Last year, her teammates voted her “Rookie of the Year.” This year, she’s ready to take the track again and show her stuff! If you’re not already part of Night Mayor’s fanclub, what are you even doing with your life??
Photo: Phanovich Photography
Name: Night Mayor
Number: 21
Travel Team: Brawlers
Home Team: Black Bettys
Years skating: 2
You were nominated by Pinion, who wants to know how you feel about being a Betty.
I’m excited to be a Betty! I took a little leave of absence, so I wasn’t able to be at the last home game, but I’m really excited because I think it’s a good team. We have a lot of jammers, so that will be fun and make it interesting.
What brought you to roller derby?
I grew up playing hockey, and I kind of always knew that I wanted to do roller derby as a kid, but I knew you had to be a certain age. We didn’t have a lot of it where I was. So I played a little bit as an adult with the team I just started, just wanted to get into it and I just jumped into it. I played with them for almost a season (just on their practice team). A little bit of time went by and then I moved here.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Vermont. I was in New Hampshire when I played with the team. I never bouted with them— the first time I ever bouted was with Hard Knox.
What do you remember about that game?
Oh boy, I was really nervous! I didn’t get very many points, but that’s ok, and I had a lot of fun.
What was that first year of you skating like (with the practice team)?
It was different. The team wasn’t as experienced as the one we’re on now, so it was a lot more just like having fun and goofing around kind of thing. But it was fun to learn the fundamentals of roller derby through them.
Were you always a jammer with that team as well?
No, I did both, but I’m definitely more comfortable being a jammer.
Photo Credit: Killer Queen
How would you describe your derby playing style, as a jammer?
I think that I am a little jukey, and I would say the word “squirmy.” I think those are my skills.
I think so! What is the story behind your skater name and number?
So my last name (my married last name) is “Mayor.” My husband and I talked about it and thought it would be really cool to be the “Night Mayor.” It’s kind of like a play on words with our last name, so that’s kind of how that came about. My roller derby number is the number that I’ve had since I was a kid, and it was my brother’s hockey number, so I’ve always had it since then.
Do you have any kind of pre-game ritual that helps you get in the zone?
I don’t really have anything. I get really nervous before I play, which is weird because I’ve been playing sports since I was a kid. But I always get really, really nervous, and I usually make sure I have special snacks, like healthy snacks, and I take them at a special time before I play. I usually have half a sandwich, so either tuna fish sandwich or PB&J, and then just whatever little snacks we have. Usually fruit.
What are some of your favorite achievements on the track?
I guess whenever I get lead jammer— I think that is the most exciting for me. Every single time I want to get lead jammer, obviously, but whenever I get it, I get very excited. So those are usually my accomplishments. I don’t really look for big accomplishments. I guess the little things are what I go for. I think in roller derby, if you just try to accomplish the little things, then you build up to getting the big things done.
Above photos by Phanovich Photography
What have been some of your favorite derby moments so far?
I really like the volunteering we do, like when we do events. It’s a lot of fun! I mean, playing is really fun obviously, and winning bouts is fun, but I think the most fun for me is being with the girls, either when we volunteer or do an event like we did the Pride parade. That was a lot of fun— we all got together and we just shared each other’s company and fellowship, and that was good.
Photo Credit: Phanovich Photography
It’s kind of a weird question because we don’t know what this season is going to look like, but what are some goals that you have for yourself this season?
To play, would be a goal! I want to get better at pushing through people and being more confident when doing it. Also, I want to do a lot better with my jumping. I think I usually accomplish my jumping when I’m not thinking about it, so I want to be more deliberate with it.
Tell me about your job outside of derby. Do you think it’s contributed to how you are in roller derby?
I’m an instructor for adults and adult learning. Roller derby has changed my work. My coworkers are super super supportive, and I’ve had people come to my bouts, like you’ve seen.
Photo Credit: Phanovich Photography
Yeah, you have a cheering section!
I have a whole fangroup that comes! And they’re people that I work with. We don’t normally do a lot of things outside of work, so it’s our time to have something outside of work, and then it comes back to the work center. I think it boosts morale because we can have fun during work, and joke about my derby name, like they usually do a little derby chant for me at work and stuff, it’s hilarious. But other than that, I think it brings people together. People who wouldn’t normally hang out together are hanging out together at a roller derby bout, having fun, and seeing something other than just work.
Outside of work, how do you like to spend your free time?
Other than roller derby? Because roller derby is life!
This is Maggie Mayhem
I know, it really is!
Photo Credit: Phanovich Photography
Dogs. All the dogs. I have two rescue dogs and then we have a foster right now. I do a lot of stuff with dogs and rescue groups, and then anything outside, walking outside, hiking. Crafts! I like crafts, but those usually coincide with roller derby.
Who would you like to nominate for next month, and what do you want to ask them?
I’m gonna say Olivia, and I want to ask how has roller derby changed her. I can see her confidence growing as she plays more!
It was so great to interview Night Mayor because it meant I had an excuse to see another human from the isolation of my apartment! I hope you enjoyed reading this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it. There aren’t any events that I can plug as the world feels like it’s on hold, but trust me that HKRD is not taking a vacation. We’re working out in our homes, roller skating outside when no one is around, and watching bouts as a team through streaming sites so we can stay up-to-date on our strategy. As Mayor said, roller derby is life!
-smalls