By Kristine Milbrandt

Samantha Anderson ’12 — Ms. D. Meanor to her teammates — is one of the newest members of the Cedar Valley Push-Up Brawler roller derby team.

“I feel to a lot of girls, including me, derby is more than a sport, it’s a passion,” said Anderson, who is from DeWitt..

Flat-track roller derby, which claims to be the fastest-growing sport in the nation, has caught on in the Cedar Valley. Morgan Combs, a.k.a. Morganized Chaos, started the Push-Up Brawlers with her husband, Tim Combs, the team coach, in February 2010.

“Every derby team is unique because these women have such amazing personalities,” Anderson said. “They’re outgoing and tough. And each Brawler brings her own little spin to the team. We all pick our own derby names and numbers and personalize our uniforms.”

Roller derby games are called “bouts,” consist of two 30-minute periods that include a number of “jams” lasting up to two minutes each. Five players from each team take the track for each jam — four blockers and a jammer who scores points. A point is rewarded for each member of the opposing team that the jammer passes.

Anderson was introduced to Morgan Combs by friend Megan Weiss ’13, of Nashua, in September 2011. Combs let both students know about tryouts. After an informational meeting in March, Anderson and Weiss skated before a board made up of team members.

“They said they weren’t entirely focused on skating skills. Attitude stood out a lot more to them,” Anderson said. “Megan and I made the team with a few other girls. We were part of the Brawler’s fourth generation, meaning we were the fourth group of girls to make the team since it started two years ago.”

Anderson, though, has been unable to participate in bouts due to a minor accident injuring her knee, which may keep her out for much of the season.

“I can’t wait to get back on my skates,” Anderson said.

Weiss, or Monica Bruisinsky, serves as a jammer for the Brawlers which has bouts against other teams in the region like the Quad City Rollers, Eastern Iowa Outlaws, Oskaloosa Mayhem Girls, Duluth Derby Dames, Dakota City Demolition Crew and Iowa Rollin’ Aces.

Anderson said that the time commitment is important to being a Push-Up Brawler. The team practices two hours Monday and Wednesday nights. The season kicked off April 28 and extends through November.

The next two Push-Up Brawler home bouts are May 19 and June 16 in the McElroy Auditorium at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. Other home bouts are July 14, Aug. 11, Oct. 20 and November 10.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. and bouts start at 7 p.m.