Gromshells Go Undefeated and Win Fifth Junior Derby National Championship
The Santa Cruz Derby Groms female division charter team, the Gromshells, successfully defended their Nation Champion title by winning the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) National Championships hosted in Palatine, Illinois on July 11~12, 2026. This is their fourth consecutive national championship win and fifth total with title wins in 2018, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
This year's tournament featured the top four teams coming out of the JRDA playoffs tournaments hosted in June. Santa Cruz was the top seed based on their performance at playoffs and results throughout the season. On the first day of the tournament, the Groms beat the fourth seed Ft Walton Junior Bombers 319-7 in the semi-final enabling them to advance to the championship game against the second seed Rose City Rosebuds from Portland, Oregon. The Gromshells went on to defeat the Rosebuds, 151-32 in a re-match of the last four season's championship games.
The Gromshells have qualified for JRDA National Championships every season since 2015 and have made it to the championship game every competitive season since 2017, for a JRDA record of 8 appearances in the final game. With the addition of this year’s gold medal, they have now earned 8 medals including 5 gold and 3 silver.
This season the Gromshells played 18 games between January and July, finishing the season undefeated at 18-0. They defeated twelve different teams from 8 states across the nation while competing in 7 tournaments hosted across 7 cities in California, Illinois, Oregon, and Texas. They outperformed opponents by a ratio of 26:1, having scored a total of 5181 points while holding opponents to a total of 199 points, outscoring them by 4982.
With the conclusion of the 2026 competitive season, the Gromshells will be working hard at refining their game, bringing up new talent, and looking forward to continuing the pursuit of World Gromination during the upcoming 2027 season.
This year's tournament featured the top four teams coming out of the JRDA playoffs tournaments hosted in June. Santa Cruz was the top seed based on their performance at playoffs and results throughout the season. On the first day of the tournament, the Groms beat the fourth seed Ft Walton Junior Bombers 319-7 in the semi-final enabling them to advance to the championship game against the second seed Rose City Rosebuds from Portland, Oregon. The Gromshells went on to defeat the Rosebuds, 151-32 in a re-match of the last four season's championship games.
The Gromshells have qualified for JRDA National Championships every season since 2015 and have made it to the championship game every competitive season since 2017, for a JRDA record of 8 appearances in the final game. With the addition of this year’s gold medal, they have now earned 8 medals including 5 gold and 3 silver.
This season the Gromshells played 18 games between January and July, finishing the season undefeated at 18-0. They defeated twelve different teams from 8 states across the nation while competing in 7 tournaments hosted across 7 cities in California, Illinois, Oregon, and Texas. They outperformed opponents by a ratio of 26:1, having scored a total of 5181 points while holding opponents to a total of 199 points, outscoring them by 4982.
With the conclusion of the 2026 competitive season, the Gromshells will be working hard at refining their game, bringing up new talent, and looking forward to continuing the pursuit of World Gromination during the upcoming 2027 season.
Results
| Tournament | City | Date | Opponent | Hometown | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Revolution | Austin, TX | 1/2/26 | Fort Walton Junior Derby | Fort Walton, FL | W | 335 – 5 |
| 1/3/26 | Nor’east Junior Derby | Boston, MA | W | 381 – 7 | ||
| 1/4/26 | Ad Astra Junior Derby | Topeka, KS | W | 342 – 2 | ||
| Groms Invitational | Santa Cruz, CA | 2/27/26 | Pixies Junior Roller Derby | Spokane, WA | W | 314 – 9 |
| 2/28/26 | Los Anarchists Junior Derby | Los Angeles, CA | W | 375 – 11 | ||
| 2/28/26 | Rose City Rosebuds National | Portland, OR | W | 179 – 20 | ||
| 3/1/26 | Rose City Rosebuds Regional | Portland, OR | W | 354 – 4 | ||
| Spring Fling | Los Angeles, CA | 3/21/26 | Seattle Derby Brats | Seattle, WA | W | 264 – 17 |
| 3/21/26 | Los Anarchists Junior Derby | Los Angeles, CA | W | 269 – 0 | ||
| Bridge City Riot | Portland, OR | 4/18/26 | Seattle Derby Brats | Seattle, WA | W | 196 – 6 |
| 4/18/26 | Rose City Rosebuds National | Portland, OR | W | 206 – 21 | ||
| 4/19/26 | Texas Junior Derby | Austin, TX | W | 381 – 4 | ||
| Pedal to the Metal | Salem, OR | 5/23/26 | Cherry City Junior Derby | Salem, OR | W | 322 – 11 |
| 5/24/26 | Kalamazoo Junior Derby | Kalamazoo, MI | W | 286 – 4 | ||
| JRDA Playoffs | Burbank, CA | 6/20/26 | West Coast Junior Knockouts | Ventura, CA | W | 320 – 5 |
| 6/21/26 | Rose City Rosebuds National | Portland, OR | W | 184 – 34 | ||
| JRDA Championships | Palatine, IL | 7/11/26 | Fort Walton Junior Derby | Fort Walton, FL | W | 319 – 7 |
| 7/12/26 | Rose City Rosebuds National | Portland, OR | W | 151 – 32 |
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →
2026 season · 18–0
Stats
Watch the Championship Game
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