When Stacie Wilhelm first tried out for roller derby in 2010 in Fort Collins, Colorado, she almost was turned away. But it wasnt a lack of skill that made the Choice City Rebels nudge her toward the exits.When I came to try out at first, the league didnt think I was old enough, said Wilhelm, who was actually 26 at the time but rolled with players much younger. I skated with the juniors because I hadnt skated much on quad skates. But, I also had to assure them that I was well over the minimum age, which was 18.Since then, the baby-faced assassin has developed into a prolific scorer and become one of the most versatile players in the game.Wilhelm, now a jammer for Denver Roller Derby, returns to the Womens Flat Track Derby Association championships this weekend in Portland, Oregon. Hosted by the leagues reigning world champion, the Rose City Rollers, the WFTDAs international competition starts Friday and features teams from four countries. The league champion will be crowned Sunday (9 p.m. ET, ESPNU).Since making Denvers travel squad four years ago -- and playing alongside USA World Cup skaters Tracy Akers, Shaina Serelson and Jes Rivas -- Wilhelm noticed a need to elevate intensity, both in terms of skating and overall athleticism.Part of my draw to derby originally was that it was a contact sport, Wilhelm said. My first league was all about the hitting, and [as a jammer] I had learned to hit and drive. Coming to Denver, I held onto that physical aspect, but had to deal with a much higher level of skating and fitness.Wilhelm, now 32, turned to CrossFit-style workouts and saw immediate benefits. But she felt the need for more.Two years ago, I helped create what we call Agility/Strength/Stability, and that was intentionally for Mile High Club, said Wilhelm, who has customized her workout for each skater after consulting with trainers and strength coaches.The first part was to help our skaters build muscle, and then move more into plyometrics with the aim to build that strength we wanted, and full-body endurance too, Wilhelm said.The Denver terrain has a lot to offer when it comes to fitness and endurance.I really enjoy road cycling and just being able to bike Colorado, said Wilhelm, who has completed the Copper Triangle, an annual 78-mile, two-day event that crosses three major mountain passes.For the adventurous Wilhelm, thats just the tip of the iceberg. Shes also accomplished in photography and film, and she has taken her lens and love of sport to Fiji and Africa. Wilhelm will soon be headed to Uganda for the fifth time.I went to school for film editing, said Wilhelm, who works professionally as a computer programmer. I wanted to eventually work with non-profits abroad, although I wasnt exactly sure in what capacity.She found her answer after talking with some friends who were stationed in Uganda. She is now producing videos on a volunteer basis to help a Ugandan orphanage called Bethesda International.She eventually plans to publish a coffee table book of her work abroad, along with stories about travel and people she has met.I love travel and learning about people, she said. Its also important to do whatever we can do, average people and non-profits, to help lift up people in other parts of the world.For now, her focus is lifting Denver. She has stepped up both her minutes and output in order to succeed.Shes one of the most positive influences on our team, Denver teammate Susy Pow said of Wilhelm, who won the WFTDAs playoff MVP award in September at the WFTDAs Columbia, South Carolina, divisional tournament.Even opponents speak highly.She is a great teammate because she is a great person, says former Denver teammate Serelson, who now plays in Australia with Victoria. She balances hard work with laughter, [and] drive with gratitude, making this roller derby world a better place. Shoes NZ 2020 . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Wholesale Shoes NZ . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. https://www.shoesnzonline.com/ . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Shoes NZ Online . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Shoes NZ Sale .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch.MONTREAL -- With all the changes the Montreal Alouettes have made recently, Anthony Calvillo still wasnt sure Wednesday who hed hear calling the teams offensive plays against the Toronto Argonauts. Montreal GM Jim Popp, the Alouettes interim head coach, made it clear former CFL head coach Doug Berry will be sending plays into Calvillo although he wasnt exactly sure where from. "Were determining whether we want that direct combination of Doug and Anthony looking at each other coming off the sideline or do we keep it the same (from upstairs coachs box)," Popp said. "All of a sudden if we flip theres another change so we havent decided that." Popp will begin his third coaching stint with the Alouettes (2-3) when they host the defending Grey Cup champions Thursday night at Percival Molson Stadium. Popp replaces Dan Hawkins, who was fired after five games despite signing a three-year contract in the off-season with the club. Berry was hired as a special advisor to Hawkins when he unveiled his new coaching staff Feb. 19. Now Montreals struggling offence is in the hands of Berry, a former Alouettes offensive co-ordinator and Winnipeg head coach. Be it from the coachs box or the sidelines, Berry will be in constant communication with Calvillo against Toronto. Mike Miller, who served as Hawkins offensive co-ordinator, will have a more focused role working with Calvillo. "Theyre still discussing whats best and well have that all ready to go (Thursday) but if theres a switch itll be one for one," Popp said. "Mike will go to the box and Doug will come down, or well leave it exactly the same. "Either way, Doug is calling the play." Montreal and Toronto split their season series last year before the Argos defeated the Alouettes in the East Division final en route to winning the 100th Grey Cup. After a 1-2 start this season, the Double Blue is atop the conference with a 3-2 record. "They play well together," said Alouettes receiver Arland Bruce III, a former Argo. "You know, they talk, they communicate well and we just have to take advantage of the holes that they leave open for us and just keeping chipping away, chipping away. "I think we have a good package in for that and well see what happens." Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich served as Montreals offensive co-ordinator when the club won consecutive Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010 under Marc Trestman. Trestman is now the head coach with the NFLs Chicago Bears. Chris Jones, Torontos assistant head coach and defensive co-ordinator, also won the first of his Grey Cup rings in 2002 as Montreals defensive line coach.dddddddddddd The two teams will meet three times over the next five weeks, including a home-and-home series five days apart in early September. "Weve been preparing for Toronto," Calvillo said. "We know theyre a great team. "We know coach Jones is very creative in what he is able to do with the defence with all the different looks but weve had a great week of preparation. Things have been different for us in terms of we were able to get the game plan a lot earlier this week." Calvillo said despite the coaching change, Montreals offence has been able to get a lot of work done. "We were able to rep a lot of plays," he said. "I mean, that first day was almost 50 plays, the second day was almost 40 plays and then (Tuesday) was about 20 plays. "It went very fast and the good thing is we executed at a high level so I think overall were headed in the right direction." Montreal wont have veteran receiver Jamel Richardson as the two-time all-star suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this week in practice. Richardson cracked the 1,000-yard receiving plateau for the fifth time last year and had 18 catches for 197 yards this season. "What youll see the rest of the season is receivers moving into different positions," Popp said. "They wont all just be a wide receiver or a slot receiver." Running back Brandon Whitaker (shoulder) wont play Thursday. Thats a big blow as Whitaker ran for 162 yards in Montreals 32-27 win over Edmonton on July 25 before being injured. Whitaker hopes to return for next weeks road game at Saskatchewan. Defensive tackle Moton Hopkins replaces Scooter Berry, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Edmonton. Hopkins missed all of last season after a blood clot was discovered in his lung. Hopkins had a Greenfield Filter inserted into a vein in his chest to prevent another clot from reaching his lung. "Its been a long, long time," he said. "And then watching on the sidelines while being here was tough, too. "But I understand the situation and Im just really excited to get an opportunity. I hate that it had to come with Scoot getting hurt because I love the dude to death, but Im really happy to get a chance to play again." You can catch the Alouettes hosting the Argonauts live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV on Thursday at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. ' ' '