South Central Regional 2010
Dates: October 8-10, 2010
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Host League: No Coast Roller Girls

The South Central Regional is this weekend, which will crown the final 3 teams to punch a ticket to the WFTDA Championships. This tournament will not have the same upper echelon talent level that the West did, but it should have some interesting games due to parity in the mid and higher level seeds of this tournament. B.A.D. and Minnesota both came from mid-level seeds this year to qualify for Uproar on the Lakeshore, could lighting strike thrice this year?

1. Texas Rollergirls: The mothers of the sport are coming into this tournament as the number 1 seed but might not leave the number 1 seed from the South Central. Texas is not nearly as strong as they were last year. Losing Vicious van Gogo to Madison as well as missing Rice Rocket, Desi Cration, and Coach Jim “Kool Aid” Jones has taken some very large cogs out of the TXRG machine. At one point this season they were on a 5 game losing streak. They recently decimated Dallas by 174 points, keeping them under 40 points total in the process. While this might be the worst Texas has ever looked going into the tournament season, they are still light years ahead of most of their division.

2. Atlanta Rollergirls: Atlanta is finally living up to the nickname “Hot-lanta” this year as they defeated Kansas City head to head and are now the number 2 ranked team in the South Central. Atlanta is 11-2 on the year but has had trouble in beating top level competition such as Cincinnati who dominated them in the 1st half of their game, until some questionable penalties from the officiating staff flipped the tide of the game in the 2nd. If Demi Gore, Ameilia Scareheart, and the rest of the crew can work together and keep the penalties down they have a shot of making the WFTDA Championships, but they are going to have to presumably  beat Dallas and Kansas City to do that.

3. Kansas City Roller Warriors: Kansas City is one of two former WFTDA Champions in this tournament. They only lost by 13 points when they visited Atlanta this year, so I think it’s anyone’s game when these two inevitably meet again. Patti Wackin, Dementia (formerly of Houston), and Kelley Young aka Snot Rocket, should be able to lead this team to victory. Kelley Young was one of the first true super stars of the modern game of roller derby; after taking some time off she has returned. If you have not seen this woman skate, prepare to have your jaw drop. I am picking them to make it out of the South Central Tournament and on to the WFTDA Championships.

4. Dallas Derby Devils: Dallas is a hit or miss team but they are battle tested that is for sure having already played 19 games this season. They can play a great speed game and if they are on their game, can definitely make it to the WFTDA Championships out of the South Central. Rink Panther is a solid player and Miley Virus can do big things as well. I really feel like the third spot for Nationals is going to come down to a flip of the coin between Dallas and Atlanta. Its going to come down who goes to the penalty box less will be victorious. My gut says that team will be Dallas.

5. Nashville Rollergirls: Nashville is a huge question mark coming into this tournament. They were undefeated until losing a big game to The North Star Super Novas in June at ECDX and then were decimated by Providence. Nashville has made their bones this year by beating up on lower ranked teams. I don’t think that is going to help them in this tournament though, because if they want to make it to the WFTDA Championships, they are going to have to lock horns with teams that are their equal or superior. Having not had that experience during the course of the season, until they met Steel City, will cost them and they will either walk away from this tournament ranked 4th or 5th in the South Central.

6. Tampa Bay Derby Darlins: Tampa has played all of their interleague games this year at tournament style, multiple game weekends, which means they used to the grind of playing game after game in a short period of time. The Darlins were once a sexy Internet pick for a team that was on the rise and moving up the WFTDA ladder. Even though they recently defeated Dallas, I am not convinced of this. They have great athletes in Lunch Lady, Leia Flat, and Little A which is a huge strength for them. Their weakness however is penalties. Tampa spends a lot of time in the box and have had a few gross misconduct penalties, which resulted in expulsions this year. They have a chance to come in 4th or 5th but they have to control their tempers or they could fall as far as 8th once the dust has settled.

7. Houston Roller Derby: Houston’s was last year’s Cinderella story as they took the third spot in the South Central and went to Philadelphia, but I don’t see that happening again this year. Dallas has already decisively defeated them 3 times this year and they also dropped a close game to Tampa Bay. A good tournament for Houston will be to get a victory and not lose any more ground.

8. No Coast Derby Girls: No Coast is very doubtful to make the WFTDA Championships, but they are a sleeper to take home the number 4 or 5 spot. Currently No Coast has put together a 6 game winning streak and learning to win games and winning games on a regular basis is how you learn to become a contender. If No Coast keeps on their current path they might find themselves ranked 4th or 3rd in the South Central this time next season.

9. Hard Knox Roller Girls: Hard Knox makes their first appearance in a South Central Regional but I question how successful they will be. While their face paint might look intimidating, I don’t think any team ranked above them is scared as Dallas, Nashville, and Atlanta have all beaten them by 90 points this season. Goblynn will be fun to watch in this tournament, as underneath the makeup and her WWE antics is a strong, decisively fast jammer. If Hard Knox can get a win, it will be a good tournament for them.

10. Memphis Roller Derby: For the most part Memphis hasn’t played many good teams this year and when they have played mid-level teams such as Arch Rival and Nashville, they were defeated handedly. If Memphis can get 1 win in this tournament that would be huge for them, but even keeping it close against teams ranked above them would be a moral victory.