Two weeks ago, the Philly Roller Girls issued a challenge to the derby world: make a short film about why your team wants to face Philly at the East Coast Derby Extravaganza. From the entrants, two teams will be chosen to bout against Philly.

This is our response, which expresses the spirit of our league and the resolve of our skaters, individually and as a team: William Ernest Henley’s 1875 poem “Invictus.” Let’s do this, Philly.

You can see it in high definition on YouTube

The Brandywine Roller Girls you see are, in order of appearance: Fear N. Loathin’, Rapid ArrhythMIA, Anya Alnight, She-Vil Deeds, Verve, Dame Thrower, Lacey Deecee, Emma D JennaRat, Crash BansheeKoot, Whiskey Business, ¡Andalé!, Cherry Poppins, Phly N Strykher, Trauma Queen, and of course BRG’s very own Koach Hot Wheels

Many thanks to the Brandywine Roller Girls Production Crew, especially Kevin Corcoran (“Steven Spilsberg”) and James Haigney (“Jimmy Lollipops”), who shot and edited. Much of the scrimmage footage was shot as a part of their short film project “Crashing By Design“.

Tomorrow, your Brandywine Roller Girls all-star team will take the track against the terrifying, the indomitable, the fiercely-disciplined Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars. SHOW NO FEAR as you behold the PRDR team below. Show no emotion, no fright. They can sense your fear, and it makes them stronger:

Your BRG skaters need your help! Your BRG skaters need you in your trackside seat! Your cheering, your shouts, your handheld signs will steel our resolve facing this implacable enemy. Dear friends! Allies! Summon your courage.. and

BUY TICKETS ONLINE RIGHT NOW

This morning at 8AM, Koach, Decks, and I (Howl) went on WCHE 1520 AM Radio to talk Saturday’s upcoming bout versus the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars. I talked about the history of derby, Decks talked about the teams, and then host Bill Mason asked Koach about strategy.

Koach leaned in to the mic. “Well, I’m not going to give away any secrets”, she said seriously, “because we have a bout coming up this Saturday. But I believe this” …with a pause for effect: “…Defense wins games.”

I could feel a collective approving “Harrumph!” surge up from each and every one of WCHE’s grizzled sports-fan listeners all around West Chester. “Harrumph! Defense wins games! YES!”

So: Sports fans! True believers in the power of a coordinated defense! If you’d like to come out on Saturday and see Koach’s strategy in play against Pottstown, don’t delay, and get your tickets right now!

Thurston Howl III