Hellbenders edge Nightmares in roller derby showdown
STATE COLLEGE — The roar of roller skates and thundering cheers collided on Sunday, Oct. 19, inside C3 Sports as SCAR Derby celebrated its 15th birthday in true punk-rock fashion with bruises, glitter and all for a cause that matters.
The Nittany Nightmares and Happy Valley Hellbenders laced up for a high-octane brawl that wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about community, history and heart all rolling together for “Darkness to Hope,” an initiative that is fighting against human trafficking.
The night opened like a fistfight set to musi. Zo Flake, Dental Jam and Boa Constrickler tore through early jams while the Hellbenders’ Zombabe and Zorra claimed lead jammer status like they were born in the penalty box. Power jams swung momentum like a wrecking ball, the crowd howling every time the pivot star got passed or a blocker got sent packing.
Later in the night, the lights dimmed, the birthday cake came out and fans sang “Happy Birthday” to SCAR. Announcers shouted updates about new merch, new recruits and the “Betty Fund,” which helps skaters cover costs to keep their wheels on the track. It wasn’t just a game. It was a decade and a half of defiance on display.
The second half was chaos wrapped in strategy. The score had tied at 95 before Hellbender jammer Zorra ripped through defenders with a monster 20-point power jam, giving her squad the edge they’d never lose. The final whistle blew with the Hellbenders victorious, 161-144, but no one left disappointed.
The after-party rolled on at Champs, where the skaters swapped hugs, bruises and beers. Hashtags like #scarforlife and #scarderby flooded social media, proof that in Centre County, roller derby isn’t just a sport.
It’s a movement on eight wheels.
