Tomball area residents Krystal Schroeder and Kristina Denison have joined with more than 30 other women to form the North Side Fury Roller Derby League to support women’s health and women who have suffered from domestic violence.

Denison, president of the team, decided to form the non-profit league after her and her husband Derek Denison attended a roller derby game in Texas City. She partnered with Schroeder, vice president of North Side Fury, and began recruiting more women.

The league is now comprised of a hairdresser, librarian, waitress, graduate student, stay-at-home moms, teachers and more.

“Some girls haven’t skated in 15 years prior to derby,” Derek Denison said.

Pictured, teammates put all hands in after a scrimmage.

Now, with more than 30 women ranging from ages 22 to 45 the league is working to support Reaching Pines at the Montgomery County Women's Shelter, which is a transitional housing community for survivors of domestic violence, according to Schroeder.

Schroeder explained that one of the teammates works with a volunteer of the shelter, which opened a door for the league. In addition, a member of another roller derby league in Florida was a victim of domestic violence leading the team to decide that domestic violence was an issue they were most passionate about.

“One of the skaters on our Community Outreach Committee, Jillian the Barbarian, works with a woman who helps with the Montgomery County Women's Shelter,” she said. “One of our fellow derby girls in Florida recently survived a terrible domestic violence attack, so we wanted to honor her by giving back to our community.”

Since North Side Fury formed, the league has held karaoke events, sold merchandise and held auctions to raise funds for women’s health and organizations who serve victims of domestic violence.

When it comes down to the sport, the players say it’s an enjoyable, growing organization.

“It’s really a grassroots sport,” Trainer Heather Davis said. “It’s still evolving.”

“We strive to improve the athletic ability, competitive spirit, character and self-discipline of our members who are strong, diverse, enthusiastic women,” according to the team’s mission statement.

The team is working to become an official member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), which is the international governing body of roller derby. Each player pays membership fees to the roller derby league and is required to pass the Minimum Skill Requirements established by the WFTDA in order to compete.

Schroeder anticipates that the first North Side Fury game or “bouts” will be held in August.

There are teams in Houston, College Station, San Antonio and Corpus Christi among others in Texas.

Roller derby is an all-women sport and players must be 18-years-old or older to play for the North Side Fury Roller Derby League.

North Side Fury meets every Monday and Wednesday night at the Champion Roller World skating rink in Spring.

For more information about the league or to join, visit northsidefury.com. For more information about WFTDA, visit wftda.com.

The league is currently gathering clothes and other items to donate. For more information on donations, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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