Photo credit: Sean Hale.
The final 2016 International WFTDA Playoff tournament in Madison, Wisconsin will decide the final three Division 1 teams that will attend Championships along with London, Texas, and Montréal from D1 Montréal; Rose City, Denver, and Jacksonville from D1 Columbia; and Victoria, Angel City, and Rat City from D1 Vancouver. After the award ceremony on Sunday, WFTDA will also announce seeding for the Champs bracket in Portland, Oregon this November.
Photo Credit Steve Jurkovic
MADISON, WI – The battle for third place turned out to be a hard-fought nail-biter with multiple lead changes between two supremely evenly matched teams, but #2 Arch Rival clawed back from an early deficit to eke out a win, 149-131. Both teams’ strong defensive formations proved difficult for the opposing jammers, with braced formations resisting head on challenges and anticipating lateral attacks. Each team proved resilient to their opponents offensive challenges, enduring interruptions and containing their opponents for long stretches of time.
Photo Credit Marko Niemelä
MADISON, WI – Battling for 5th place today was #5 Team United and #6 Helsinki. Team United looked to keep their entrance ranking from the weekend while Helsinki aimed to bump themselves up one spot. The teams were well-matched, resulting in a hard-fought battle up until the last few jams. Helsinki’s swift-footed jammers were often hung up by the staunch defense of Team United, while the jammers from Iowa powered their way through the Finns walls. Team United overpowered Helsinki 206-155.
Photo credit Steve Jurkovic
MADISON, WI – After entering the tournament at 9th place, Ohio were absolutely resolute to exit at the same place by taking the win for this game. And the main force behind the team, The Smacktivist, took that drive to collect a massive 139 points for the team – of the 397 they added across the weekend’s three games – securing the team a solid win against rivals No Coast, 227-188.
Photo credit Joe Mac
MADISON, WI – A back and forth battle between the #10 seed Mad Rollin Dolls and #8 Windy City Rollers ended with the hometown team pulling off their second upset of the weekend to claim seventh place. Madison’s command of the track boundaries gave them a 190-139 victory, while Windy City exits the tournament maintaining their seeding at 8th position.
Photo credit Quick'N'Derby, aka Ryan Quick
MADISON, WI – The final game Saturday night in Madison essentially came down to a jammer duel between #2 Arch Rival Roller Derby and #3 Minnesota RollerGirls. The well-matched teams spent much of the game within striking distance from one another, and despite a scare late in the first period that saw Arch Rival leading for three jams, Minnesota kept victory just out of reach for Arch Rival with a final score of 174-155.
D1M: #2 Arch Rival overtakes #4 Tampa, 149-131
D1M: #5 Team United sinks #6 Helsinki, 206-155
D1M: #9 Ohio ousts #7 No Coast, 227-188
D1M: #10 Mad Rollin' eludes #8 Windy City, 190-139
D1M: #3 Minnesota outscores #2 Arch Rival, 174-155
