Pittsburgh Derby Brats

Pittsburgh Derby Brats
Metro areaPittsburgh, PA
CountryUnited States
Founded2013
TeamsYinzer Dead AllStars (L3 A)
PittBulls (L3 B)
Berry Bombers (L3 Female)
PittSqueaks (L2)
Track typeFlat
AffiliationsJRDA
Org. type501(c)3
Websitewww.pittsburghderbybrats.net

The Pittsburgh Derby Brats (PDB) are an all-gender junior roller derby team based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

History

The Pittsburgh Derby Brats junior roller derby team was founded in 2013 for girls aged 10-17 as the first junior team in the state of Pennsylvania.[1] The team became a JRDA member league in 2016.

In 2021, the league opened up for all genders to compete.[2] This directly affected enrollment rates, with enrollment rising up to 80 skaters,

In 2023, the Yinzer Dead All Stars were formed as the team's open division Level 3 A-team with a roster of the top skaters in the league. The Level 3 B-team was named the PittBulls, paying homage to their coach PittBull Dozer. Similarly, the team's Level 3 female division team was named the Berry Bombers to honor another coach, Smashberry. The Level 2 team was named the Pitt Squeaks.

Skaters from the Brats have gone on to compete in the AAU Junior Olympics,[3] JRDA National Championships,[4] and have represented Team USA in the Junior Roller Derby World Cup.

In the media

The Pittsburgh Derby Brats have been featured several times over the years on different local news outlets, from their first feature on WTAE[1] to 90.5 WESA[2] to CBS News Pittsburgh.[5]

JRDA Championships

Year Playoffs Championships
Host Place Host Place
2016 DNQ DNQ Lincoln, NE DNQ
2017 DNQ DNQ Loveland, CO DNQ
2018 DNQ DNQ Philadelphia, PA DNQ
2019 DNQ DNQ Loveland, CO DNQ
2022 Hagerstown, MD[6] 2 Phoenix, AZ DNQ
2023 Rochester, NY[7] 1 Washington DC[8] 6
2024 Lincoln, NE[9] 2 Chicago, IL DNQ
2025 Indianapolis, IN[10] 1 Loveland, CO[4] 6
  • no rankings 2020-2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic

References

  1. ^ a b "Roller derby for a new generation". www.wtae.com. 6 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Pittsburgh's roller derby youth cruise to national championships, where teams center inclusivity". www.wesa.fm. 10 July 2023.
  3. ^ "These girls take 'Brats' to another level". www.post-gazette.com. June 3, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "2025 JRDA Championships". www.juniorrollerderby.org.
  5. ^ "Pittsburgh Derby Brats get ready to skate for junior national championship - CBS Pittsburgh". CBS News. 15 June 2023.
  6. ^ "2022 Postseason Playoffs". www.juniorrollerderby.org.
  7. ^ "2023 Jrda Playoffs". www.juniorrollerderby.org.
  8. ^ "2023 Champs Washington, D.C. July 15-16". www.juniorrollerderby.org.
  9. ^ "2024 JRDA Playoffs". www.juniorrollerderby.org.
  10. ^ "2025 JRDA Playoffs". www.juniorrollerderby.org.