SOAR Hits the Track: A Night at the Roller Derby
Thanks to a special invitation from our friend Eliza Van De Rostyne, SOAR participants had the chance to experience something brand new - roller derby!
Eliza wears many hats in our community: she’s a parent of one of our SOAR members, a talented seamstress and owner of Grace Marie Alterations and Design, a costume designer for the Walla Walla Summer Theater, and a Walla Walla Sweets Rollergirl herself. (Yes, she’s basically a superhero!) For this event, though, she traded her skates for stripes and served as one of the referees.
The Walla Walla Sweets Rollergirls welcomed us with open arms, even offering our participants discounted tickets so we could all enjoy the action. Before the match began, participants got a quick rundown of the sport (because let’s be honest, roller derby is wild if you don’t know what’s going on!). Then we found our spots in the bleachers and braced ourselves for the excitement.
The Sweets squared off against the Lilac City Roller Derby Yetis in a fast-paced, high-energy matchup that had us on the edge of our seats. Skaters whizzed around the track, blocking, dodging, and scoring points with grit and determination.
At halftime, the crowd was treated to a performance from the talented athletes of Skybound Tumbling & Cheer, whose flips and stunts left us in awe. By the time the second half rolled around, the Sweets were ready to roll (literally). They pushed hard, skated fast, and ultimately claimed victory over the Yetis; though we have to say, both teams put on an incredible show.
Now, we’d be lying if we didn’t admit this: it was hot. Really hot. A balmy summer night meant the inside of the venue matched the heat outside, and we were definitely sweating right along with the athletes. But honestly? The energy and the thrill of trying something new made every drop of sweat worth it.
It was a night of community, athleticism, and inclusion - exactly what SOAR is all about. Thank you to Eliza, the Sweets, and everyone who made this night possible. We can’t wait for our next adventure!
