On a Roll: Psycho 78s Continue Support of Charities

If somebody told you roller skating was a harmless recreation, that person never experienced New Jersey’s own renegade-rules roller derby team, the Psycho 78s.

The women’s team of Psycho 78s and the A-team of the South Jersey Derby Girls went head-to-head for a charity game on Saturday evening at the parking lot. The intense, two-hour game served as the home-opener for Psycho 78s’ second season.

At the sound of the whistle, the girls set off rolling around the track, all while showing no mercy for their opposing team members.

The Psycho 78s was founded in Wharton by the team’s captain, Amanda “Razor De Rockefeller” Roberts and her husband along with team head trainer, Spooky. The team is comprised of a women’s, men’s and freshman team.

Roberts garnered her inspiration for Psycho 78s after playing for a former—now defunct—roller derby team.

“They played a different type of rule set than we do,” Roberts said, “and it was kind of like I wanted a more aggressive type of gameplay.”

Roberts introduced renegade derby to Psycho 78s to embrace the excitement of the sport, rather than largely focusing on its competition and restrictions. Spooky and Roberts define it as a “no-holds-barred, no rules and no penalties” style of roller derby.

“If you go and see other types of roller derby, they have a penalty box and you get penalized for illegal actions,” Roberts said. “And you have to sit a minute or two minutes depending on the rule set in the penalty box. We have eliminated that altogether.”

“Some people get heated,” Spooky said, “and if you’re not going to have fun, you got no place on the renegade track. This is for people who want to have a good time.”

After many rounds and some feisty brawls, the Psycho 78s took the lead against SJDG, 133-62. Despite a large defeat, the SJDG team left in great spirits.

Mandi “Miss Phat Booty” Hauser of the SJDG said the experience was “different” on the track that evening.

“It was more fun, I felt like we skated for the crowd instead of to win,” Hauser said.

The Psycho 78s seasons run from May through Halloween. The team frequently holds its home games at the Parsippany Presbyterian Church, where all collected proceeds go toward charity. Those from Saturday’s game benefited the victims of the Tennessee flood.

To learn more about Psycho 78s future games and fundraisers, visit the team's Facebook page.