October Featured Skater: Mad Dawg

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Headshot of Mad Dawg in her black Hard Knox Roller Derby jersey. Her hands are on her hips. Her blond hair cascades over her shoulders. Her expression is serious. The background is a colorful brick wall.

Name: Mad Dawg



Number: 55



Travel Teams: All Stars and Marble City Mayhem



Home Team: Moonshine Moxies

Years skating: 8

She was new to our league, but not new to derby in East Tennessee! Get to know this month’s featured skater: the fierce jammer, Mad Dawg!

A young Mad Dawg blocks with several other skaters. She is wearing an 80s style outfit, with colorful tights and socks.

You were nominated by Trace of Death, who’s interested in hearing about your journey from junior derby to now being on the All Stars.

Well I started junior derby back in 2010 I think? I was fourteen and I was a sophomore in high school, and the movie Whip It came out. I saw it and became obsessed, and I told my mom, “I need to do this, I don’t know where we have it but I need to do it now.” Johnson City actually had a team, so it was like a twenty minute drive from my house, so I started going.

I had no idea how to skate, like at all, so they actually put me on the carpet at the skate rink. Everybody else was over on the track, doing stuff, and they were like, “Okay, we’re going to start you over here!” They had a girl holding my hand and pulling me along on the carpet. So I did that, and they actually called me Speed Bump for a while because I would fall. I fell so many times, which is still a problem!

Let’s see, I did that for two seasons, and then I started getting more involved with marching band, in college and everything, so I had to stop. And then I moved to Knoxville, didn’t play derby at all through undergrad.

In 2018 I moved back home to Johnson City to go to ETSU to get my second degree, and I just reached out, reconnected with some people that I knew from Little City from back in the day, and they were like, “Oh yeah, we’re having a boot camp! Come on, try out!”

A young Mad Dawg is sitting on the ground, looking up at the camera with a serious expression. She is in full gear and her face has been painted to look like a dog.

So I started doing that again, played with them for about three years, until COVID ruined everything. And then, I had actually moved back to Knoxville to move in with my now husband, Devon, and I forget what year that was, 2020? Yes, right before everything hit the fan. We moved in together, and then two months later, lockdown happened. I was still with Little City, but we kind of stopped doing everything because of the pandemic.

I was actually treasurer at the time—I said once my tenure runs out as treasurer, I’m going to go play for Knoxville. Because I was driving two, two and a half hours to practice, and it was just taking way too much time, and you know I’d drive up there and we’d have practice for an hour, and then I’d have to turn right back around and come back to Knoxville, so I was like, you know what? Imma go to Knoxville. So now I’m here, and I love it so much. It was the best decision I ever made!

And we’re glad that you made that decision, very selfishly! So had you played sports as a kid?

I had. I played soccer when I was little, and then in middle school I tried basketball. Didn’t work out because as it turns out, I was too short. And then I switched to softball for a while, really enjoyed softball, played that for three or four years.

Then once I got into high school, I started in the marching band, so that quickly took over everything, and I did that for about eight years, in high school and in college.

Mad Dawg is in her Pride of the Southland uniform and smiling with Smokey, who is in a Vols suit.

Do you feel like you learned anything in [marching band] that translates to derby?

Oh yeah, I definitely learned the team dynamic, you know, working with other people. Especially—you don’t think about having to work with other people in marching band, you know, you kind of like, “Oh I play my part and march my spot”—but especially at UT when we do pregame and we do Circle Drill, everything is so intricate and you have to work with the people next to you, otherwise you’re going to get smacked with a trombone in the face. So that definitely translated to derby, just knowing how to work with a team, knowing how to work with other people, and just that family dynamic too—that really translates to derby. Marching band is kind of like derby in that we’re all the outsiders, we’re the people that don’t fit anywhere else, so that definitely has bled over to derby too. I actually find a lot of marching band people kind of gravitate to derby too.

Really? That’s interesting!

Yeah, there’s a few people on our team who are band nerds too.

We always find our people! So you are not Speed Bump any more. 

No!

Mad Dawg is jamming. She is wearing a black Mayhem jersey and her back is turned to show her number, 55.

