The Infamous Summers Eve-L
Posted on April 9, 2009
By Holly Hitsville
Summers Eve-L skates for the Devil’s Night Dames and the Detroit Derby Girls (DDG) Travel Team. Saturday’s bout will pit her home team against the Pistol Whippers. If you like rooting for rookies and dark horses then the Devil’s Night Dames is your team. Summers Eve-L and I recently chatted about cheerleading, her derby calling, and always expecting the unexpected.
Describe your skating and/or athletic background before roller derby.
As a kid I started out in gymnastics then made the switch to figure skating. When high school rolled around, I was tired of all the time and effort involved (ugh, practice before AND after school). I took up track, sprints, and sprint relays, and yes, I was a cheerleader. We were very competitive and I was able to use my gymnastic background, plus it was pretty much the same gang that ran track. Ask me and Boo to perform our school’s fight song!
How long have you been playing roller derby and when did you start skating for the DDG and the DDG Travel Team?
This is my fourth season overall and my third season with the Travel Team.
What made you want to become involved in roller derby?
Some friends and I had a long-running joke that if roller derby ever made a comeback, it would be my calling (I guess they think I have anger issues or something?). At the time it seemed like a pipe dream; I never thought it would REALLY happen. About four years ago, I was reading an article in BUST Magazine about the Gotham Girls Roller Derby. I was blown away; of course they have something THAT cool in NYC. I went online looking for their schedule thinking I’d check out a bout when I was there on business. Through various links I found out Detroit was starting a league and immediately contacted them. After watching one practice, I knew there was no escape.
The Devil’s Night Dames just picked up five skaters during the mid-season draft. What are some of the challenges and perks of having over half of a team made up of rookies?
It’s great to have a full bench to play with, not to mention the energy and enthusiasm rookies bring. The challenge is getting them up to speed so quickly. It’s not easy to jump in like that mid-season.
You are one of the three founding members that still skate for the Devil’s Night Dames. Can you talk about the evolution of the team over the years and what you think the 2010 season holds for the Dames?
The one thing I’ve learned being a Dame is to be prepared for the unexpected - we’ve been a new team every single season and this one is certainly no exception. Don’t ask me about 2010 - I haven’t a clue!
The Devil’s Night Dames are going into Saturday’s bout as the underdog, having not won a game this year. Do you have anything you’d like to say to the Pistol Whippers, with their undefeated season in full swing, that we could print here?
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” – Sun Tzu
Last two photos shot by Colin Johnson
Filed Under Holly's Hits |
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