A Plano mother's death has her family grieving and the sports league she played in reeling.
Raquel Blanco was hoping to become a starter in her Collin County roller derby league when she died unexpectedly. She joined a practice squad for the all-women league in February.
"She was excited to be trying roller derby,” her mentor Corky Cronin said. "She was assigned to me. I was her battle buddy is what we call it.”
Battling in bouts for a league called Assassination City is what Cronin said Blanco hoped to achieve. She said Blanco wanted to move up from a practice team called Fresh Meat and planned on trying out for one of the four teams in the league.
"She was on Fresh Meat and that's the last stop before you get drafted to a team,” roller rink employee Ava Casas said.
In June, Blanco fell and broke her ankle during practice at the Plano roller rink where Casas works.
"She was in pain, you could tell, but she was trying to walk on her own,” Casas said.
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Less than a week later, Blanco unexpectedly died at a hospital.
"I can't believe it. I still get chill bumps just talking about it,” Casas said.
"I was completely stunned,” Cronin said.
Cronin said she believes the death had to do with a pre-existing condition.
She said players from across the world have contacted the league and that in a week's time, $7,000 has been raised for Blanco's husband and children.
For Cronin, it's a reality check.
"It was just chilling,” Cronin said. “She was close to my age. We both have kids and both really loved roller derby and so it just really sets you back.”
Blanco’s funeral is set for Saturday in California.
