When the Slaughter County Roller Vixens first took to the rink, it was an idea, something that arose out of a desire for sport, for camaraderie.

The newborn league may have seemed shaky as fresh meat on her first day on wheels.

Rollers have come and gone, some injured, some now fully realizing the extraordinary time commitment and physical demands of this high-paced contact sport.

But hard work pays off.

This weekend, Kitsap’s own roller derby club will host a national invitational, bringing in teams from all over the country.

They’ll show off their community, they’ll bring their friends and family to the bouts at the Kitsap Fairgrounds and they’ll likely never forget the blood and sweat that brought them here.

Respect for women’s sports have a long way to go in this country. Not so much here in Kitsap.

Between the Roller Vixens and Bremerton High School wrestler Lauren Richardson, who won state last year and made a respectable repeat run this year, Central Kitsap and Bremerton are ahead of the times.

That’s how we roll.