Beneath the outrageous makeup, creative costumes and various protective pads, the Fredericksburg Roller Derby team isn’t that rough or violent. Although, with names like Monster, Trouble Gum and Texas Shiner, you couldn’t be certain.
But the constant pounding of their skates requires a surface that can handle them.
So, when the time came for the Fredericksburg Field House to install a new type of flooring that skates can’t roll on, the team, which had been playing there since 2016, was told to look elsewhere for practices and games. The Stafford Courthouse Community Center had to turn them away, too.
Lefty Lucy breaks from the pack. (Photos by MBS Photography)
“I didn’t realize this, but when you replace some kinds of gymnasium floors, there’s a warranty on the floor that specifically says no roller skating,” said Lisa Cover-Tucci, president of the Fredericksburg Roller Derby.
It’s a common problem in the world of flat-track racing: plenty of interested skaters but nowhere to skate.
The Fredericksburg Roller Derby was formed in 2010. Those who play this game of full-contact Red-Rover-on-wheels say it’s a way to fulfill a need for physical activity and social interaction.
Cover-Tucci is a teacher at Colonial Forge High School. On the derby track, she becomes “Lefty Lucy,” zipping around on her skates and bulldozing her way through a huddle of bodies trying to block her progress.
“A lot of these women have not played organized sports, so this is like the first experience they really have with sportsmanship,” she said. “Being a teacher and a mom, like where do I have to go that I can find that?”
UMW student Needle ‘N Dread (aka Trinnity Sistrunk) has found comfort and camaraderie in roller derby.
“I was never an athletic kid growing up. I did theater and marching band in high school,” Dread said. “But I had always loved roller skating as a kid, and I saw an ad online post-pandemic and so I just reached out to them. It was also when I had gone through a loss in my family. So, I was dealing with that while also being a full-time student at college and I was trying to find a reason to get out of that house and get myself moving. And this was the perfect place for it.”
Needle ‘N Dread (right) narrowly misses a fall. (Photos by MBS Photography)
Roller derby requires a level surface between 6,500 and 9,600 square feet, preferably made of hardwood or polished concrete. The banked tracks of yesterday are a relic, due to the fact most teams have to rent space, and a flat track opens up accessibility.
Teams use tape to outline their lanes, and when a big game (bout) is scheduled, they can draw anywhere from 50 to 200 spectators.
It takes a village to put on a bout. Volunteers, non-skating officials and referees are needed in addition to the five skating players.
Before moving to the Field House in 2016, the team used the rink at Cavalier Family Skating in Stafford. However, finding a practice time that didn’t clash with the rink’s classes and programs proved impossible this time around. A Cavalier spokesperson said they hope the team can find somewhere that meets their needs.
The team partnered with the Fredericksburg Food Bank this year, collecting food and money for the organization plus donating a portion of their ticket sales. On Nov. 2, they’ll host an open mixer at the Fredericksburg Convention Center in support of Toys for Tots.
Roll Damage (center) helps to block the opposition. (Photos by MBS Photography)
“My name is Roll Damage,” offered a player sporting neon green lips and eyeshadow. “Roller derby is just a place to let go. But we’re all good people under all that makeup.”
Roll Damage (aka Kristen Fusaro) said that derby has a bad reputation for no good reason.
“People think it’s like a bunch of mean scary people who are all on the fringe of society,” she said. “In truth, we have a bunch of teachers, nurses and a baker that play on our team. It’s not what you would expect.”
Added Dread: “And it’s gender expansive, which I think is really important in this area. There’s not a lot of organizations that are gender expansive.”
At a recent doubleheader, a family began cheering on Dread despite not knowing her. The spectators, both young and old, have favorites that they love rooting for.
Beevil Knievel is a teacher and the team coach. (Photos by MBS Photography)
“We have the best fans,” said team coach Beevil Knievel (aka Melissa Fisher), a teacher in Caroline County. “For the women who play this sport, I think all of us agree, that it is something different that we get to do, and it is a safe space for all of us and it is run by women.” 
The team is always looking for more players and volunteers. They’ll host an incoming skater program on Sunday (5-7 p.m.) at the Stafford Courthouse Community Center. No gear or experience is necessary.
Luckily the remainder of the Fredericksburg Roller Derby’s games this year are away — they head to LaPlata, Md., Aug. 10 for a bout at the Charles County Fairgrounds.
But finding a suitable practice space is still a need.
“We need a venue for two nights a week at a reasonable price,” Cover-Tucci said. “We’d really love a home track where we can host both practices and games, where people always know where to find us and where we can build a great relationship with the community and keep this going for years to come.”
Learn more on the team website or socials: Facebook: @FredRollerDerby / Instagram: @fredericksburgrollerderby / Tiktok: @fxrollerderby
