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An undated photo of Ogden's Junction City Roller Derby in action.

Photo supplied, Junction City Roller Derby

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An undated photo of Ogden's Junction City Roller Derby in action.

Photo supplied, Junction City Roller Derby

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An undated photo of Ogden's Junction City Roller Derby in action.

Photo supplied, Junction City Roller Derby

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OGDEN — Spring has officially sprung, bringing with it warmer weather, rain showers and, if you’re in the Ogden area, all the athleticism, bravado and flair of Junction City Roller Derby.

Following a successful fundraising event last month and a winter boot camp, the team will be returning to the track for its Spring Slam event at Golden Spike Exhibit Hall on Saturday, April 19. Doors open at 5 p.m. with first whistle coming at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $15 at the door or $10 in advance via Eventbrite. Kids 12 and under enter free.

Dubbed “Heels vs. Faces” and the “Battle for the Belt,” the event will see Junction City’s developmental/home team competing against Salt Lake City’s Beehive Skate Revolution. The event will also feature vendor booths.

Jasmine Reyna — known as “StoneHer” on the track — competes as part of Junction City’s traveling All-Star squad, the TrainWrecks. Reyna told the Standard-Examiner that in addition to bringing the live roller derby experience to the community, the season-opening event will serve to benefit an important cause.

“April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so we are partnering with Safe Harbor Crisis Center and some of our proceeds that we earn at this game, we are donating over to that center,” Reyna said.

For Reyna, who works as a fraud and security analyst, roller derby provided a much-needed outlet after the isolation that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I just missed being around people because I had a remote job, couldn’t play any sports, and then I saw that Junction City was doing a boot camp that year,” Reyna said. “I decided, you know, why not? I strapped on skates for the first time, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

The sport has also connected her with people of varying ages, backgrounds and athletic ability; people who have coalesced into a team and a family. According to Reyna, that sense of community and taking all comers is part of what makes roller derby special.

“I have never in my life met a community that is more inclusive than roller derby, and I’ve done sports my entire life. I played competitive soccer, I did volleyball, I ran track, so I’ve always done a lot of team sports and things like that,” Reyna said. “When it comes to derby, like, derby in itself is the most accepting group of people. No matter where you go, derby teams around the world, they’re the most open, caring people.”

As it stands, Junction City has two home events on the books for this season; the team is currently working to put together its travel schedule for the campaign. Home events are typically double-headers featuring both the TrainWrecks and LocoMotives in game action.

Reyna says the team is always working to add events to its schedule, and that it also seeks a larger practice space. Announcements regarding future events are forthcoming. In the meantime, she’s imploring anyone who’s curious about the sport to check out Spring Slam.

“You get into it, and it’s just great. It’s one of the greatest things I think I’ve ever done in my life,” she added.

For more information go to https://sites.google.com/view/junction-city-roller-derby/.