Windy City repeats as North Central Region champions

By Vile Love It

The battle for first place started at 6 p.m. sharp on Sunday, culminating an intense, exciting and fun tournament both on the track and off. The last time the Windy City Rollers, of Chicago, (#1) and Minnesota RollerGirls, of St. Paul, (#2) met on the track, the game ended in the first ever WFTDA tie. Both teams were intent on that first place position.

Photo by David Van Deman

The Minnesota vs. Windy City rivalry has a long and storied history. The teams played each other in last year’s final and Windy took the win 123-100. Windy has won every match up between the teams except for the tie game.

“We were very confident going into this game,” said Minnesota’s coach Dantigravity. “We had a great game yesterday and felt completely prepared and confident that we would win this game. “

Windy grabbed the first lead jam of the game after a tight scrum start and, due to a equipment malfunction, Minnesota had to do a star pass. But it didn’t shake them for a second. Two jams later, when Windy City’s jammer went to the box, Minnesota grabbed 20 points on their first power jam. Windy had their chance at a power jam shortly after that. After collecting 10 points, Windy’s jammer took a trip to the box and Minnesota’s jammer scored 10 points of her own. It was a lot of work by both teams for a wash.

Photo by David Van Deman

The scrum starts, quick laps around the track with both teams cycling, simultaneously holding walls and making holes for their jammers made it tough for either team to obtain a stunning advantage except on a power play. Most of the jams were hit-it-and-quit-it, resulting in a 4-point gain.

Throughout most of the first period Minnesota maintained a small lead. They were able to build up a 20 point lead midway through the period when they caught another power jam but it wasn’t enough to give them a commanding advantage or shake Windy’s confidence or focus. During the last jam of the period Windy pulled even with Minnesota, and then ahead, as their jammer circled the track to collect 19 points. The score was 84-76 in Windy’s favor.

“Windy is a very powerful team and they are quite good at rallying when they are down,” said Dantigravity. “We had some penalty trouble as well. We try to play clean and any penalties can affect the score.”

There was intensity on the track as well as respect and joy. It was obvious that both teams were enjoying the competitive game play and that made it extra fun for the raucous crowds trading “Win-dy Ci-ty” and “Minn-e-sota” chants.

Both teams play a similar game: very physical, controlled and strategic. Both teams communicated well on the track, had incredible pack awareness and skating skills. Windy and Minnesota play at several different speeds (and that speed does not include “stopped”) and both teams show no hesitation when they are called on to shift speed or adjust to the other team’s strategy.

“So many people felt that they wanted a conclusion to the last Windy-Minnesota game in June, but we just wanted to make it to the championship bout. We didn’t have an expectation of which team we would be playing,” said Windy City captain Jackie Daniels. “We love to play Minnesota because we always have a great game, we have respect for each other and we have similar philosophies about the kind of derby we think should be played. That always makes it a great game to play.“

Midway through the second period, it looked as if Windy was going to pull away. They held Minnesota to no points for four jams and racked up their biggest lead of the game of 34 points. But the next six jams were all Minnesota’s as they held Windy scoreless and they pulled within 18 points. During one jam, with a two-blocker pack advantage, Minnesota controlled Windy’s jammer and scattered their blockers as the Minnesota jammer circled the pack for 15 points, bringing them to within 3.

But Windy City isn’t undefeated in the North Central Region for no reason. They kept their composure and maintained the pressure. They regrouped and gathered 9 points in the next jam. With less than 2 minutes left it was a nine point game.

In the last jam, Windy won lead jam status and former Queen City Roller Girls player KonichiWOW scored 11 points in front of her hometown crowd to extend Windy’s lead and run out the clock while Minnesota came close, scoring 8 points.

Photo by David Van Deman

Windy City maintains their undefeated status in the WFTDA North Central Region, clinched first place and will compete alongside Minnesota and Naptown Rollergirls at the WFTDA Championships in Atlanta in November.

Windy City Rollers 165
Minnesota Rollergirls 153