After nearly a decade of fierce competition, fast turns, and even faster friendships, 18-year-old Chyler Ross has just graduated from high school—but her journey on wheels is far from over. A longtime Isle of Hope resident, Chyler has called the neighborhood home for 15 years and says the tight-knit community is one of her favorite things about living here.

What sets Chyler apart is her passion for roller derby, a high-contact, high-intensity sport that’s shaped her life both on and off the track. She plays for both junior and adult leagues in Savannah, typically as a blocker or pivot. “I started at age 10,” she says. “I wasn’t into sports before that, but joining changed my life.”

Her favorite memories aren’t championships or wins—they’re the moments spent with her teammates, who she says feel more like family. The lessons she’s learned along the way are just as lasting: embracing discomfort, staying disciplined, and being a true teammate.

Balancing academics with derby wasn’t easy at first. “It took a major mental shift,” Chyler says. But she credits her coaches for teaching her that mental toughness is just as critical as physical endurance.

Now, her eyes are set on the future: playing for a top-tier adult team and eventually coaching the next generation. “It’s important to me that this sport lives on,” she says.

Her advice to aspiring athletes? “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If you commit and give it your all, amazing things can happen.”