The Peoria Prowlers roller derby team is trying to build interest in the sport as they return to competition this weekend.
Reema Abi-Akar, who goes by the nickname “Honey Sucker Punch” on the Prowlers, says the team is about more than just their games.
“We've been around for several years. We are the Peoria area's only roller derby team, and we are all genders so anybody can join, 18 and over,” said Abi-Akar. “We do teach people how to skate, so if anybody is interested in joining, we are very open.
“So we exist to play roller derby (and) we also collaborate with community organizations to donate to local charities. We just like to have fun in our community and play the sport that we love.”
Abi-Akar says the team practices twice each week and tries to schedule up to four bouts each year against teams based within a five-hour radius from Peoria. The Prowlers are facing off against the Wisconsin-based Root River Rollers on Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center.
“It's a different level to be able to play brand new people,” said Abi-Akar. “It does look pretty chaotic, but we are friends with people on other teams. We really enjoy meeting people every time we play a game. I have played a game all the way down in New Orleans, and I still have friends from that game.”
Prowlers teammate Dannielle Morgan, aka “Vigor MorgueTis,” agreed that the connections she’s been able to develop are what drew her to roller derby.
“It's known as kind of an aggressive sport, but we have so many wonderful people on the team; it’s a really great sense of community,” said Morgan. “I joined both because it's a great sport, a great hobby to be into, but also it's a great community to be in. We make a lot of friends and they're the kind of people that you stick with for a long time.”
Jam Rohr, or “Sledge Jammer,” says she’s been with the Prowlers for about a year, although she previously considered getting involved with roller derby when she was in graduate school. Rohr says she got hooked quickly after attending a recruitment night.
“I decided to just go and meet everybody, and everybody was super kind and welcoming and friendly,” said Rohr. “Then I went to my first practice and decided, ‘this is 100% what I want to do twice a week, or as often as possible.’ It's just a great group of people to get to know and to play with and hang out with.”
Rohr admitted that explaining how roller derby works can be difficult. Basically, teams of five skaters – a “jammer” and four blockers – try to rack up points by successfully maneuvering around opponents as they race along an oval track. Each 30-minute half is divided into “jams” that last about two minutes.
“The goal is to get the jammer through to make the most points, and that's how you win,” said Rohr.
Each side has 15 players on its roster for the bout, although the teams typically have a lot more players. Morgan said the Prowlers currently have about 40 members.
Rohr said the Prowlers’ charity partner this year is Peoria Proud, a coalition that promotes diversity and equity throughout the Peoria area. She also said the Prowlers participate in several community events and fundraisers.
“When I started reaching out to the community to see who would be interested in sponsoring and supporting the Prowlers, there was a lot of interest from people who didn't know about us and wanted to learn more and wanted to collaborate with us,” she said. “We do events outside of the games as well and try to work with as many people as we possibly can.”
The Prowlers’ opponent for Saturday’s contest is the Wisconsin-based Root River Rollers. The bout starts at 6 p.m., with doors opening one hour earlier. Morgan says the event offers plenty of fun for participants and spectators alike.
“It's family-oriented; we have a halftime show that's going to be happening,” said Morgan. “After the initial game, there's also a mixer and a B-mixer as well, so and that's open to any skaters that are skating with a current derby team. So very exciting stuff.”
