Columbia, SC

By Lexistential Crisis

Both Portland, Oregon’s Rose City Rollers (Seed 1) and Denver, Colorado's Denver Roller Derby (Seed 3) will be competing at the 2016 International WFTDA Championships. Today’s Championship game at the 2016 International WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Columbia determined that the reigning champions will go into the tournament armed with more gold medals and a bye. Rose City demonstrated their dominance and desire to keep the Hydra in this game. Both teams illustrated the importance of effective offensive blocking and jammers who know how to utilize their teammates.

By Darci “Ninja” McAfee

The third place game is notoriously the closest, most exciting, and most intense game of a tournament weekend and this game at the 2016 International WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Columbia was absolutely no exception. The #2 seed Jacksonville RollerGirls New Jax City Rollers from Jacksonville, FL, USA had fallen to Denver on Saturday, and this was their last chance to secure a spot to the 2016 International WFTDA Championships in Portland. Meanwhile, #4 seed Atlanta RollerGirls Dirty South Derby Girls from Atlanta, GA, USA were hungry to make it back to Championships after being ousted for the last two seasons. But it was not to be, as the first two jams came back to haunt Atlanta, and Jacksonville takes the win 170-131.

By Lexistential Crisis

The 15th game of the 2016 International WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Columbia featured Malmo, Sweden’s Crime City Rollers (Seed 5) and Manchester, England’s Rainy City Roller Derby (Seed 7). Crime City lost to Atlanta on Friday, but defeated Steel City and Columbia to make it to the 5th place game today. Rainy City defeated Steel City and Santa Cruz and lost to Jacksonville on their route to the top of the consolation bracket.

By Darci “Ninja” McAfee

In the second game of the last day at the 2016 International WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Columbia, the Santa Cruz Derby Girls of Santa Cruz, CA, USA and the Columbia QuadSquad of Columbia, SC, USA played for 7th place. Playoff host league Columbia came out strong for their engaged hometown crowd in an intense game. Santa Cruz fought to maintain the highest ranking possible, having been upset by Rainy City on Saturday, losing the chance to defend their #6 seed.

By Lexistential Crisis

The final day of the 2016 International WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs Columbia started with an exciting game between the 9 and 10 seeds. The Ann Arbor Derby Dimes (Seed 9) from Ann Arbor, MI, USA started their first Playoff weekend with a final jam loss to the Columbia QuadSquad on Friday and ended up in the 9th place game after a second loss to Santa Cruz yesterday. This is the 8th Playoff appearance for Steel City Roller Derby (Seed 10) of Pittsburgh, PA, USA and they arrived at the 9th place game after tough losses to Rainy City and Crime City. Penalties plagued both teams, and jammers took advantage of the decreased pack sizes. Ann Arbor controlled the majority of the first half and Steel City committed significantly more penalties, but the second half was almost the opposite — Steel City remained on the track to earn and maintain the lead, while Ann Arbor spent more time in the penalty box.