held Sept 14 to 16, 2012, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., to reclaim their title of North Central Region Champions while upholding their undefeated record within the region.
Currently composed of 38 leagues stretching from South Dakota to Ontario, Canada, the North Central Region was created in 2009 to accommodate a rapidly expanding Women's Flat Track Derby Association league membership. Each year, the region holds a playoffs tournament with its top 10 teams; and the first, second, and third place teams from the tournament compete in the WFTDA Championships for the Hydra Trophy. The Windy City Rollers are currently undefeated in any bout against a league from the North Central Region, and they have placed first in every North Central Region Playoffs.
The "Thrill of the Spill," one of the four WFTDA regional playoffs tournaments, saw its share of close calls and upsets, but the Windy City Rollers, seeded #1 going into the weekend and favored to place first, showcased their usual smart play-making and fast game play to dominate every bout.
"Tournament strategy planning is always tough because we never know who we are going to play," remarked WCR All-Star co-captain Ol' Drrrty Go-Go. "All we can do is prepare ourselves to play our best. Teamwork is our best strategy. We prepared for the entire tournament by really focusing on our team and making sure we knew how to make other teams play our game."
This victory guarantees the Windy City Rollers a place in the WFTDA Championship tournament, "Grits and Glory," to be held in Atlanta Nov. 2 to 4, 2012. The Minnesota RollerGirls and Naptown Roller Girls will join WCR in representing the North Central Region. A total of 12 teams, three from each region, will be sent to the WFTDA Championships for three days of single-elimination tournament play. As "Thrill of the Spill" was the first of the four playoffs, the next few weekends of tournaments held around the country will determine the remainder of the teams competing for the Hydra Trophy in Atlanta.
About Windy City Rollers:
The Windy City Rollers, Chicago's #1 women's roller derby league, is nationally ranked and one of the originators of modern roller derby. Entirely volunteer run since its inception in 2004, the WCR strives to promote athleticism and fraternity among its members and seeks to foster professional, personal, and athletic advancement for all its members. The WCR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, please visit www.windycityrollers.com .