By NICOLE FOSTER
Staff Writer
Peppered throughout the Capital Region is a group of women who are faster than track stars, tougher than linebackers and more focused than goalies. They are the Albany All Stars, a roller derby team, and they aren’t afraid of a little blood, sweat or tears.
One of the All Stars has lived in Pine Hills for the last five years, humbly working from home during the day and walloping opponents at night. Francine Cabreja is poised, intelligent and has a huge smile, but when she spoke recently about her life as an athlete, a distinct change washed over her. An intense expression crossed her face and she was suddenly her derby persona, Sirius Trauma.
The All Stars strap on roller skates and furiously loop around a track to earn points. The rules of the game are complex, but one thing is always allowed: using their bodies to impede rivals from skating past the All Stars. Cabreja has never hesitated to push her own teammates into an adversary when her own body wasn’t close enough.
“You can’t take things personally,” she explained about abandoning her emotions while on the track. “I can’t really get mad with someone who is 6’3” and 300 pounds as they hurtle themselves at me.”
There is a clear divide between Cabreja and Trauma. As she sipped green tea and smiled while describing her cats, the athlete’s demeanor immediately turned fierce when asked if her teammates are surprised when she shoves them in to an opponent. “My teammates should always know I’m about to do that.”
Cabreja, 40, grew up in central New Jersey and constantly participated in sports: soccer, field hockey, kickboxing, and skiing. That diligent activity conditioned her to become a competent derby player. To save herself from injury (of which there have been several), Cabreja varies her workouts.
“Yoga, because derby makes muscles tight and prone to injuries, and to build strength I do weight training,” Cabreja said. “I ride my bike everywhere. I don’t like having to go to the gym. I try to get outside as much as I can.”
Teammate Nancy Andrews, better known in the derby world as Outlaw Annie, said, “The most rigorous part of the sport is the endurance you need to stay in shape for the game.”
During recent All Star try outs, the team wasn’t interested in finding “perfect” bodies. They welcome women of varying heights and weights. The All Stars watched for recruits who are in shape, have high endurance and exhibit core and leg strength. First and foremost, though, they want members who can skate and have a good attitude.
“You put a group of 50 type-A women together and it’s not always going to be roses,” explained Cabreja matter-of-factly. “We’re all invested in making it a good relationship.”
Cabreja’s other relationship is with her husband, Jonathan Duda. Before the couple moved to Albany, they lived in the Catskills. Duda brought home a brochure for his wife one day that advertised the closest derby team, the Hudson Valley Horrors. Though she had never participated in derby, he knew the sport would be something she was interested in. Unfortunately, Cabreja’s schedule at the time didn’t allow for extra activities and the practices were an hour away.
“I was so sad,” Cabreja remembered. “We started to talk about moving, and I decided: If we’re in a city that has roller derby, I’m joining.”
Within the same month that they settled in to their new home in Pine Hills, Cabreja attended an All Stars game, also called a “bout.” Thirty days later, she was in skates on the track, determined to prove she belonged on the team.
“I loved how badass they were,” said Cabreja. “They were theatrical without being cheesy. All the women were so about empowerment. It was just exciting.”
Duda, who is a member of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, said he felt “ultimate pride” the first time he watched his wife in a bout. He was particularly excited when she chose his birthday as her team number.
“I will never forget hearing her name announced over the PA system at the Armory for the first time and watching her skate around as the crowd cheered away,” said Duda. “As this figure skated by me donned with knee and elbow pads, a sparkly helmet, shiny little shorts, and my birthday number on her back, I repeatedly kept thinking to myself, ‘That’s my lady out there?’”
Throughout the years, Cabreja has sacrificed time with friends, family and her husband in order to fulfill obligations as an All Star. Weekends are spent either playing at the Washington Avenue Armory or traveling as long as 10 hours roundtrip for away games. Derby players pay monetary dues and buy equipment that amounts to hundreds of dollars. They show up before each bout to set up the track and stay after, whether they’ve won or lost, to clean up. Cabreja has endured Achilles tendonitis, a concussion, a dislocated thumb, two instances of a pulled groin muscle, countless bruises, and once lost mobility in her neck for several days. Are the financial, physical and emotional pains worth it?
“If I wasn’t having fun, I wouldn’t be doing it,” Cabreja said. “We put in a lot of time and work and risk injury. I want to be able to say, ‘Yes, all this time and commitment helped me and my team to win.’”
Facilitating Cabreja’s recovery from injuries as quickly as possible is licensed massage therapist Bethany Milazzo, who also treats several other All Stars. The athlete drives north for her appointments at Back in Balance Therapeutic Massage.
