In honor of a big double-header, on Saturday, we are featuring some of the lovely derby girls as our Model Citizens.

Meet “Leave It To Cleavers” very own Brutal Strudel.

Volition Mag: How did you get involved with Roller Derby? (Thought Process).

Brutal Strudel: My boyfriend at the time traveled one weekend to Boise for work and stayed with a friend whose wife was, as it turned out, a derby girl. They went to her bout that weekend and within the first fifteen one of the girls had a compound fracture. He came home raving about how tough it was and I was immediately attracted. I googled “salt lake roller derby” and the rest is history.

Brutal: I joined the league in October of last year. I’m one of the more rotten “fresh meat”.

Brutal: I am the Executive Director of a very small nonprofit organization that helps families who have children with special needs. I spend most of my days working from home– grantwriting, planning fundraisers, managing staff and volunteers, etc. No one at work knows I’m a derby girl since its a very conservative place! Some days I feel like Jekyll and Hyde and other days I love having a secret life.

Brutal: The workout! And the amazing women surrounding me. Each derby girl has a story and each one has a plethora of interesting life experiences.

Brutal: Well, this Saturday’s bout will be my first home game! I’ll probably vomit a few times from nerves. Really, I try not to look at the other team until the whistle blows so I don’t psych myself out. After getting beat by 100 points in Denver, however, I feel ready for anything.

Brutal: I only started skating a few weeks before tryouts. I never skated as a kid, don’t have any background skating. But when I put my mind to something, I am committed with my heart and soul. I had a long learning curve where I was constantly falling. But, I pushed myself and now I’m steady on my skates (most of the time). I even made it onto the all-star team!

VM: Education? Status?

Brutal: I had a scholarship to Westminster College but realized after a year that I wanted to go out-of-state. I transferred to the University of Colorado at Boulder and graduated Summa cum Laude (top honors) after an excruciating year writing a 120 page feminist thesis. This fall I begin my masters degree at Emory University in global public health. If the stars align, I’ll be working for the United Nations when I finish.

Brutal: My favorite movie is “Run Lola Run”. I hate blockbusters and rarely see them. I stay in the independent isle. On the other hand, I’m music illiterate. Wish I could rattle off a few indie bands that I follow but I’m just not that cool. As for books, I’ve got “Omnivores Delima” on my nightstand and before that “Freakonomics” might be the last book I finished.