Des Moines Roller Derby

Des Moines Roller Derby (DMRD), formerly known as Team United Roller Derby (TURD), is a flat track roller derby league located in Des Moines, Iowa. It consists of two travel teams: a WFTDA charter team, and an Open Division all gender team. DMRD is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[1]

Des Moines Roller Derby
League logo
Metro areaDes Moines, Iowa
CountryUnited States
Founded2013
TeamsWFTDA Charter Team; Open Division All Gender Team
Track type(s)Flat
VenueMVP Sports, Des Moines
AffiliationsWFTDA
Org. type501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Websitewww.desmoinesrollerderby.com

History

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The league was founded in early 2013, with most of its founders being former skaters for the Mid Iowa Rollers. It was coached by Mark Muse, also the coach of nearby Your Mom Men's Derby. The All Stars team saw rapid success, beating Minnesota RollerGirls' All Stars in December.[2][3]

The league affiliated with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), completing its Apprentice Program in 2014.[4] The following year, it began taking on WFTDA Division 1 teams, nearly beating the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls.[5]

In December 2019, the league underwent a complete rebrand, changing its name, logo, coaching, and leadership structure (including Board of Directors/Executive Board) to better suit its mission.[6] The league is currently skater-coached.

WFTDA Competition

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By 2015, Team United had absorbed most of the skaters from the Des Moines Derby Dames.[5] Later that year, Team United qualified for the WFTDA Division 1 Playoff in Tucson, and took seventh place,[7] with a 191–165 victory over Charm City Roller Girls.[8] For the 2016 Madison Division 1 Playoff Team United came in as the fifth seed,[9] and finished in fifth place by defeating Helsinki Roller Derby 206–155.[10]

In 2017, Team United did not meet the required minimum of sanctioned gameplay to be eligible for WFTDA Playoffs, although they were ranked at 26th overall at the time, and were declared ineligible for Division 1.[11]

In 2018, Team United competed at the first WFTDA Continental Cup - North America East post-season tournament in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The team took home third place in the tournament,[12] with a 195–131 victory over Mad Rollin' Dolls.

In 2019, Team United competed at the WFTDA Continental Cup - North America West post-season tournament in Orem, Utah. Team United lost to top-seeded Calgary Roller Derby in the team's second game, and finished the tournament in the consolation bracket.[13]

Rankings

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Season Final ranking[14] Playoffs Championship
2014 NR[15] N/A DNQ
2015 28 WFTDA[16] 7 D1[8] DNQ
2016 14 WFTDA[17] 5 D1[10] DNQ
2017 32 WFTDA[18] DNQ[11] DNQ
2018 45 WFTDA[19] 3 CC NA East[12] DNQ
2019 44 WFTDA[20] CR CC NA West[13] DNQ
  • NR = no final ranking assigned this year
  • DNQ = did not qualify
  • CR = consolation round

References

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  1. ^ "Team United Roller Derby – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Team United Dumps Minnesota, 142-139", Rollin News, 9 December 2013
  3. ^ Mariah Lewis, "Roller Derby not stuck in the past", Drake Digital News, 25 March 2014
  4. ^ Women's Flat Track Derby Association, "WFTDA welcomes new member, apprentice leagues", 2 October 2014
  5. ^ a b "Team United Makes a Splash in the Rockies", Derby Central, 2 March 2015
  6. ^ "League Rebrand: TURD Becomes DMRD". Des Moines Roller Derby. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  7. ^ Women's Flat Track Derby Association, "Victorian Roller Derby League wins D1 Playoffs in Tucson", 6 September 2015
  8. ^ a b Deadwards, Lisa (6 September 2015). "D1T 7th Place: #6 Team United Surpasses #5 Charm City, 191-165". Derby Central. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Gotham wins Madison Playoffs, Championships seeding set", 25 September 2016
  10. ^ a b "D1M: #5 Team United sinks #6 Helsinki, 206-155". Derby Central. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  11. ^ a b Deadwards, Lisa (14 July 2017). "2017 WFTDA June Rankings and Tournament Seeding". Derby Central. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Boston Roller Derby Wins 2018 WFTDA Continental Cup - North America East". WFTDA. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  13. ^ a b "Calgary Roller Derby Wins 2019 WFTDA Continental Cup - North America West". WFTDA. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  14. ^ "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  15. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  16. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  17. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2018". WFTDA. 2019-01-07. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  20. ^ Watson, Michael. "Current International WFTDA Rankings". WFTDA Stats Home. Retrieved 2020-02-29.