How did you choose your current skater name and number?

My full name’s Madison, obviously, but I’ve been called “Mad Dawg” my whole life, so when I was in juniors, my name was “Mad Dawg Wolfe,” which was a play on Twilight, which I was obsessed with. So whenever I left juniors and went to Little City, I changed it to “Mad Hatter” because I wanted something different: “Oh I’m in the adult league now, I need a tougher name!” They called me “Mad” then, and then when I moved back to Knoxville, I was like, you know what, forget it, I’m going by Mad Dawg.

And then 55: my number used to be 87, which was my birthday, August 7, but then I switched it to 55, which is my mom’s birthday, May 5.

How would you describe your derby playing style?

Mad Dawg is jamming in a black Mayhem jersey. She is jumping over and around an opponent in white, who is falling to the ground.

Bulldozer in a china shop, kind of? [Laughs] Really I just try to be as aggressive as I can, which doesn’t always work out sometimes, especially as a jammer. I was a blocker, I’ve always been a blocker until like a year or two ago at Little City, I started training as a jammer, found out I love it, so then switched to full-time jamming. I think I definitely still jam with that blocker mindset of trying to be as strong as I can, as powerful as I can, so I think I definitely fall into that Earth jammer kind of mindset, of just push-push-push-push-push.

What are some of your favorite achievements on the track?

When we played in Atlanta (Mayhem played against the men’s team and then Hard Knox played against the regular team) that was my first MVP, anything, ever. So that was the best game I think I have ever had. I don’t know, I just felt really good that game. I don’t know if it was that I had just played, that was my second game of the day so I’d gotten rid of all the jitters, all the pre-game nerves, but I just felt really good that game and I felt validated that I had made the right choice in coming to Knoxville and sticking with derby. That MVP will always mean everything to me, so that’s probably my favorite.

Mad Dawg is jamming in a black Mayhem jersey, outrunning an opponent in red.

And those were two very hard games!

Yes, that men’s game—I love Atlanta’s men’s team, they’re awesome. Gosh they are difficult!

Do you have any bout day rituals to help you get into the right mindset?

Devon and I have started going to Waffle House before. I get a waffle, a side of toast, and a side of bacon, and then he eats my hashbrowns. And then sometimes we’ll go to Dunkin’ and get coffee. That’s kind of our little ritual in the morning. And then the night before I will watch tv, clean my bearings, clean my wheels, take everything out of my bag, and then make sure I have everything and put everything back in my bag because if I don’t have everything, I will go crazy. Ever since leaving one skate back home for the away game, I always have to double check that I have everything!

Devon actually joined our coaching staff this year—what has that been like, to have your husband part of this derby journey as well?

It’s been fun. I always enjoy having him there anyway, so him falling into the coaching role kind of just made sense because he was there all the time anyway, and he wanted to find ways to help the team as much as he could, whether that be doing scoreboard or running the timer or whatever. It’s been interesting, trying to get used to the dynamic of he’s my coach, he’s not my husband when we’re at practice or we’re at the games, so that’s been kind of hard. But we’re getting used to it, and it’s mostly because I’m such a smartass and a brat in our relationship, anytime he tries to tell me to do something, I’m like, “No, I’m not gonna do it, just because you told me to do it, no I’m not gonna do it!” So trying to get that out of my head has been hard, but I really do enjoy having him there. I mean, he’s my best friend, always has been, so it’s nice to have him there and have his encouragement through practice and games.

Mad Dawg, in full gear, smiling in the crowd at a home game.

Though it’s funny, at practice we’re not married. Like he goes one way and I go the other way, and we barely talk to each other while we’re at practice, so we’re able to keep that professional mindset with it, and then we get in the car, and we just talk-talk-talk-talk the whole way home about it, so I like it.

How do you like to spend your time outside of roller derby?

Well, in the fall and winter I’m obsessed with football. Anything college, anything NFL, all things Tennessee Vols. We’ve also really gotten into Ice Bears hockey recently. This past season we got season tickets, and this season we got them again, so we’ll be going to all the games. I have out with my pupper, [currently] asleep on the couch, and the cats who are under the desk here.

