Derby girl
Samantha Hamann participates in a unique sport – Roller Derby
Focusing, Hamann plots her strategy for the upcoming bout.
If Cannon Falls offers an activity, odds are you’ll find Junior, Samantha Hamann, there. Speech captain, FFA, theatre, girl scouts, fencing, violin, jazz choir, lantern and acting outside the school are just a few activities that Sam is a part of. “I’m only in school to stay eligible for my activities,” says Hamann jokingly. But one extracurricular that most people don’t know about Sam is Roller Derby.
Roller Derby is a competitive skating activity that has three positions. There is the Jammer who is the one that scores points, the Blockers who try to prevent the opponent’s Jammer from scoring, and the Pivot who is the leader of the pack. To score points the Jammer has to pass members of the opposing team. There are five members per team so the Jammer can get up to five points. Sam plays as the Blocker and the pivot, switching between roles at different tournaments. She plays in Minneapolis at the National Guard Armory on Wednesdays from 7:45 to around 9:00. There are three levels at the armory, Big, Medium and Little league from ages 3 to 17. After age 17, the kids are able to join an adult league, a feat that Sam is considering.
Sam went with her family to an Adult Roller Derby having low expectations, but walked out of there wanting to become part of the team. Her father then saw a bumper sticker labeled “Junior Roller Derby,” and that same afternoon Sam was signed up to play. Hamann has been part of Roller Derby since she was in 7th grade and is now in the Big League, which is the only division that has physical contact. Tournaments are harder to participate in as there aren’t many leagues in Minnesota but Sam has played against different State teams, such as Colorado. The best part is that Roller Derby does not conflict with her other activities because the times are later at night.. Sam leapt at the idea of others trying out for the sport saying, “It’s a fun thing and I think it’s great for when anyone wants to join a new, weird thing. Go for it!”
