Lawrence.com

The Kansas City Roller Warriors begin their second season on April 29 at the Winwood Skate Center in KC, Mo. The all-female roller derby league will welcome a smattering of Lawrence ladies into the league, including Julie Ibach and Anne Mergenmeier of Pipeline Productions and Wheat State Pizza Manager Jamie Olmstead. The league will host a benefit show at The Bottleneck on Saturday April 22 to help cover this season's production costs and travel fees when the KC Roller Warriors take on the Texas Rollergirls in June. The trio of soon-to-be victorious vixens joined us for a podcast to divulge the dirty details of their resurgent sport.

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Interview highlights (sans music) long-hand-style:

lawrence.com: So how brutal does it get?

Olmstead: I've often worried about springing a hemorrhoid from taking a hit.

Mergenmeier: I've taken a hit so hard that I peed my pants a little.

Ibach: That's a hard hit.

You're not making that up?

Mergenmeier: No : Haley Vomit hit me the other day, and I had to go to the bathroom.

Why didn't you go to the bathroom before practice?

Mergenmeier: We don't get a lot of time. Coach yells at us if we leave the rink while we're practicing, so you have to hold it.

So how do you think this league is going to fare in the coming year?

Olmstead: I think we're getting really strong really fast.

Ibach: We had enough girls this year to break into four teams, which is a big deal.

Mergenmeier: Last year it was only two teams, and more girls keep joining.

So this is your first season?

Mergenmeier: Yeah. We started skating in October.

Ibach: They divided the teams up so that they have experienced skaters as well as newer skaters.

This is obviously a pursuit of passion rather than financial gain. Do any of you guys ever make any money?

Ibach: No it's pay to play. We spend a lot of money.

Hence the fundraiser and why people should buy your baked goods and arm-wrestle you?

Olmstead: This sport takes a lot of dedication : Just to go to practice, we're cutting four hours out of our day three times a week. Gas is just ridiculous right now.

Ibach: Plus the expensive gear and maintaining your gear and rink dues and insurance costs.

Describe in visual detail what people will be entertained by.

Mergenmeier: It's a roller derby game, so you're definitely going to see girls getting knocked down. It's an athletic event.

Olmstead: It's fast-paced and action-packed.

Mergenmeier: Plus, we wear short skirts.