AZ Conference Championships Preview

By Dirty Duchess, Last updated Sat May 7 2011 1:33pm

TUCSON, AZ – The Arizona State Conference Championships will be held this Saturday, May 7, at the Tucson Convention Center. Being the first state conference in the modern derby era, four leagues consisting of 8 home teams have battled for the top seed with the inaugural bout being played September 25, 2010.

Currently participating in the Arizona State Conference are Arizona Roller Derby (AZRD – Phoenix), Dirty Verde Roller Derby (DVRD - Cottonwood, AZ), Northern Arizona Roller Derby (NAZRD – Prescott, AZ), and Tucson Roller Derby (TRD – Tucson). All bouts have been played following the current WFTDA ruleset.

Copper Queens (TRD) have dominated the conference with an undefeated record of 7-0. The Bad News Beaters (AZRD) proved to be an early powerhouse team and will take on the Copper Queens for first place in the AZ State Conference. The Beaters, in strength and combined speed of veteran AZRD travel team skaters Loca Lena and Deez Nutz, will prove a challenge for the undefeated Copper Queens. The Queens boast veteran skaters such as Helen Wheels, Pixie Axe and Bianka Trohl to repeat the win against the Beaters on Saturday.

Vying for third place will be Tucson’s own Furious Truckstop Waitresses and the Vice Squad; each having a 5-2 win/loss record. The Waitresses are Tucson’s first roller derby team and were narrowly edged out of the championship by the Beaters due to point differential. It is important to note that the Waitresses won an upset bout against the Beaters late March 2011. The Vice Squad, just as seasoned as any other team, have rostered Derby Brat transfers Lindsey LoBlow and Great White Narc as their secret weapons available to use against the Waitresses.

Regardless of the outcome from the night’s bouts, the play of these match-ups are historic for roller derby, the state of Arizona and the four hard hitting leagues.