By Jess Field
Falling with a smile
Early morning practices teach youth roller derby squad dedication and technique
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Jess Field / Petersburg Pilot
Petersburg youth roller derby action in full swing last Friday during their early morning practice. Players and coaches skating together during the drill include Courtney "Combat Court" Bray (left to right), Miranda "That One Derby Girl" Nilsen, Maddy "Madinator" Gilpin, Jenna "PsychopathoJen" Olsen, Lisa "Little Lisa Larsony" Nilsen, and Lilianna "Lili Pad" Yeckley.
The clock shows 5:30 a.m. in the Parks and Rec community gym and the youth roller derby team is busy gearing up for their weekly two-hour practice. The first 20 minutes or so are dedicated to putting on protective guards for their knees and elbows, followed by laying out the red markers for the track boundaries.
For Coach Lisa Nilsen, the early hour practices are a sign of the players' dedication, and believe it or not, actually help them focus. None of the players are yawning or leaning up against the wall thinking about the warm bed they left at home. They are intently listening to instru...
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