Troy's Confluence Crush Roller Derby Team Opens to New Teammates

TROY - Individuals can learn more about roller derby and even join a local team.

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, community members are invited to Tri-Township Activity Center in Troy for an orientation by Confluence Crush Roller Derby. This team is open to cis and trans women and nonbinary individuals over age 18. Cailyn Tegel, also known as Swamp Smasher, noted that the community is welcoming to all bodies and people.

“It just becomes more than just this sport. It’s really just a way to connect you with people that are open and accepting and loving of who you are,” Tegel said. “I joined derby because I was living in an area where I didn’t know anybody, and when I joined that team, it really changed. It just made me happier. I felt like I had a community and I felt like I could be my full self and not have to hold back anything.”

During the Jan. 29 orientation, newcomers will learn the history of the Confluence Crush team and how the sport works. Roller derby is a physical sport, but they’re also looking for non-skating officials to join their team.

With about 50 teammates, only around 35–40 of those members actually play. Whether or not skating is for you, you can join and enjoy the community.

Tegel noted that while starting a new sport can be intimidating, the Confluence Crush group doesn’t require any prior experience or skating expertise. They are eager to teach new skaters how to skate and play the sport. They welcome players from across the St. Louis and Metro East regions.

Tegel shared that they offer several bonding experiences in addition to their practices and matches. For her, the camaraderie is the most important part of the sport.

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“There’s so many reasons to join derby,” she said. “Some people just join because they like the camaraderie. They like being around people that uplift them and make them feel good about what they’re doing. Also, there’s people who use it as an outlet. Like, okay, I want to let out some stress. You get to go hit somebody today. It’s fun…At the end of the day, I think the reason why everybody stays is that connection.”

As a nonprofit, Confluence Crush also makes a point to give back. Last year, they donated time and money to the Metro Trans Umbrella Group and the Belleville Area Humane Society. Community, on the rink and off, is their mantra.

Tegel and her teammates urge people to “commit to themselves” by joining the derby world. She added that roller derby encourages vulnerability and pushes people to their limits, but in a supportive environment where everyone is uplifted.

“The vulnerability in roller derby is that you are kind of putting yourself in an instant where you’re hitting somebody really hard, you’re skating really fast, you’re sweating, you’re exhausted. So underneath all of that, once you’re done pushing out all of this extra stuff, you can get to the meat of who you are as a person,” she explained. “I think that, in derby, we see ourselves a lot more deeply just because we’re no longer holding back.”

Whether you decide to attend the orientation on Jan. 29 or stop by the Sweetheart Smackdown in February to see the Confluence Crush team in action, Tegel hopes you will consider joining the team or supporting them. She emphasized that derby is open to all, with men’s teams and junior leagues available in St. Louis, as well. The goal is to bring people together for a fun, community-building experience.

“If somebody is thinking about wanting to join a derby team, whether it be our team or anybody’s team, they should just do it,” Tegel added. “They should just go and take the leap. The payoff is so much. It’s worth it.”

To learn more about the orientation, visit the official Facebook event page. For more information about Confluence Crush Roller Derby, visit their official website at ConfluenceCrush.com.

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