MARION, Ill. - This Saturday, October 24th, the leaves aren't the only things that will be falling in Marion. The Southern Illinois Roller Girls (SIRG) will be knocking skaters from all over the midwest to the floor during their public co-ed roller derby mixer. This event will put the best skaters from a whole day of scrimmaging against each other, along with the Southern Illinois A Team, the Power SIRG. Brawl-O-Ween is a first annual event and spectators can get in to the Pavilion in Marion to watch the all-day action for $15.
SIRG is very excited about this event. "It's been a lot of work, but we're spending this year laying the foundation for something great. Roller Derby is currently in the off season, but skaters aren't ready to hang up their skates for the winter, so an event in October has a great chance to just get bigger and bigger if we do it right this first year," says event coordinator Lethal Objection (Britt Beiter) of Carbondale.
The scrimmageathon isn't the only "first" of the day to be excited about, either. After the evening co-ed mixer game, SIRG's brother league, The Brigade of Handsome Gentlemen, will be taking on Men's Roller Derby of Kentucky's Dark Horses for their first ever home bout. "We've worked really hard for the last couple of years to have this moment and I can't think of a better team to share it with," said BHG Vice President Mattaconda. The Brigade has skated against the men of the Dark Horses in Lexington earlier this year.
You do not want to miss this great roller derby action. Doors at the Pavilion in Marion will open at 5 pm for the evening events with the first whistle of the mixer at 6. There will be an afterparty to follow in the ballroom (must be 21 to drink at the bout or afterparty, of course). Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door with kids 12 and under getting in free. For more information, check out www.soillrollergirls.com
Fall Scrimmage - Mattaconda (Matt Newhart) takes on Tommy Pickles (Tyrus Lucas) during a coed mixer in September (Photo by Bryan T. McLeod)