On A Roll

Balancing bruises and books isn’t for the faint of heart, but Highland junior Blue Andrews thrives on the challenge.
During the week, Andrews navigates the demanding coursework of the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), and on the weekend, Andrews trades textbooks and essays for elbow pads and skates and heads to roller derby practice.
Some may know Andrews as the intelligent and studious student that they are, but outside of school, Andrews is a powerful force in the roller derby world. Andrews derby name is “Chemical X,” a skater known for their precision and composure on the track at the Wasatch Roller Derby, where Andrews plays on the Junior Rollers A Salt team.
“X is very good at keeping their head together during a game,” Apollo, one of Andrews’s coaches said. “Despite how quiet they are, they have a very strong awareness of what’s going on.”
In the derby world, players choose a derby name when they first begin. Names like “Chemical X” and “Biohazard” are not the true names of the following people, rather they are chosen names that players go by to represent their “brand” or alter ego.
Basically, it is professional wrestling meets roller skating.
When on the track, Andrews takes on the roll of a blocker. Blockers are vital members of the team. They are essentially playing defense the entire game.
For those unfamiliar with roller derby, the game is played on an ovular track with five members from each team all on skates. There is one jammer, one pivot, and three blockers. The goal of the game is for the jammer to get through the blockers of the opposite team and get around the track. Each time the lead jammer – the first jammer to get out of the pack and make it around the track – it is one point. They can score up to four points per jam. A jam is two minutes long and there are multiple jams during each 30-minute half.
During jams, if the blockers of the other team have a good chance of not letting the jammer through, the lead jammer can call off the jam by repeatedly placing their hands on their hips or giving their jammer position to the pivot by taking off the star on their helmet so that the other team is unable to score points.
In other words, it is a complicated game that takes time to process. But once the game is understood, it is high-paced and filled with action.
Andrews’s job on the track as a blocker is to be a leg of the tripod defense that makes it difficult for jammers of the opposing team to get through.
“They are kind of a silent force on the track,” Doppelganger, the head coach of Wasatch Roller Derby team, said.
On Feb. 1, the Wasatch Junior Rollers A Salt team had a big match up with the Pixies from Spokane, Wash. Although it was not the outcome that the team had hoped for, they fought long and hard during the entire bout.
Despite the sport being violent and brutal, the roller derby community is welcoming and tight knit. Teams from around the country are all connected and friendly towards one another.
“Derby is the land of misfit toys,” Doppelganger said. “We kind of have to make our own community because we are not a mainstream sport. And so, when you go out in the world and you’re like ‘I play roller derby,’ you are guaranteed to find someone who knows it, gets it, and understands it.”
Andrews first got into the world of roller derby when they were at a pride festival and Wasatch Roller Derby was passing out flyers encouraging passersby to learn how to skate. Earlier, Andrews received skates for their birthday and became interested in the sport, but was not sure how to get started. So, when this happened, it was a sign to get rolling!
Ever since then, Chemical X and their family have been active members of the roller derby community.
Andrews’s mom has embraced the roller derby world as a member of the board and actively participates in the roller derby community. Roller derby games and practices have become a family event for the Andrews family.
And Chemical X is happy to lead the way.