Amy Anne Duclos is your average, everyday 32-year-old housewife. Duclos was born and raised in Starkville. Her husband, Martin, works at Mississippi State University and her three children, Christopher, 9, Audrey, 7, and Benjamin, 4, all attend Starkville public schools. But Amy isn”t just a housewife; for six-12 hours a week, she”s a member of the Tri-City Roller Dolls, the Golden Triangle”s new roller derby team. There, she takes a break from laundry and homework and becomes Susie Packwrecker (a play on Susie Homemaker).
She”s in training to be a jammer — the fastest, most intense player, who is responsible for scoring points for the team. And despite stigmas attached to roller derby, Duclos remains “modest” and holds fast to her conservative religious upbringing in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
“And the stereotype is just a stereotype. The girls in derby are good girls … who may not always wear the most clothing, but I”m not their mother,” she said.
Duclos admits she was a “little scared” the first time she fell on her “tailbone,” but she takes the possibility of getting hurt in stride: “I know it”s possible that I could get hurt and break something, but I could also get hurt jogging outside or cooking supper. But I can”t get the same thrill out of those things as I can roller derby.”
Why and how did you get into roller derby?
I took the kids to cheap skate night at Skate Odyssey with my sister and her kids. (Tri-City Roller Dolls members) Isa, Dena, Tiffany and Illana were there practicing, and they asked me if I”d be interested in playing. I”ve been skating since I was a little girl. I went to lock-ins; it was the fun thing to do. I”m not always the most social person; I”m really into derby for the skating.
What about the other derby girls?
Oh, I love those girls, everybody”s darlin”. I wouldn”t have stayed in it if the girls weren”t so great.
What does your family think of you playing roller derby
Everybody has been super supportive. My mom is glad that I”m getting out of the house. When you”re a stay-at-home mom, you need a break after being in the house all the time. Before roller derby, I was taking a Bob Ross painting class, but it wasn”t enough. I did love it … until I met derby. The kids think it”s cool. Audrey is really big into roller derby. She puts on my derby socks and slides across the hardwood floor pretending to skate.
What would you think of her playing derby when she”s older?
I would certainly encourage her to for the physical health and the confidence aspect of it.
Does your husband keep the kids while you”re at practice?
Yes. Derby is a big-time commitment. I hate to leave my husband with the kids twice a week, but he”s really good with them, so I don”t worry about him handling it. He”s a fantastic dad. Also, when I leave, I leave supper for them, the kids” homework is done, and we make it so baths don”t happen on those nights.
What does your husband think of it?
He is impressed that I play a contact sport. He”s very supportive, to the point that he wanted to buy me these skates with blue flames on them. He”s been great. Plus, he”s gone during hunting season, so he can”t say anything.
How did you meet your husband?
Actually we met in a teen chat room online. This was way before it was acceptable to meet people that way. There weren”t any dating websites then. I was 17 and he was 18. He moved to Starkville to attend (Mississippi) State and learned English here. He”s the only French-Canadian most people know who speaks with a Southern accent. He even converted from Catholicism because it was important for me to marry a Mormon. It wasn”t that big of a deal. Religion is funny (in Canada); you”re born something, but they don”t practice it.
What do you enjoy most about derby?
It”s the few hours a week that I don”t think about their homework or the dishes or the laundry. He wants me to have this “me time.” Plus, it”s really cheap therapy.
You”re a mom; do you worry about your younger teammates getting hurt like you would your children?
I don”t bring my motherhood role to the floor with me. I could get hurt if I”m worried about anything but staying on those eight wheels. That”s the one place I can take my cap off. We”re all big girls. If it”s not broken, get up dust off and hit the floor. Because I”m going to bust through that pack.
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