by Janit Stahl
Published: February 2010
Age: 20
Hometown: Ballston Spa
Career: Speedskating
Primary Sport: Long Track Speedskating
Family: Father, Randy; Mother, Linda; Sister, Samantha
When Trevor Marsicano wasn’t part of the “favorite five” lineup for his Saratoga Blue Knights ice hockey team at 12 years old, he forged on. But the athlete, who had played ice hockey since he was four, was losing his passion for the sport.
Many things were on the young athlete’s mind. Former Olympic short track speedskating and current Saratoga Winter Club coach, Pat Maxwell, had visited his third grade classroom and spoken about speedskating and it made an impact. Trevor’s parents had taken him to a World Cup race in Saratoga Springs, where the elite of short track speedskating demonstrated this different ice discipline, and he was intrigued. Although several years after these events, Trevor decided at 13 to hop on a new set of blades and start over with ice sports.
“I came to Saratoga Winter Club when Pat Maxwell was in his last year,” Trevor says. He spent the first year honing his skill and speed. In the next year he moved up to work with the head coach who by then was Paul Marchese of Coxsackie. Trevor became his eager student. This seven-year relationship has been part of Trevor’s success.
It may be hard to see past the physique of a speedskater with the powerful quadriceps and realize that speedskating races are won with technique, but this fact is what made Paul such an asset to Trevor. The short choppy strokes and equally short blades of ice hockey is surprisingly hard to transition to the body position and razor-sharp blade placement of speedskating, and Paul is known for his precision; Trevor for his drive.
Paul is also a craftsman who builds boots and now blades for the majority of the Olympians (in all countries) on the ice in the next few weeks. Partner Paul’s guidance on technique, with Trevor’s inherent physicality and deep motivation, and you have an Olympian that rose to that level in fast-forward mode. (Unfortunately, due to limitations on how many credentials the US Olympic Team receives for Vancouver, Coach Paul was not a recipient, and will be in Vancouver, but not with a US credential – it may be Chinese, but that is another story.)
Trevor has done a few things are largely unheard of. First, he ascended the ranks from the Junior National team in 2007 to World Senior team in 2008 in the Netherlands and World Champion in 2009. Second, he started his career at 13, when many US team Olympic athletes many have already had national and international experience. Many speedskaters, like local legend and four-time Olympian Kristen Talbot were on long blades at four years old. Third, he recovered from a near-fatal short track accident in 2004 where his femoral artery was cut by a skate in Bay City, Michigan, to be back at Olympic trials, at 16, in 2006.
“It’s inspiring... he went so far in such a short period of time,” says Matthew Rittenhouse, a Saratoga High School senior and long track speedskater at the Junior “A” level in US Speedskating terms. Matt will be attending college this fall, and training near one of the two indoor ovals in the country – either Salt Lake or Milwaukee. Matthew, who is on his own path to success in the same sport, says, “Trevor is incredible.” Matthew attended dry-land training sessions with Trevor last summer. “I have never seen someone so focused,” he adds.
For the record, the dry land training for speedskating includes ‘low-walking,’ which is similar to lunge walking, but without the recovery – you stay down. This isometric and kinetic co-contraction blitz is part of what makes Trevor the powerhouse he is. Try this at home, for fun: low walk (and I mean low) for ten minutes.... Oh, and wear a weighted vest too. Now, stand on the podium with Trevor.
And podium-standing has been a big part of Trevor’s last couple years. At World Cups and World Championships he has stood beside some of the best in the sport, including US teammates Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick. “For me it’s a lot of imagery, visualization...,” Trevor explains, on how he gets through tough workouts. He keeps his eyes on the goal, and acts and trains accordingly.
Trevor was home recently, visiting his family who will not be in Vancouver to watch him. He said some of the day-to-day activities his family does are fun for him, as his life is pretty structured at this point. He also attended a practice session of the Saratoga Winter Club. “Trevor really encouraged us to try harder,” says Katy Toth, an 11-year old skater from Stephentown who trains with SWC. “I don’t think I ever saw her skate faster,” quipped her mother Pam Rehak. “He was helpful, giving us tips,” added Katy, “he was telling us to stay low and work on our form.”
Katy, like Matthew and Trevor, are young kids taking on a sport that doesn’t exactly offer them a lot of options. It goes something like this:
Child is natural athlete and a speed demon on blades.
Child start training and racing locally, which is in New England and beyond – not the Capital Region and Adirondacks.
Child does so well they have to “travel” to race (as if they are not already).
New destinations are Michigan, Wisconsin, Utah and Minnesota.
They make “Category 1,” they make a US Junior Team.
New destinations are Canada, Japan, Netherlands and Russia.
Parents refinance home.
There can be a lot of financial hardship when there is an Olympian in the family, and Trevor is a perfect example. In the United States, the governing bodies do not finance much, and there aren’t any speedskating scholarships to be found. Families see the talent and do what they need to, there is always tomorrow, and there will only be so many years an athlete can produce this kind of speed. The Marsicanos are reportedly $200,000 in debt.
Trevor can block out all the noise of the everyday life and make something happen on the ice. This didn’t happen because he was paid well and his parents were certainly more than a checkbook. “You have to make sacrifices and train hard, but you have to be balanced too.”
Trevor recalls how different it was the first time he was on the ‘big stage’ at a European speedskating World Cup in the Netherlands. “It was like a professional football game in the States,” Trevor remarked. Dutch skaters are like heroes, and the events are well-attended at every level. Trevor can walk down Broadway in Saratoga Springs and not be recognized. This may change.
Trevor is currently in Vancouver, preparing for his first Olympic event. He will be skating the 1000, 1500, 5000, and team pursuit at the Olympics. “Right now I think the 1500 is my favorite,” he asserts. “Security at the village and the training venues is pretty tight,” he says. ‘The rink is really cool – yes, he is only 20! – and it’s great to see it all decked out with Olympic banners.” He adds, “They have a tribal theme here,” – like the TV program Survivor, which is fitting, yes?
And speaking of reality television: When asked if he has had any offers to be on a reality TV show after the Olympics are over, Trevor said, “Well, not yet... I have to win some medals first.”
Janit Stahl (janitstahl@earthlink.net) is a Greenfield Center freelance writer. Her daughter Greta is a speedskater on the Saratoga Winter Club.