And I play a lot of Stardew Valley. That one’s my weakness. I started playing Cult of the Lamb recently, which sounds weird, but is actually really cute, really Stardew Valley-esque kind of game, so I like it.

A waist-up picture of Mad Dawg. She is facing away from the camera with her face angled towards the camera. Her arms in the "strongarm pose," and her helmet is on her left bicep, showing off her "f*ck cancer" sticker.

Did you have any goals for yourself this season?

Really at the beginning of the season it was, I just wanted to find my place in Knoxville, whether it be as a blocker, whether it be as a jammer (was hoping it was going to be as a jammer) so I feel like I’ve definitely achieved that. I wanted to grow more as a skater because I have never been thought of as an A team skater by any means, so I definitely wanted to reach that goal, wanted to be a part of the All Stars team. And now my goal is finding my place within that team as well, and just coming into my own as a jammer, so I feel like I’ve achieved most of those.

What is something that roller derby has taught you about yourself?

I think it’s taught me that I’m more of a leader than I think I am, and that I’m a lot stronger than I thought I was, both physically and mentally. Derby really saved my—I mean, we all say it, you know, derby saved our soul—but mine really did. When my mom passed, derby was what pulled me out. So it’s taught me that I’m just a lot mentally and emotionally stronger than I thought I was, that a bad game’s not gonna break me. That’s the best way I can put it.

A closeup of Mad Dawg and her mom, both smiling.

Who would you like to nominate for next month, and what do you want to ask them?

Let’s do Gnarly—how different is it playing derby up North versus playing derby down in the South?

Thank you for a great conversation, Mad Dawg! You absolutely said it best when you said that derby is a place where the outsiders find a family, and we’re glad to have you as part of the HKRD family! Readers, if you’re interested in joining this group of outsiders, our fresh meat boot camp starts up on Wednesday, November 2!

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September Featured Skater: Trace of Death

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Trace of Death jamming in a black Hard Knox uniform. She is standing almost straight up as she goes around the turn.

Name: Trace of Death

Number: 131

Travel Team: All Stars & Marble City Mayhem

Home Team: Bombshell Bettys

Years skating: 15

She’s seen the league throughout its many different versions and names, but one thing that hasn’t changed is her intensity on the track! Get to know this month’s skater: Trace of Death.

A group of Hard Knox skaters (wearing black) and opponent skaters (wearing red) are on the track. Trace of Death is pivoting and pushing against the red jammer.

You were nominated by Deaf Rattle, who wants to know how you feel about being involved in roller derby for so long? And also what makes you want to be involved in roller derby?

I guess it’s just my passion, it’s hard to walk away from. Where I’ve played derby for so long, it’s kind of hard to not to play derby, you know? It’s kind of hard to watch from the sidelines. So I’m glad to be back.

What was Hard Knox like when you first joined?

It was a lot different back then. There wasn’t as much structure; it was not as much strategy. It was just basically trial and error from everyone that I’ve skated with over the years.

So how did you find the league? Had you been skating before then?

I worked at Sonic back then, with a friend of mine, and she had gone to a black and white scrimmage at the skating rink in Maryville, her and her husband. She was going to join, and we skated together at Sonic, and she just kept coming to work and telling me about it and kind of talked me into it. I didn’t really have any idea what I was getting myself into, but I had worked that day and I worked earlier shifts than her, and she kept on bugging me, so when I got off, I went and bought pads and went to practice. That was in April of ‘07.

Three Hard Knox skaters stare intensely at the camera. Trace is on the right.

Do you know if that friend still skates?

She doesn’t. She retired from our league (it’s KnoxVillain, #865).

And you’re still here!

Still here!

What positions do you enjoy skating?

I would rather block, but I like to jam.

What do you like most about blocking?

Three Hard Knox skaters (wearing black) are holding back an opponent (wearing pink). Trace is on the left and actively blocking the skater with her shoulder.

I think I like being able to get my jammer through because I know for a long time, I always struggled to get through, so I think from a jammer standpoint, after you’ve jammed for so long, it’s fun to be a blocker and get your jammer through, you know? So they don’t have to struggle.