“[Cabreja] initially came to see me for a neck injury that resulted from being hit by and having another player land on her shoulder/neck area in an awkward position,” Milazzo explained.“We have worked together through several other injuries, including a severely strained groin/inner thigh muscle. Francine has regular massage for recovery and maintenance.”
While attending games over the years, Milazzo has witnessed injuries as severe as head trauma and broken ankles.
“I most often see neck muscle strain, similar to whip lash,” Milazzo said. “I also frequently encounter deep muscular bruising resulting from a hard fall on the track or onto a skate wheel.”
Milazzo stressed the importance of “proper fitting skates and helmets as well as appropriate protective gear” for all roller derby players
Each team has blockers, jammers and pivots. Cabreja is a blocker and it is her job to make sure the jammer gets through the pack to score. Teammate Terrah Setteducato, known in derby world as Scarlet O’Hackya, is a jammer and has been an All Star for eight seasons. She relies on Cabreja to literally stop opponents in their tracks and recognized her as a smart, strong, strategic skater.
“Trauma always keeps our team’s best interest in mind and that’s the kind of skater any league would be grateful to have on board,” said Setteducato. “We work so hard at practice together for months and when we hit the track and execute our strategies, play as one unit and one mind, there is no stopping us. There is no greater athletic high than being one with your team and conquering the track together.”
People may be drawn to roller derby because of the theatrics: flashy uniforms, tiny shorts, shredded fishnet tights, vicious demeanors, war paint, and, of course, the names. Fans typically don’t realize derby women often go through 100 names until they find one to suit their personality.
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the governing organization of roller derby and they strictly enforce no repeated names. With approximately 40 women on each of the 355 teams, 14,200 players must create completely original names before being accepted in to the registry.
Cabreja enjoys crime shows and knew she wanted the word “trauma” in her name. She also has an affinity for the star, Sirius, as it is the brightest in the night sky. The name means “glowing” in Greek and has been nicknamed the “disco star” because it’s always pulsing and twinkling. Also, Cabreja’s favorite “Harry Potter” character is Sirius Black. Thus, Sirius Trauma was created.
“Some people don’t even know my real name,” said Cabreja, referring to her teammates. “We introduce each other by our derby name and have worked so hard and so long to have that name, it becomes a source of pride.” She smiled mischievously and added, “Sometimes we mock each other and call each other by our birth names.”
By referring to themselves and each other solely by their derby names, the women show respect and acknowledge how difficult it is to earn a spot as an All Star.
Before the All Stars were accepted as members of the WFTDA two years ago, they had to apprentice for 12 months. Their game has become more competitive and the team is playing against stronger opponents, which has resulted in heightened strategy. Dedicated to practicing two nights a week with bouts year round, the All Stars have found themselves nationally ranked: 228 out of 274. (81 teams have not qualified yet for rankings.)
“It’s a full time job if you take it seriously,” said Setteducato/Scarlet O’Hackya. “We practice for five hours a week, cross train on non-derby days, attend PR events and run the league’s business production in addition to our home and away schedules. Everyone shares the work. We all have a deep passion for roller derby, and most importantly, we have an amazing league of individuals who are smart and respect one another.”
Coach Nichelle Nicholes, or Debbie Scary, is definitely one of Cabreja’s supporters and deems trust within the team as imperative. Cabreja felt the support from her crew when she was voted MVP a staggering four times since 2013 and a league coach in 2014, a position for which team members nominated her.
“Trauma is an incredibly committed and dependable teammate and athlete,” said Nicholes. “I know she will be in the right place at the right time and there for me and our team in every jam. She is a very strong athlete, one of our hardest hitters, among the most stable on her skates, and pretty scary to jam against. I am very glad that I am on her team and not the opposing one.”
Andrews/Outlaw Annie concurred, “Trauma is an amazing teammate. I love skating with her. We have some kind of unspoken communication and we always are in the right spot on the track when we need each other.”
Cabreja became wistful and quiet when asked how long she plans to be an All Star. As though she had never considered the end of her derby career, she shook her head slightly and nearly whispered, “I don’t know.”
Until that day comes, don’t expect to see Cabreja showing any compassion on the track. She is staunchly against becoming friends with members of opposing teams and never socializes with them before or after bouts. She isn’t the least bit ashamed of using trash talk to get under a competitor’s skin.
“It’s this weird psychological thing I do,” she said. “It’s fun to be that way sometimes.”
They don’t call her Sirius Trauma because she hands out flowers and candy.
“My attitude is: I want to destroy them. I want to win.”
