Wichita, KS

By Shelly Shankya

There were a number of upsets along the way to the Championship game at the 2016 International WFTDA D2 Playoffs in Wichita, and the final game was no exception. Someone had to lose between Brandywine Roller Derby Belligerents of Downingtown, PA, USA (seed #4, WFTDA #47) and Blue Ridge Rollergirls of Asheville, NC, USA (seed #7, WFTDA #55). Despite an early lead from Blue Ridge, the Belligerents never lost their cool, and it was that aplomb that put the Belligerents on top during a close run for the title in Wichita and an attempt at a Division 2 first place game at Championships in Portland. Brandywine won the game, 146-123.

By PulHitzHer Prize

The Jet City Rollergirls Bombers of Everett, WA, USA (seed #1, WFTDA #42) secured third place in the 2016 International WFTDA Division 2 Playoffs Wichita with a 132-118 victory over the Nashville Rollergirls Music City All Stars of Nashville, TN, USA (seed #3, WFTDA #46).

By Shelly Shankya

The scoreboard was a revolving door for Houston Roller Derby of Houston, TX, USA (seed #2, WFTDA #43) and the Boulder County Bombers of Longmont, CO, USA (seed #8, WFTDA #58). Positioning themselves for a battle in the fifth place game, the two teams shared a nearly equal number of power jams, lead changes, and penalty minutes. In the end, though, Boulder County walked through the door and skated off with the win over Houston in an hotly contested, hard-fought game; Boulder County won 184-181, the first time in WFTDA playoff history that a #8 seed o’erleaped a #2 seed.

By PulHitzHer Prize

The Tucson Roller Derby Saddletramps of Tucson, AZ, USA (seed #6, WFTDA #50) ended the 2016 International WFTDA Division 2 Playoffs Wichita on a high note with a 223-119 win over the Kansas City Roller Warriors All Stars of Kansas City, MO, USA (seed #5, WFTDA #50). Tucson secures seventh place in the Wichita playoff.

By Shelly Shankya

Game 13, the first game of Day 3 at 2016 International WFTDA D2 Playoffs in Wichita, Kansas, was a rough and tumble match between the Chicago Outfit Roller Derby Syndicate of Chicago, IL, USA (seed #9, WFTDA #60) and the Carolina Rollergirls All Stars of Raleigh, NC, USA (seed #10, WFTDA #62). The match featured many a penalty, and the Syndicate used their relatively clean play to pull through for the win and to maintain their #9 seed. The Chicago Outfit won, 249-173.