At least twice a week, every week for almost 15 years, Debbie Roberts has found herself in a pair of roller skates. On those nights, she goes by the name “Debbie Darko.”
In 2010, Roberts became one of the original members of the Cornfed Roller Derby (CFRD), Muncie’s only flat-track roller derby league, in search of community.
“We kind of formed just with this idea to maybe have some fun, skate around, hit each other and then it somehow became a second family,” Roberts said.
Since then, she said it’s become something bigger than herself.
“[This all] was unexpected for sure, but being able to come in and have the same, kind of a misfit group of people who just want to have fun and play hard has been really great … We strive really hard to make it someplace where everyone is welcome,” she said.
Roberts, the league's current president, is one of many skaters who have joined and been impacted by CFRD since its creation. The league, which is a part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, just began its 12th season and strives to “bring together and empower people of all body types, race, age and religion,” according to its website. The league's goal is to “make roller derby a positive and lasting addition to the Muncie community.”
Roberts said she cannot help but feel like the league has been true to its mission, creating a safe space for marginalized groups and the LGBTQ+ community. This season, CFRD partnered with Muncie Queer Alliance, giving them a portion of the league's proceeds.
Third-year Ball State theater major Faith Jones-Smith, whose derby name is “Barbarian” or “Barb” for short, is one of the team's youngest members. Smith joined CFRD after Roberts presented in her script writing class in the fall of 2023. Now in her second season with the league, she skates for CFRD’s A-team, the “All-Stars,” and B-team, the “Killer Kernels.”
“For years, I had been interested in roller derby ... I said if I ever get the opportunity, I’ve got to try it at least once,” Smith said. “It popped up when they were doing their [pre-season] boot camp, and I said, ‘I gotta go.’”
Outside of Ball State, Smith said she had trouble finding people to surround herself with. Contrary to the on-campus community, something she described as supportive and familiar, she wasn’t able to find friendship when leaving campus. She said the league's acceptance and bond is what got her to stay, and that it “means more to [her]” than her teams “will ever know.”
Learning from the people around her, who she admitted are twice her age, has taught her many life lessons and wisdom. Enjoying the company of people she normally wouldn't be able to, she said derby is her second home.
“We're volunteers. No one gets paid to do this. We are paying to do it. We're paying for our own skates, our gear, a monthly fee, and we have to rent the space. We are doing it all ourselves,” Smith said. “... We choose to be here … Everyone is welcome — no matter your age, race, height or sexuality — and you’ll fit right in.”
Ashlie McCormack, also known as “Rouge,” is serving as the interleague coordinator and head coach of the Killer Kernels this season. McCormack has been skating with CFRD since 2016 after moving to Muncie and not knowing anybody in town. Upon seeing flyers around town for the league, she showed up and figured it was a way to meet people in her new city.
As someone who grew up playing sports, the league was not just a place for her to find community but to do something “really physical” again. Like Smith, the fun, inclusive and friendly environment on and off the track has built deep bonds and friendships. All in all, it has kept her around for almost 10 years, something she said has never happened before.
“It's the longest I've ever been in one place, which is kind of crazy. Just being [in the league] is great. It's a competitive environment where people are encouraged to be strong, to be powerful and to be outside of the norm,” she said.
As someone who joined the league in search of community, McCormick said those who are searching for a place to be themselves and make some new friends should join CFRD.
“I don't think we have any 18-year-olds this year, but we had some last year, and our oldest player was 58, so it's a huge age span, and there's a place for everyone here to find their community,” she said. “I might not be best friends with every single person in the league, but there are a lot of them that I'm super close to, like those people that you can call in the middle of the night.”
Seana Reynolds, or “SeanA the Dead,” is a mother of three who is currently finishing her master's degree in applied behavioral analysis. Reynolds has been skating for over 10 years and transferred to CFRD last March after bouncing around a handful of other teams across the state. “When I started derby, my son wasn't even a year old yet. I didn't have any hobbies. I didn't do anything for myself. I worked, I went to school and I was a mom,” Reynolds said. “… I feel like I take better care of myself now that I've got something to do, and I think it's just been a good balance that my kids know too. ‘Mom goes to roller derby, this is her thing.’”
Though her situation is a little different than other skaters — not including the fact that she lives in Cambridge City and has to commute about 40 minutes to practices — this sport and the CFRD are something she “loves” to have in her life. Reynolds just turned 38 but said that her age won’t ever stop her from pursuing her sport.
Finding and perfecting the balance she now has between her roles as a mom, student and derby member was initially tricky, but Reynolds said it is now something she can’t give up.
“It's such an empowering sport. During COVID, when I didn't have roller derby, I just didn't feel like myself,” she said. “It's such a good way to build your confidence and be so comfortable in your body and know what your body is capable of. It really just empowers you and makes you feel strong and capable.”
Roberts said she could not be more grateful for what the league has given her. Now, as the last remaining original league member, she said the reality of her time with the league — and the fact that she joined right after she had graduated from college — has been “crazy” rewarding.
“All my friends had moved out of town, kind of moved on … I joined just to maybe make friends. I didn't think I would be good at all, I didn't think I would be in it for long, but then, people just kept on welcoming me back,” she said. “I would go, and I just kept on expecting them to say, ‘You are not good, you should probably stop,’ but every little thing that I did that was better than the day before and they celebrated it. I love our community.”
Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
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