Becoming part of the team: Local mother becomes roller derby skater

Sarah Dombrosky kisses her daughter, Olivia, during halftime of the Rubber City Rollergirls’ first bout of the season at the John S. Knight Center in Akron, Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2015. 

Erin McLaughlin

Sarah Dombrosky has been roller skating since she was a small child. She grew up skating around the rink of the Chagrin Valley Roller Rink.

Dombrosky attended Rubber City Bouts for about six years to watch Deadeye HuntHer, who tried to convince Dombrosky to try roller derby. In June 2015, Dombrosky went through boot camp with NEO Roller Derby. Toward the end of September, she began practicing with the Rubber City Rollergirls.

“I’ve come to love derby,” Dombrosky said. “I already love skating but with derby, everyone is so supportive and encouraging.”

During the day, Dombrosky – a wife and mother to a five-year-old daughter – works as the maintenance division manager at Illumetek Corporation. During the evening, though, she is a Rubber City Rollergirl.

Dombrosky said balancing roller derby and family is difficult. She spends a lot of time tending to her family, but needs more practice to become better at roller derby. With three roller derby practices a week, Dombrosky makes up for lost time with the family during the weekends.

“Derby has come to be a part of me,” Dombrosky said. “It gives me something to do for me.”

Contact Erin McLaughlin at [email protected].