INDIANAPOLIS — Indy's Race City Rebels are going to compete to be world champions. The team is one of 12 teams heading to England for the Men's Roller Derby Association's championship competition in October.
The team has been playing hard in tournaments across the country to earn their spot. This is the first world championship since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the name, the Men's Roller Derby Association allows players of any gender to compete.
Team president Ron Eich plays under the name "Doc Flatliner."
He joined in 2011, a year after the Rebels were founded. He was actually following his wife, who was already a roller derby enthusiast.
"Roller derby tends to draw in people who were not just athletes when they were younger," said Eich. "They didn't fit into a traditional athletic role. But they came because of the comaraderie and it's a space where everyone fits."
Eich said the team practices a few times a week in Perry Township to "hone their skills."
That has paid off with the grueling march to get to the championships in England.
"You have to rank in the top eight in the western hemisphere," Eich said. "We were sixth. Getting there takes a lot of work. We're playing in multiple tournaments this year. We have multiple home bouts, including two coming up on July 13 and July 27."
The Rebels play at Perry Park at 451 East Stop 11 Road on the south side of Indianapolis.
For more information on the Rebels and how you can help them raise the funds to get to the tournament in England, click here.