What have been some of your favorite moments as a roller derby player?

When we went to Regionals in 2010. It was really exciting, but I had actually had foot surgery right before we went, so I went in a wheelchair. But I was there for the team. And that was the best Hard Knox had ever done. So it sucked, but I had extra wheels with my wheelchair, you know? [laughs]

You had all of the wheels!

Right!

How would you describe your derby-playing style when you’re out on the track?

I would say now we have a lot more strategy, and I have a lot more tools in my toolbox. I just try to stay focused and be a team player.

A group of Hard Knox skaters (wearing black) are blocking a opponent jammer (wearing blue). Trace is in the middle of the group.

Did you have any particular goals at the start of this season, like something you wanted to add to that toolbox or refine in there?

Just to listen to my coaches and try to stay with my teammates because they haven’t always done that with derby, per se, so I’ve kind of always, like when I blocked, I was usually always [on] offense, so I didn’t really have to stay with my teammates. I could just pretty well do what I wanted to. But now since it’s a lot different than that, clearly two people can do a lot better than one, so basically I just want to stay with my person at all costs, if I’m blocking.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Just hanging out with my son and my nephew. I help my sister out with him. He’s just three. She works at night, so he usually stays with me for five nights a week and I take him to school the next day.

Do they ever come to any of your bouts? What do they think of you when they see you out there?

Well, my sister and my mom and like most of my family have always seen me skate over the years, not usually missed a game or anything, so they really like it. My nephew, however, he’s so little he doesn’t really pay too much attention, I would say, because he’s so little he doesn’t really know what’s going on, but he loves skates and he loves anything with wheels, so that kind of keeps his focus a little.

Three Hard Knox skaters are wearing bright green jerseys and black jackets. All three are smiling. Trace is on the right.

It’s just normal for him to see you out there, like it’s no big deal.

Yeah!

Trace is in a group of Hard Knox skaters, all wearing bright green jerseys. She is facing away from the camera, so you can see that the back of her jersey reads "131 Trace...of Death"

What is the story behind your skater name?

So when I first joined Hard Knox, it was really hard to get any kind of name because—I don’t know if you know a little bit about that, but there was some kind of database—so I actually went through like fifty names or something before I got my name now, but like everything that I wanted was taken or someone had something similar to it. For instance, my initials are T & T, so I wanted “TNT,” but back then there was a “TNTiara” so I couldn’t have “TNT.” Or I wanted “Dynamite” since that’s kind of like TNT, and of course that was taken, but there was probably about fifty names that led up, and everything was taken or I couldn’t have it, so actually my friend that I started playing derby with, Knoxvillian, her husband had just come across it, and you know, it was kind of like the movies. So really once he said that, it stuck. It had my name in it, nobody could say that I couldn’t have it, so I just accepted it.

And what about your number?

That is my son’s birthday. His birthday is January 31, so it just kind of stuck, so I kept his birth month and birthday.

Tattoo on white skin of a roller skate. The skate is black with green wheels, and on the side is the image of the Hard Knox brass knuckles and a stick of red dynamite.


What has roller derby taught you about yourself?

I guess that I’m a lot stronger than I had originally thought, maybe!

You are definitely very strong, any time I have to block against you: I’m just going to the floor!

[laughs] Well thank you!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to play roller derby?

It’s a good outlet, and stick with it. I think anyone can do it if they put the time and effort into it. Because I’ve skated with a lot of people that couldn’t even skate when they first came to practice, you know? So just keep pushing.

A black and white photograph of Trace playfully punching another Hard Knox skater.

Who would you like to nominate for next month, and what do you want to ask them?

Mad Dawg, because she came in right after I left, and she used to play junior derby, so I’m interested in seeing how far she’s come from junior derby to now being on the All Stars: what’s that been like?

Thank you for a great conversation, Trace! Hard Knox fans, keep an eye out for more information about our latest fresh meat boot camp that will begin on Wednesday, November 2. Maybe you will be one of those who tries it out, and if you do, I hope you take Trace’s advice to stick with it!

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