On Sunday, a near capacity crowd at the Grady Cole Center watched as the Charlotte Roller Girls held its final home bout of the 2009 season and finally answered the age-old question of youth or experience. For the bout dubbed Battle of the Ages: Cougars vs. Kittens, the league split into two teams based upon age. Those aged 33 and under were the Kittens while those 34 and older were the Cougars. Experience won as the Cougars took a hard-fought 100-81 victory.
The evening was highlighted by the retirement announcement of Cress Barnes aka Lucy Kwipment, one of the league’s founders.
“There was never a doubt in the Cougars’ minds who would end up the winner,” said the eldest Cougar at 46 years old, Pam Brown aka Pamela Ander-Slam. “I said before that Cougars eat Kittens for breakfast. Apparently, they also eat them for lunch, dinner and dessert. In all seriousness, it was a close battle throughout and the Kittens have much to be proud of. They put up an incredible fight.”
To kick off the bout, Linda Sewell aka BoToxic Bruz’her and Rosemary Gardner aka Rosie Cheeks lined up on the jammer line for the Cougars and Kittens respectively. Sewell jumped ahead and earned lead jammer. After scoring three points, she quickly called off the jam. Cougar jammer Monica Wackerhagen aka Hands On Gretel extended their advantage by four in the following jam.
Kittens jammer Haley Blaska aka Amy Fister scored nine points in the third jam giving the youth brigade its first lead of the bout. Gardner’s 13 point haul a few jams later drove home the message that this friendly rivalry was serious business.
It wasn’t until later in the period, when Wackerhagen and Brown each scored grand slams (five points) in successive jams, that the Cougars were able to regain the lead that they would maintain for the remainder of the bout. At the halftime break, the Cougars led 56-44.
Wackerhagen and Kittens jammer Erin Barbee aka Foxy Pound kicked off the second period with both grabbing four points. Cougars jammer Samantha Labarbera aka Drew FearMEmore and Blaska did the same in the third jam. But as the period wore on, the Cougars continued to attack while the Kittens struggled to keep up.
In the closing minutes, the Kittens mounted one final charge. Blaska, Marissa Sherman aka Margaret Snatch’her and Barbee steadily outscored the Cougars in the final five jams but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
“The Cougars must have taken their Geritol because they managed to win without taking a nap midway through the bout,” said Blaska, captain of the Kittens. “It was a fun bout for us and it showed that the Charlotte Roller Girls have great skaters both young and not so young.”
During the halftime break, Barnes was honored for her contributions to the league. In 2006, she along with a group of local women, formed the Charlotte Roller Girls. For the past two years, Barnes has served as the league’s president. She was a stalwart on the track whose presence was always evident. Her legacy will be marked by the league’s explosive growth and stability.
The Charlotte Roller Girls 2010 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. Check back often for the most up to date information.
