January 2017: Skater of the Month

Photo courtesy of Picnut Photography

JANUARY 2017: MONA BRUIS’R #911, ARMY OF DARKNESS

WHAT POSITION ARE YOU MOST COMFORTABLE PLAYING?

I like playing all of them, but I primarily block.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE SKILL IN ROLLER DERBY TO PERFECT IN AN HOUR, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Apex jumps. Because who doesn’t want to fly through the air and right past an entire pack of your opponents??

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH YOUR DERBY NAME?

Back when I started skating in 2007, all names had to be run through the two-evils website. I read through the endless list of names and knew that I wanted something that read one way, but when said out loud came across another. Coming from a family that speaks with a good ol’ southern twang, I channeled my inner Jeff Foxworthy and came up with Mona Bruis’R –which translates to “I’m going to bruise her.”

 

YOU’RE ONE OF A FEW DDD SKATERS THAT STRICTLY PLAY FOR THE ALL-STARS (ARMY OF DARKNESS) AND NOT A HOME TEAM. TELL US WHAT THAT’S LIKE!

Personally for me, ASO (All-Star Only) is a way for me to fully commit myself to travel team. Of course I loved being a Suicide Shifter and playing home games, but it meant more practices and games where there is the potential of an injury — which could take me off the all-star roster. It’s also a nice option being that I have 2 young kids. Skating home team means additional team practices every month which is more time away from my little ones.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF ABOUT AOD?

I would say that I’m most proud of the strides that the team has made in most recent years. Since I transferred to this league, travel team has had its fair share of ups and downs and transitional periods. In the past 3 years though, the team has really come together and done great things. Going from being ranked outside of qualifying for Division 2 to now #13 in the world!! It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication from every member of the team, but to see the steady rise in rankings is so worth the sacrifices made to get where we are now.

HOW CAN FANS FOLLOW DALLAS’ ALL-STARS?

Depending on the game scheduling, many of our games are played out of town. We regularly post updates and going -ons on our Facebook page (@DDDAllStars). Many inter-league games and tournaments are live-streamed allowing our fans at home to watch the action!