Zombies face off with vampires at roller derby
Jammers face Pivots during the Zombies vs. Vampires game at Spinning Wheels Arena on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015.
When you think of zombies, you probably think of pale, demented creatures with torn clothing and a thirst for blood.
Tonight, however, zombies, along with vampires, were seen wearing roller skates as part of Central Michigan Mayhem's Zombies vs. Vampires roller derby bout at Spinning Wheels Arena.
Central Michigan Mayhem is a women's roller derby team for those who live in or around Mount Pleasant. The team was joined by skaters from all around Michigan to compete in this special Halloween event.
Tracy Credit was one of these women.
Part of Demolitia Derby Queens based out of Lapeer, Credit, 35, competed on the zombie team on the one-year anniversary of her joining roller derby.
"I ran a Tough Mudder run and I used to play basketball, so I've always done sports, but I wanted to do something different," Credit said of joining roller derby.
A tough woman, Credit is a blocker, a player who tries to keep the other team from scoring. Her derby nickname is "PoKohota$$" because she is Native American, Credit said.
Teams are made up of a handful of blockers and one jammer, the woman who scores points. Jammers wear a star on their helmets, and have to try to get past the other teams' blocker and make a full lap around the rink, to score.
Simultaneously, blockers on the jammer's team are trying to leave room for their jammer to get through by getting in the way of the other team's blockers and jammer.
Bouts can get pretty brutal, with skaters occasionally falling over each other on their quest for points. Derby women are outfitted in knee and elbow pads, a helmet and mouth guard.
Onlookers dressed as zombies or vampires during tonight's event, some daring to sit in "suicide seating," or the front row that lines the rink. Those in these seats must watch for skaters who could fall in their laps.
One of these skaters is Jessica Ebels. By day, she wears business casual clothing and works at Central Michigan University. Tonight, Ebels played for the zombies, outfitted in skates and white clothing stained red with fake blood to fit the theme.
Ebels was one of the first members of Central Michigan Mayhem.
"My sister started skating in Denver, and told me about it, and then in 2010 a woman started a league here," Ebels said.
She grew up roller skating with her dad and sister, but can now be seen at the rink checking other women so Mayhem's jammer can score.
"Blockers are usually the bigger, meatier girls who block the littler girls," Ebels said.
Her derby nickname is "Piece of Merry" because Ebel said she loves Christmas. Nicknames can be given to members of roller derby, or picked by the skater.
Ebels said those interested in joining roller derby don't have to have experience, and can be trained as "fresh meat."
"I'm a trainer, so I help the fresh mean learn all the moves, and then they do a skills test to get on the roster," she said. "(Mayhem) is a great group of girls."
