Birthday: February 23
Height: 5′ 5″
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Position: Blocker
Signature move/trademark: I skate sideways! It helps me avoid blocks and I can stay on my skates after a hit!
Injuries: Right shoulder dislocation (Lexington bout), Right knee (still don’t know what is wrong…)
What was your first car?
1972 Chevy Nova
What do you do for a living?
Firefighter/Paramedic
What are the names of your pets, and what are they?
Max and Ozzie, cats; Ashley, chinchilla; Sophie, dog
What do you like to do outside of derby?
Triathlons, biking, rock climbing
Were you a troublemaker as a kid?
Not a troublemaker—kind of a goody two-shoes
As an adult?
Have to be good as an adult or I will lose my job!
What / who inspires you?
My mom inspires me. If she’s not quitting, then there is no way I should be! All of the skaters from Naptown also. We all have our personal struggles, but we fight on and do what we have to do to make it work!
What is the meaning behind your derby name?
I became a paramedic based on the series Emergency. I LOVED Roy and Johnny. The name came from one of the guys at the fire department who was playing around with names and came up with Joanie Gouge = Johnny Gauge. They responded in Squad 51, so that seemed like a natural number to pick!
What advice would you give to anyone looking to make it in the real world?
NEVER take NO for an answer. If a door closes, go pry a window open. Or better yet, shatter the glass and climb on through! No one is ever going to hand you anything. You have to take it!
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
If the climb to the top were easy, it would have an elevator, not a ladder.
What is your favorite sports movie?
A League of Their Own. I love that movie! Especially the quote, “There’s no crying in baseball!” We adapt it for derby all the time!
What kind of wheels do you skate on?
Heartless Vanish on the right and Heartless Voodoo on the left
Tailbone protector or padded shorts?
Padded shorts. The black ones with the little hex pads.
What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the world of derby?
You have to push yourself every day to be just a little bit better than you were the day before. If you settle, you will never be good enough. Never quit.
What would surprise people the most to know about you?
I am a pretty introverted person. I don’t do well in crowds, especially of people whom I don’t know. I have never been to an afterparty, and I am okay with that.
(photo credit Tom Klubens)
