Former Trenton cross country coach Nelson MacNicol.
BY BRIAN RZEPPA
A staple of the Trenton cross country and swimming communities for the better part of two decades, Nelson MacNicol was recently recognized for his contributions to athletics in Trenton with his induction into the Trenton Sports Hall of Fame.
The longtime cross country coach for Trenton High School and a former president of the Trenton Swim Club, MacNicol is known by those that played for him and coached against him as someone who truly cared for his teams and was passionate for their success both as athletes and as individuals.
MacNicol’s induction comes after a lifetime of participation in athletics that began with his time growing up in Southgate. As a graduate of Southgate High School in 1965, MacNicol remembers his playing career fondly, but was also appreciative of the impact that his own coaches had on his life.
“I graduated from Southgate High School in 1965 and while I was there, I played football, wrestled and ran track and field,” said MacNicol. “One of my coaches, Bob Middlestadt, had a huge effect on my life and I learned a lot from him; if I had to choose one person I modeled my life after, it would be him. He started off as my elementary school phys. ed. teacher and in high school was my football coach.”
He attempted to continue his playing career at Eastern Michigan University, but soon found that college sports would not be in the cards.
“I was a pretty good football player and I really, really enjoyed it. I went to Eastern and tried out for football and it was evident that I would have to become faster or bigger, so I played fraternity sports.”
Though his playing career was coming to a close, he remembered back to impact his coaches had on him and knew that would be a path he wanted to follow as he figured out the next step in his life. It took a few years, but MacNicol found himself coaching eventually.
“I always wanted to coach, but I didn’t want to teach Physical Education. I was a Social Studies teacher and I was very involved in American government and the whole political process; I could read a history book like people could read a novel. I was in Secondary Education and I had a pre-student teaching experience when I worked with the younger kids and there was a demand for men to teach in elementary school. I started off in elementary school, but onto a job at Brake Junior High School in Taylor so that I could coach sports.”
Despite some bumps in the road, which included junior high school athletic programs being cancelled in Taylor due to budget cuts, MacNicol stayed committed to coaching and soon became one of the top swimming coaches in the area. While at Taylor Truman, MacNicol led his teams to multiple League championships within his seven years at the helm.
Now a guidance counselor for the high school, MacNicol was forced into re-applying for his coaching job each year and was told that if a teacher wanted to be the coach, they would have the first chance at it. Frustrated with this policy and with three young kids at home, MacNicol decided to hang up the clipboard and put a pause on coaching. This continued until a chance phone call from Trenton High School Athletic Director Eric Federico, who happened to be friends with MacNicol’s wife, Sue.
“My wife was a longtime Trenton resident and she went to high school with Eric Federico and so we knew them socially and he called me one day and asked me to coach cross country. I didn’t know if I wanted to do it, but he said he needed someone to coach my son so I thought I would do it for a few years. Within a few years, I also became one of the coaches of the track team.”
Leading the Trenton Swim Club simultaneously, MacNicol was in charge of organizing the Downriver Challenge, which at the time was the largest U.S. Swimming approved meet in the state of Michigan.
Whether it was cross country, track or swimming, MacNicol felt continual joy from having the opportunity to coach and was successful, to boot. His teams and athletes consistently made appearances at the State Championships and were always considered to be amongst the most competitive teams in the area.
“Coaching is one of the highest points of my entire life. Cross country kids are really special; they’re focused, they don’t need a lot of reinforcement and they’re very self-motivated. There’s not a lot of glory in cross country and you have to do it for reasons other than seeking the glory of others. We had won some regionals in Class B and we went to states quite a few times; I took individuals or teams almost every year.”
Now retired from the Taylor School District and living in Florida full-time, MacNicol was pleased to hear about his induction into the Trenton Sports Hall of Fame.
“When I first retired, I knew about the hall of fame but as time goes on you move on to other things. When Joan Biedenbach called and told me, I was surprised by how much it meant to me and how meaningful to me. We all think we don’t need the approval of others, but it means a lot to me and it’s nice to be able to see these people that you remember at 18 that are now 40 and living their lives and it’s nice to know I was appreciated. I feel honored, I really do.”
MacNicol is the lone 2021 inductee into the Hall of Fame, which is overseen by the Trenton Recreation Commission. Joan Biedenbach, a member of the Hall herself, is part of the selection committee that voted for MacNicol’s induction.
Typically the people selected are honored at the City Awards Banquet in January, but this year’s banquet is on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission is still hopeful it will have an opportunity to formally award MacNicol at some point in the future.
Though he was employed in Taylor, MacNicol always felt ties to the Trenton community and was glad to live and coach within it for so many years.
“When I would go to the street fair, people would recognize me and speak to me. There are so many parents throughout the years and it was nice to be part of the community. I know people talk about it like it’s a sacrifice because of the time commitment, but I didn’t see it that way; I was having fun and enjoyed what I was doing in coaching. There is such a great feeling of community in Trenton and it was a great place for me to raise my kids. My wife lived there pretty much her entire life and it’s the only place she wanted to live.”