Thomas Jefferson's Wagner excels at WPIAL meet
Zach Wagner has etched his name in Thomas Jefferson track lore.
And he's only a sophomore.
Wagner won the Class AAA boys 200-meter dash event last week at the WPIAL track and field championships at Baldwin Stadium.
“I was pleased with my performance in the 200-meter dash,” Wagner said. “The competition was stiff, and I feel that helped me to perform better knowing I had to run my very best. At this level of competition, everybody is within just tenths of a second of each other.”
Wagner grabbed the lead in the final 50 meters of the event and ended up winning with a time of 22.37.
“Zach had a great performance, but it was no surprise to our coaching staff what he accomplished,” TJ coach Bill Paull said. “Zach works extremely hard at practice and has been focused on improving his starts and form all season. We knew he had it in him to win the event.
“Zach always rises to the level of competition. I'm very proud of him and look forward to seeing what he can do at the state meet.”
Wagner narrowly edged out Norwin's Gianni Rizzo in winning the WPIAL championship. Rizzo crossed the finish line in 22.49.
“The day was hot and I had a long wait before the finals,” Wagner said. “When the gun sounded to start the race, I was in third place as we rounded the bend. When I hit the straightaway, I just took off and focused on the finish line.”
If ever there was a humble champion, Wagner fits that description.
“I would like to thank my parents for coming and rooting me on throughout this track season,” he said, “and my sister Molly, who had undying faith in me and encouraged me every step of the way,
“And a big thank-you to my coaches, Mr. Paull, Mr. (Cedric) Love and Mr. (Kevin) Gennaula. Without their support, training, pushing me beyond my limits and believing in me, I would not have come this far this season. I also want to thank my teammates for making this track season a memorable one.”
The PIAA track and field finals will take place Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University.
Wagner and Thomas Jefferson senior Rosina Natter qualified for the state meet.
“My goal is to just run my very best and hopefully place,” Wagner said. “My (WPIAL) time in the 200 was a PR for me, but I am hoping to continue to bring my time down a few tenths at states.”
Natter tied for fourth in the girls high jump event at the WPIAL finals, clearing a height of 5 feet, 1 inch. She also qualified for states as a junior.
Wagner finished as a double medalist at the WPIAL meet. He placed sixth in 11.26 in the 100-meter dash.
“I felt I ran a good race,” he said.
His younger sister Molly, a freshman, qualified for the WPIAL championships in the same two events that he did — the 100 and 200 — in the Class AAA girls division.
“I was so proud of myself to qualify for WPIALs as a freshman,” she said. “The competition at the high school level really proves how talented all these athletes are. I was honored to compete among the fastest runners in the WPIAL, and to be against almost all upperclassmen, that pushed me even harder.”
Molly also was proud of her brother's rousing performance at the WPIAL meet.
“Zach and I are very close to each other. I could not have been happier for him,” she said. “At all the meets throughout the season, I would stretch out his legs and he would stretch mine out. He always stood on the block for me, and I always stood on his. He had helpful suggestions to make me a better runner.
“I was screaming for him to finish strong in the 200 and he did. Last year, two days before WPIALs he pulled his hamstring and was unable to run to his fullest potential. My heart was broken for him. Then, in football this season, he broke his left foot and he missed one of the sports he loves most. There could have not been a better end to this story for him after suffering two debilitating injuries. Zach is quiet, but he never gave up or got disgusted. I know he ran through the pain this year, and it paid off. All in all, it was an exciting day for us.”
It's little wonder why the Wagner siblings have evolved so quickly on the track.
Their parents, Geoff, a TJ graduate, and Kim, a West Mifflin South product, were multi-sport athletes in high school and college. And, yes, both competed in track.
Geoff also participated in wrestling and football. He attended Cal (Pa.) . Kim also played softball, and attended Pitt and Duquesne.
Two other Thomas Jefferson athletes, sophomore Raelin Krueger and junior Kayla Polakovic, were WPIAL finalists and competed at last week's meet.
Krueger took fifth place in the javelin event with a toss of 120-4, while Polakovic barely missed landing a medal with a ninth-place finish in the 400.
Polakovic posted a career-best 59.63 time, eclipsing the 60-second mark for the first time.
Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.
