

under way. Helmets and kneepads are part
of the gear worn.
It’s early Sunday evening at Roller City on South Meridian in Wichita, and the crowd packing the rink is ready for action.

’06, on the far right. During a game, each
team has five players on the track.
So are the ICT Roller Girls, a diverse group of young women who’ve come together for fun, exercise and the camaraderie of roller derby.
Among team members are three women with Wichita State ties: two alumnae — Hillary Convey ’95 and Naomi Hollon fs ’06 — and Jessica Henderson, who is a senior majoring in psychology.
Like any sport, roller derby involves hours of practice, and the Roller Girls gather regularly to hone their skills. The payoff isn’t financial, but the enjoyment of competition and the bond of friendship.

period. An American-invented contact sport, roller
derby’s roots can be traced back to the early 1920s.


after an intense round of practice.