A moment with Spindletop Rollergirl Founder Messica

For those that don't know I'm officially in Spindletop's rec league as a noob Messica and Dougie have been wonderfully patient with me. It is my pleasure to present my first of many SRG interviews. skater. 

Name: Messica

Number: 7/13

League: Spindletop Roller Girls

Home Team: Spindletop Roller Girls (we only have one right now)

Seasons Played: 1

How did you decide on your derby name? 

I worked in an Italian restaurant and constantly spilled spaghetti/alfredo on my all black uniform when I would eat....it kinda stuck :-)

What is your (roller derby) position of choice? 

Pivot / Blocker

What is your skate gear of choice? 

I am lovin' the Reidell 965 boots, powerdyne reactor plate and bones swiss bearings. I am also stuck on Radar zodiac wheels.

How did you hear about roller derby?  
My man and his mom were medics for HRD and said you have to check this out...I was in love with it after the first game and joined their rec league shortly after until my job moved us to Beaumont.


Were you a fan of the game before you played? 
Hell YES!!


What made you decide to become a roller girl? 
I knew I wanted to do that as soon as I saw my first game. I have never played many sports but grew up roller skating....loved it and it was just an added bonus to get to hit while doing it!!


Did you have a specific team you wanted to play for or did you end up exactly where you wanted to be? 
I loved the Machete Betties of HRD, they were still a bouting team when I first discovered Roller Derby and I wanted to be one of them sooooo badly!!! In the end things worked out as they should have and I love that SRG got to start together and suffer all the growing pains we have to become a new league....HRD has been wonderful as a mentor/big sister team so yes I feel like I have the best of both worlds!! They are as much like my derby family as the SRG girls. Not to mention my family in law skate with HRD so we have literal family there.


What are some of your best/favorite moments in roller derby?
My very first scrimmage game at Texas Roller Girls boot camp in Dec 2008...I was like a deer in headlights, I had never scrimmaged in my life before that and got to do it in front of a crowd at the beginning of their bout that night...I was petrified!!!


What is the funniest thing that has happened to/ around you in derby? 
Same night, I actually have a short video of it and I do nothing in it but skate around in the pack...its hilarious to watch now!!


Who are your roller derby heroes? 
Ms. Lead, GoldiBloxx, Brandaid, Carmen Geddit, Rebel Ann too many of the awesome blockers from HRD to name. I can remember watching their feet at games when I started and just wishing I could block like that one day!!! Also the Texas Rollergirls in Austin...Rice Rocket is amazing, Lucille Brawl, too many to name there as well.....and of course I think every blockers hero....Beyonslay from Gotham City.


Do you have a motivational quote? 
Never say "I Cant" if you don't try you never will.


Do you have any game day rituals? 
Not really I am usually running around like a mad woman on game day trying to get everything in order. At away games.....sleep in and relax until at least 10am.


What goes through your brain as you lace up your skates for a bout?
I like to convince myself that this team is the best team out there so I go in expecting to play my hardest and do the best I can so I don't let my team down.


Do you have a theme song? 
I don't but the one song that really gets me pumped is Slipknot - Psychosocial


Do you have a signature move? 
I love to steer people with my butt!


What advice would you give to someone just starting out in roller derby? 
Just because you don't perfect it the first time, don't give up. It takes time, self discipline, hard work, and lots of sore muscles but in the end I would do it a hundred times over because its all worth it.




I know derby takes over your life when you become a roller girl. How do you keep things in balance? 
I try to schedule one day at least every other week that is just for me to do with as I please...I love derby, but like anything else if you never take a break from it eventually you will burn yourself out.




What was your family's reaction to your desire to play? 
My mom watched us form our league from the very beginning to our present day success so she has always been extremely supportive from the beginning. She loves it!!! So do both of my sisters...they are at pretty much every game.


How does it feel to have fans? 
It is so exciting!!! The first time I had a little girl come up and ask for my autograph I felt so flattered I was like "you want my autograph??" It is the most flattering thing in the world... I hope that feeling never goes away!!!


Anyone you'd like to take the opportunity to thank? 
 WFTDA who has set standards for all of us to follow and structure after. And of course Houston Roller Derby without their support, their help, their encouragement we would not be where we are now.


What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments?
Bringing roller derby to a city that definitely needed something different and meeting/working/skating with an amazing group of women to make it a success in our city.


Do you have answers to questions I should have asked? 
I don't think so...you have done a pretty thorough job!! Great questions !!!


I understand you are the founder of SRG can you tell me a little bit about that experience?
It has been an experience!!! Imagine starting your own business while working your regular full time job and training to be a competitive athlete all at the same time. A lot of learning curves, exhaustion & literal blood, sweat and tears.