Bonnie Thunders

Williams grew up in Rome, New York, where she was a four-year varsity soccer player at Rome Free Academy,{{cite web|title=Star player for NYC roller derby team has connections to Rome|url=http://www.romesentinel.com/news?newsid=20081120-141025|publisher=Rome Sentinel|accessdate=4 December 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425051513/http://www.romesentinel.com/news?newsid=20081120-141025|archivedate=25 April 2012|date=20 November 2008}} before studying conservation biology with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, linked to Syracuse University. She was a leading member of the college's synchronized skating squad,{{cite web|last1=Glavin|first1=Kristina|title=Synchronized skaters practice for perfection|url=http://students.syr.edu/skateteam/doarticle.pdf|publisher=Syracuse|accessdate=4 December 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040921235839/http://students.syr.edu/skateteam/doarticle.pdf|archivedate=21 September 2004|date=10 February 2004}} the Syracuse Orange Experience, and also spent time playing soccer competitively.{{cite web|title=Skater Profile: Bonnie Thunders of the Bronx Gridlock {{!}} Gotham Girls Roller Derby|url=http://www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com/news/879/skater-profile-bonnie-thunders-of-the-bronx-gridlock|publisher=Gotham Girls Roller Derby|accessdate=4 December 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729171127/http://www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com/news/879/skater-profile-bonnie-thunders-of-the-bronx-gridlock|archivedate=29 July 2010|date=29 June 2010}}

After moving to New York City, Williams found roller derby and traded in her ice skates for roller skates. In 2006, Williams successfully tried out for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby, and was placed on their Bronx Gridlock team.{{cite web|title=Roller Girls: The Fact and the Furious|last1=Scarff|first1=Liz|url=http://www.lizscarff.co.uk/marie-claire-hot-wheels/|website=www.lizscarff.co.uk|publisher=Marie Claire|accessdate=4 December 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425051537/http://www.lizscarff.co.uk/marie-claire-hot-wheels/|archivedate=25 April 2012|date=May 2007}} Taking the name "Bonnie Thunders", in her first season, she was named the league's Rookie of the Year. She soon became part of Gotham's travel team (All Stars), and skated for them when they won the 2008 WFTDA Championships, at which she won the Most Valuable Player award.{{cite web|title=August 2010 Featured Skater:Bonnie Thunders - Featured Skaterof the Month - Women's Flat Track Derby Association|url=https://wftda.org/featured-skater/bonnie-thunders|website=wftda.org|publisher=WFTDA|accessdate=4 December 2016|date=1 August 2010}} Although she worked for several years at a conservation charity,Abby Luby, "[http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/03/15/2009-03-15_bronx_gridlock_team_skates_in_citywide_w.html Bronx Gridlock team skates in citywide women's derby league]", New York Daily News, 14 March 2009 in 2010 she opened Five Stride Skate Shop, a roller skate shop in Brooklyn, NY.

By 2009, Bonnie Thunders was the captain of the Gotham Girls All Stars, and was also a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's Tournaments Committee. She currently{{when|date=December 2016}} holds the position of WFTDA Competition Manager. In 2012, Bonnie elected to retire from the Bronx Gridlock team in order to focus on playing with the All Stars.

Thunders won Gotham's Best Jammer award jointly in 2007 and in her own right in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. She also won the Derby News Network readers' Most Valuable Jammer award in 2010"[http://www.derbynews.net/2010/12/dnn_best_2010_reader_poll_results?page=0,2 DNN Best of 2010 Reader Poll: Results]", Derby News Network, 31 December 2010 and again in 2011."[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/12/dnn_best_2011_poll_results?page=0,2 DNN Best of 2011 Poll: Results]", Derby News Network, 26 December 2011 She is double jointed, which she believes helps her maneuver while jamming.

At the end of 2016, Thunders moved to Portland, Oregon, and in January 2017 it was announced that she was officially joining the Rose City Rollers all-star team, the Wheels of Justice.{{cite web|last1=Frye|first1=Andy|title=Roller derby legend Bonnie Thunders, aka Nicole Williams, leaves Gotham for Rose City|url=http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/18495872/roller-derby-legend-bonnie-thunders-aka-nicole-williams-leaves-gotham-rose-city |website=espn.com |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=18 January 2017|date=18 January 2017}}

Bonnie Thunders has represented the United States in international play, having been selected for the Team USA roster for the Roller Derby World Cup in 2011,Justice Feelgood Marshall, "[http://www.derbynews.net/2011/08/team_usa_announces_28_skater_roster Team USA Announces 28-Skater Roster]", Derby News Network, 7 August 2011 2014{{cite web|last=Talionis|first=Lex|title=2013-14 Team USA Roster Revealed|url=http://www.derbynews.net/2013/10/2013_14_team_usa_roster_revealed|publisher=Derby News Network|accessdate=4 December 2016|date=15 October 2013}} and 2018.

{{BLP sources section|date=November 2016}}

• Gotham Girls Rookie of the Year 2007
• Gotham Girls Best Jammer 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• Bronx Gridlock MVP 2008, 2010
• Gotham Girls All Stars MVP 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• Gotham Girls League MVP 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• WFTDA East Region Playoff MVP 2008
• WFTDA Championships MVP 2008
• WFTDA Division 1 Playoff (Asheville) MVP 2013

In December 2016 at Gotham's end-of-year awards night, Bonnie Thunders' jersey was retired by the league.{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Dylan|title=Bonnie Thunders, OMG WTF, Vicious Van Go Go and Flo It All Retire From Gotham|url=https://thederbyapex.com/bonnie-thunders-omg-wtf-vicious-van-go-go-and-flo-it-all-retired-from-gotham-5e7ef04700c7#.chsm323ek|website=The Apex|publisher=The Derby Apex|accessdate=4 December 2016|date=4 December 2016}}

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Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Rome, New York

Category:Roller derby skaters

Category:State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry alumni

Category:American roller skaters