English professor keeps his nightlife rowdy with Roller Derby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Brianna Thompson

Staff Writer

“They’re trying to maul you, in a loving way,” said English Professor Paul Charbe about his fellow roller derby players.

Charbel plays for the Mohawk Valley Roller Derby league, which meets weekly in Rome, NY and unites roller derby players from all over Upstate New York.  

Roller derby is a sport played by two teams of five roller-skating players, where one player out of each team tries to lap around the rink in order to score points while the opposing team tries to stop them.

Recently, Mohawk Valley Roller Derby went to the Men’s Roller Derby Association, MRDA, North American Qualifier and got 11th place, winning by eight points against the Austin Anarchy with less than two percent of odds in their favor.

“Going from being unranked to being 11 is really huge,” Charbel said. While the league didn’t qualify for the MRDA Championships, the accomplishment is very exciting for them.

He primarily plays the position of blocker, who prevents the opposite team’s jammer, or the point-scorer, from scoring points. He works with two or three other blockers to create a human shield to prevent the jammer to pass by.

“My job is to keep the jammer frustrated…There is nothing sweeter than hearing a jammer’s [sigh of frustration],” Charbel said.

Charbel said his favorite part of roller derby is the sense of community.  

“I’ve asked [my teammates] to babysit for me,” Charbel said. “They’re like our second family,” he said. “That is something about roller derby that I feel is unique among sports: a positive atmosphere is number one.”  

He also said while many players are competitive in the sport, most of them retain their kindness and love to teach new players.

Charbel also practices three times a week with the Hellions of Troy Roller Derby league.

According to Charbel, roller derby hasn’t interfered with his work at Hudson Valley Community College in any way. “The only thing it interferes with is my knees get creaky walking up the stairs,” he said.

He said roller derby has benefited his life in many ways by encouraging him to exercise and filling his life with supportive, positive people.

Roller derby has also given him unofficial office hours to work with students. He said he often runs into his former and current students in the gym and they use the time to read some of their writing to him.

If you are interested in joining a roller derby league yourself, Charbel said anyone at any skill level is accepted. Some Hudson Valley Community College students are already in the Hellions of Troy Roller Derby league.

“[We’re] very much about getting people involved…Teaching them and fostering them,” Charbel said.

Even if you don’t want to be a player, there are still opportunities to help out. Options including tape ninja and non-skating official or referee are fun, according to Charbel. When he first started in 2008, he was a referee.

The Hellions of Troy’s final game for the season is on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at Schenectady’s Rollerama Skating Center. You can check out the league’s Facebook page, “Hellions of Troy Roller Derby”, for more information.  

Until then, be sure to look out for Hudson Valley Community College’s very own resident roller derby player in the English department or at the Fitness center.