What's In A Name?

One of the many fun things that separates roller derby from other sports are the colorful names that each skater assumes.  They range the gambit from cute to obscene.  Like the skaters themselves, each one is unique.

As a newbie, I was chagrined to find out that you don't just get to have a cool new name the day you first walk in the door.  You have to make it through three months of Fresh Meat first and pass the level two test in order to earn one.  

Picking a name is hard.  I wanted mine to be nerdy but tough.  I agonized over what it should be, consulted with friends, and spent hours browsing Two Evils realizing that most of my ideas where already taken.  Picking a name is also exciting.  Like all the girls in the group I started with, I've come a long way.  My name is a symbol that I have worked hard, I have improved my skills, and that I'm ready for the next level! 

At the same time I was growing as a skater in the Fresh Meat program, my league was growing and evolving.  We are pursuing WFTDA membership as our level of competitiveness increases.  As part of that process we've become an all women's league (sorry guys),  elected a new board, and become a Non-Profit LLC which means that each and every skater has a say in how the league is run.  In order to do that, we had to shed our old name.  Central Mass Roller Derby is no more.  We are now the Bay State Brawlers.  We have all worked hard and we are all ready for the next level.

- Millie Amp-Fuse