Dayton's "Archangel Anarchy" to Represent Ohio at 2025 Roller Derby World Cup
Ang Garcia, known on the track as Archangel Anarchy ('Arc' for short), is preparing to compete with the groundbreaking Black Diaspora Roller Derby (BDRD) at the 2025 Roller Derby World Cup in Austria this July.
Dayton Athlete "Archangel Anarchy" Joins First All-Black Roller Derby World Cup Team
Dayton will have a global representative in the high-octane world of roller derby this year! Ang Garcia, known on the track as Archangel Anarchy (Arc), is heading to the 2025 Roller Derby World Cup, to be held in Innsbruck, Austria later this year. Arc will join the Black Diaspora Roller Derby (BDRD), the first all-Black team to compete for the World Cup title, alongside hundreds of athletes from 50 international teams.
Roller derby, a sport with roots going back to the 1930s, experienced a punk-aesthetic revival in Texas around 20 years ago, leading to its current global expansion with over 400 athletic leagues on six continents.
For the uninitiated, flat track roller derby is a full-contact sport, where two teams of skating athletes compete on an oval track. The game is made up of a series of "jams" that are two minutes or less. Each team can roster up to 15 skaters for a game or bout and fields five skaters on the track for each jam. There are three positions: blocker, jammer, and pivot (a blocker who mid-jam can become the jammer). The goal is to score the most points by the end of two 30-minute periods. Jammers earn points for their team with each legal pass of the opposing blockers, while the four blockers work together to either stop the opposing jammer from scoring or help their own team's jammer score.
Arc has been part of the Gem City Roller Derby team since 2016, and plays several positions, including blocker, jammer, and pivot, primarily for the Purple Reign charter team. In Purple Reign's first game of the season, they won against Cornfed of Indianapolis (230 to 58). Arc was awarded Most Valuable Jammer.
Arc is the only athlete representing Dayton and Ohio at the World Cup event this year.
"This will be my first ever global competition, so I'm excited to be able to experience first-hand," Arc said. "On the track, I'm a force! I have a lot of fun with the physical strength and agility parts of the game."
With nearly a decade of dedication to the sport, Arc's journey to the international stage was inspired initially by the film "Whip It!", but it was a chance encounter in 2015 while at work that led to a stranger asking if they would like to play roller derby. "I've been playing ever since!" said Arc.
The name Archangel Anarchy holds a deeply personal meaning for Arc. Inspired by the television show Supernatural, Arc wanted a name that was distinctly their own. "I settled on the concept of an ungovernable, strong angel archetype–Archangel Anarchy," Arc says, appreciating the alliteration and the inclusion of "arc" in both words.
Preparing for the global stage, Arc maintains a rigorous training regimen, combining local league practices with a Roller Derby Athletics fitness program and mental visualization exercises.
Arc hopes to inspire others through their participation with the groundbreaking BDRD team. "I want to demonstrate that our excellence is not a fluke, it's grit. I also want to embolden others who may not feel entirely safe within their communities just yet to keep connecting," Arc shared.
To support Arc's journey, visit www.ARC697.me, where various fundraising efforts are detailed. Additionally, BDRD will host a virtual auction on April 27th, featuring merchandise, memorabilia, and unique prizes, including a hand-painted LEGO Retro Skate by Arc.
Follow Arc's journey to the World Cup on Instagram @arc_anarchy697 and stay tuned for watch party opportunities. With determination, skill, and a powerful message of inclusivity, Arc is ready to make history on the global stage.
