Since Marisa Liuzzo was 10 years old, there was no better place than the roller derby rink.

Watching girls and woman of all ages, sizes and backgrounds come together to encourage each other, drew Marisa in to the sport that she now competes in regularly.

Marisa, 18 and a recent graduate of Highland Prep High School in Surprise, now is known as Hugs 'n Stitches on the rink.

She joined her first junior league four years ago. Since then, she has participated in eight roller derby leagues, and some elite leagues have reached out to her. She had the opportunity to try out for Team USA and still managed to earn a full academic scholarship to Northern Arizona University, where she'll attend this fall.

But what is roller derby?  Marisa has a succinct way of summing it up.

“You try to hit opposing members with everything you have and sometimes they do not move and you are like, ‘wow that was awful,’” Marisa said.

Roller derby is a contact sport played on roller skates, with one jammer and four blockers on either a flat-track or bank-track. The objective of the sport is to get the teams jammer to break through the opposing four blockers. One point is awarded for every opposing member the jammer passes. The goal is to create a strong enough wall that will keep the jammer at bay.

There are two 30 minute periods. While players are using their hips and shoulders against each other, everyone is moving in a counterclockwise direction, pushing and shoving with all their might.

Marisa discovered her love of the sport because of her mom, Laura Liuzzo. 

Laura and another mom saw a roller derby advertisement and thought it would be a fun to check out the sport and take the kids. Immediately, Laura and 10-year-old Marisa were in awe. 

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Shortly after attending the roller derby competition, her mom joined a league and Marisa tagged along.  

“Roller derby was definitely the sport that I grew the fastest in. That is the reason why I have stuck with it for so long,” Marisa said. “I am always growing and I have never felt like I was stuck in a rut or have reached the best that I can be.”

She added: “I started just skating around and learning basic skills when I was 10 because that's when my mom started but I never actually played until I was about 14.”

There are multiple leagues Marisa is involved in. There is Junior Roller Derby Association for ages 6 to 18; Roller Derby Coalition of Leagues (banked track) for ages 10 and up, and USA Roller Sports for ages 14 and up. 

Rules differ for leagues. For example, in USARS a skater cannot skate backwards or stop on the track, but in JRDA, they can.

“A lot of people online think roller derby is just a sport for non-athletic people who do not actually want to participate in a sport,” Marisa said. “That is just absolutely ridiculous because it is one of the most intense sports I have ever played.” 

Marisa utilized every league and quickly understood that participating in various leagues would help her become a versatile skater. The variation provides a different game but she obtains play experience. 

“Her style is very unique,” Director of Arizona Roller Derby Games, Nikki Jones said. “She has wonderful movement on the track and she also has a heightened sense of awareness. Not all derby athletes are able to elevate their mind, as much as they are able to elevate their physical skill. When you see the combination come to fruition for somebody it is really exciting.”

At the start of her journey, Marisa would skate with kids her age but as her skills improved, she began training with adults, then eventually branched out into multiple leagues to improve her level of play.

In 2018, Marisa began competing in USARS and traveled to nationals with one of the Arizona teams. 

In 2019, Marisa travelled to California to try out for the reigning world champion team in JRDA. She made the team and ended up joining an additional California team in a different division. This year she competed with both teams at Regionals. 

In May, Marisa reached out to Beast Side, a USARS team in Maryland, that was putting together a travel roster for USARS Nationals. She made the team and will travel to Waco, Texas, with Beast Side to compete in August.

“(It) is not normal to be involved in that many leagues,” Jones said. “Most people tend to just be with their own league that they start with. I have been in roller derby for 12 years and I just started branching out. She is just that driven.” 

Marisa, because she's turned 18, no longer can compete in junior leagues, but that has not stopped her. She already has a team in Flagstaff she will compete with and has started looking for other local roller derby leagues she can join around NAU. 

“She is very passionate about and when she is passionate about something she puts her whole heart into it,” her mom said. 

“I am impressed every day,” Laura said. “It is not unusual to see her to go up to the jam line and give her opposing jammer a hug. She is very encouraging towards not just her own teammates but the opposing team as well.” 

When Marisa first began, she was reserved and finding her way. Now she walks with confidence and has made a name for herself in the roller derby world, demonstrating how strong their community is. 

“Since I have been around roller derby for so long it has helped me become a more social person and taught me how to work with other people,” Marisa said. “Usually, you see sports that are mostly men and maybe a woman’s league (but) if you have an opportunity to try roller derby, I would go for it. You (may) be surprised.” 

In the future, Marisa hopes to continue roller derby as long as her body permits. She hopes to compete on high-level teams in Oregon or New York and dreams of one day skating for Team USA. 

“Roller derby definitely has been a life changer for me,” Marisa said. “It has given me a purpose.”