Kalamazoo Roller Derby
League logo
Metro areaKalamazoo, MI
CountryUnited States
Founded2006
TeamsKill Stars (A team)
Killa Crew (B team)
Track type(s)Flat
VenueWings Stadium
AffiliationsWFTDA
Websitewww.kalamazooderby.com

Kalamazoo Roller Derby (KRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 2006, the league consists of two teams which compete against teams from other leagues, and is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[1]

History and organization

Former KDD logo

The league was founded in early 2006 as the Kalamazoo Kamikazes, and played its first bout the following year.[2]

By 2008 they had rebranded as the Killmazoo Derby Darlins and moved from the RollerWorld roller rink to Wings Stadium where they sold out all 800 advance tickets for a June game.[3] It doubled its membership in 2009, following the release of the movie Whip It!.[4]

Killamazoo was accepted into the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice Program in October 2009,[5] and became a full member of the WFTDA in September 2010.[6]

The league plays its bouts at the Wings Stadium, and aims in particular to attract families to watch.[7]

In January 2018 the league announced a rebrand as Kalamazoo Derby Darlins.[8]

In December 2020, the league announced a rebrand as Kalamazoo Roller Derby in a move to embrace diversity and inclusion.

WFTDA competition

In 2013, Killamazoo qualified for WFTDA Playoffs for the first time, participating at the Division 2 tournament they hosted at Wings Stadium.[9] Killamazoo was the third seed and finished the tournament in third place with a 250-219 victory over NEO Roller Derby (Akron, Ohio).[10] In 2014, KDD again qualified for Division 2 Playoffs, and were the fourth seed at Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, and won the third place game 180-162 over Gold Coast Derby Grrls of Fort Lauderdale.[11]

Season Final ranking[12] Playoffs Championship
2011 20 NC[13] DNQ DNQ
2012 13 NC[14] DNQ DNQ
2013 45 WFTDA[15] 3 D2[10] DNQ
2014 61 WFTDA[16] 3 D2[11] DNQ
2015 80 WFTDA[17] DNQ DNQ
2016 94 WFTDA[18] DNQ DNQ
2017 99 WFTDA[19] DNQ DNQ

References

  1. ↑ "Kalamazoo Derby Darlins – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  2. ↑ Cleary, Shawano (12 July 2007). "Local roller derby team is ready to ride in debut". MLive.com. Michigan Live. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Wedel, Mark (29 June 2008). "Roller Derby at Kalamazoo's Wings Stadium: Hockey meets NASCAR". MLive.com. Michigan Live. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Graham Couch column: Skilled and sometimes brutal, Killamazoo roller derby club is worthy of Kalamazoo's attention", Kalamazoo Gazette, July 15, 2011
  5. ↑ "Apprentice Leagues", WFTDA [version of 16 November 2009]
  6. ↑ "9 Leagues Join WFTDA for Full Membership Archived 2012-10-30 at the Wayback Machine", WFTDA, 1 September 2010
  7. ↑ Andy Fitzpatrick, "Get ready to roll", Battle Creek Gazette, April 8, 2010
  8. ↑ "New Year, Big Changes, Same Derby". Kalamazoo Derby Darlins. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "August 23-25, 2013: Kalamazoo, Michigan - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  10. 1 2 Wise, Beck (25 August 2013). "D2K 3rd: Killamazoo Rebuffs NEO, 250-219 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Killamazoo Overwhelms Gold Coast, 180-162 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  13. ↑ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "Rankings: December 31, 2013". WFTDA. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  16. ↑ "Rankings: December 31, 2014". WFTDA. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  17. ↑ "Rankings: December 31, 2015". WFTDA. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  19. ↑ "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
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