CoMo Roller Derby Columbia’s All-Female Flat-Track League
CoMo Roller Derby: Columbia’s All-Female Flat-Track League
Since 2011, this Missouri team has built a league around athleticism, sisterhood, and giving back to its community.
What CoMo Roller Derby is
CoMo Roller Derby is a flat-track roller derby league based in Columbia, Missouri. Founded in 2011, it’s one of the largest and most established all-female roller derby leagues in the state. As part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the league is committed to giving female athletes a platform to compete in a full-contact team sport, promoting athleticism and self-confidence while encouraging empowerment through camaraderie and sportsmanship.
Vision, mission, and purpose
Vision
To be a leader in the roller derby community, inspiring athletes of all levels and backgrounds to reach their full potential.
Mission
To create an inclusive environment where skaters can learn the sport safely and use it as a platform for personal growth — empowering women and girls in the Columbia area through competitive athleticism and sisterhood.
Purpose
More than just a sport, the league exists to give women an avenue to come together and build connections through roller derby, encouraging members to strive for their personal best as part of a genuinely supportive community — with a strong emphasis on giving back through charities, schools, and other local organizations.
How the team got started
CoMo Roller Derby was founded in 2011 by a group of passionate skaters determined to bring roller derby to Columbia, Missouri. The team gained momentum quickly, beginning competition in 2012, and became a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association in 2013. Since then, the league has grown substantially, now fielding two home teams — the Hooligan Heifers and the Riot Girls, who compete against each other throughout the year — alongside a travel team of experienced skaters that competes at the national level.
Notable team members
Riot Girl Meemz
Part of the team since 2013, she won MVP at the 2017 WFTDA D2 Playoffs and remains one of the standout skaters in the state.
Accidental Jackie O
One of the longest-standing members, with the team since its founding in 2011. She’s captained both the Hooligan Heifers and the Riot Girls over the years and continues to inspire her teammates.
Sailor Bulkhead
Captain of the travel team, with the league for nearly five years, leading her teammates with a dedication that pushes everyone to reach their full potential as athletes.
Lipschitz
Part of the CoMo family since 2013, having competed in numerous bouts and tournaments while proudly representing the team.
Chainsaw Bessie
A veteran player of five years, skating with an energy that consistently pushes her teammates to perform at their best.
Competitions and events
In 2020, the two home teams competed against each other in a series of bouts, with the Riot Girls ultimately coming out on top to win the Home Team Championship that year. The travel team also had a standout year, competing at numerous tournaments across the state and country, and was crowned National Champion at the 2020 WFTDA D2 Playoffs in Atlanta, Georgia — momentum the team has continued building on since.
Beyond bouts, CoMo Roller Derby stays active in the local community throughout the year, participating in events to spread awareness of the sport and give back to supporters. The team also hosts social events for members to connect, including movie nights and potluck dinners.
Why members say it’s worth it
Health benefits
Roller derby is a genuine full-body workout, offering real physical and mental benefits — improving balance, coordination, and strength while building self-confidence along the way.
Social benefits & community involvement
The league is a strong way to get involved locally, promote kindness, and build new friendships. Members work together to give back to supporters and host social events, making it an avenue to meet people with shared interests and build lasting bonds.
Improved confidence & self-esteem
The platform CoMo Roller Derby offers women helps cultivate both physical and mental well-being. Through hard work, dedication, and team-building, skaters build confidence and self-esteem that carries into other parts of their lives.
How to join
Interested skaters need to be 18 or older, able to pass a background check, and willing to commit to attending all practices and bouts. Each skater is also required to own their own equipment — skates, pads, and a helmet. Those who meet the requirements can apply through the team’s website, and once accepted, will attend a training program covering the basics of roller derby before being evaluated for placement on one of the two home teams or the travel team.
CoMo Roller Derby is an all-female flat-track league built around athleticism and female empowerment. Through its focus on creating a safe, inclusive environment, the team encourages members to reach their full potential as both athletes and individuals — while building real physical health, self-confidence, and lasting connections along the way.
