Sacred Heart graduate takes the crown in the 2025 Demolition Derby.

By: CeeJay Tisdel

After all the dust settled and the sticks were pulled, the last “man” – or in this case, woman – standing was Saylor Hutfles. The 2024 Sacred Heart graduate not only won the Powderpuff division, but also the Most Wanted Fine Arts division at the 2025 Falls City Jaycee’s Demolition Derby.

This was Hutfles’s fourth year participating in the derby and third year competing. She shared about the process of her preparations. When asked about what steps she took and how long it took to prepare, she said, “We picked up the car a month before and knew we had to get to work. Dylan Leafty and Keldon Campbell helped me with the dirty work that I was unable to do. We got it fully finished the night before the derby.”

Hutfles had a simple and effective plan to win: keep her nose in the wall and run in reverse. She made smart, clean, hard hits and always kept moving.

She said her favorite part of the derby was, “… the adrenaline rush and hearing the excitement from the crowd. The one person I can hear over everyone is my aunt, Mary Darveau. Her cheers calm me down and remind me why I am doing this.”

When Hutfles was one of two competitors remaining, she said, “I was so in shock, and it felt unreal!”

Hutfles plans on continuing to run in the derby in the future, fueled by the excitement of her recent win. She said she will use the money she earned this year to help pay for next year’s car.

Irish nation looks forward to seeing what the future holds for this Sacred Heart alumni, and we celebrate her continued success.