New Territory; Jenna Wagner Embracing the Many Changes of Senior Year

After senior year of high school, things get real very quickly for most teenagers. Less structure, more responsibility, and endless possibilities of what may shake out in your life. But, for Jenna Wagner, some changes have happened prior to the end of senior year.

The Erie, Pennsylvania native and ace for the Cathedral Prep Ramblers softball team did not find herself repping the Ramblers a few months back. In fact, she was making history at her old school in Villa Maria Academy. After the closure of her former school and combining with Cathedral Prep, she hasn’t treaded or lost focus on what’s important to her.

Instead, she adjusted, reminisced the memories of winning the last ever District 10 title in school history, and put her best foot forward to represent the orange, black, and white of the Ramblers.

“It’s weird, but it’s been fun,” said Wagner of going to Cathedral Prep. “Merging now, I’ve met some great people in the Prep community. They’re all very good people and have been taught great morals. We also have a great guidance program who has helped us with college. The faculty and everyone I’ve met have been incredibly helpful in all aspects so far this year.”

A dual-sport athlete in volleyball and softball, Wagner is one of the few who will ever be able to say she played in the last Villa Maria sporting event and the first Cathedral Prep sporting event for girls. Certainly an interesting factoid, Wagner is much more than an athlete who needs to hang her hat on a tidbit like this.

Rather, she’s a Division I recruit for Saint Joseph’s University softball program, a program that plays in the Atlantic 10 Conference. A recruit for the Hawks 2023 incoming class, Wagner is a hard throwing pitcher who helped take the Victors to back-to-back District 10 title games in her first two high school seasons (her freshman season was cancelled due to COVID-19).

Photo courtesy of Tobias Newman.

Junior year was the most impressive as Wagner had the thoughts of being the last Victors team left before sports were ceased. She also was looking for redemption over Franklin, the program that won the District 10 title in 2021 over Villa Maria. The phrase, “unfinished business” was used for the program as fuel to their fire, and sure enough, the program came out on top in 2022.

While this was a great ride, Wagner jumped into travel ball not long after the conclusion of her high school season like usual. Playing for Team Pennsylvania, Wagner is the ace of one of the top travel teams in the state; a program that features young women committed to schools all over the country.

“It’s awesome and is an amazing environment to play in,” said the Prep senior. “I’ve met some of the best girls that I’ve ever met and I know they will be my friends for life. I’m blessed for that and the recruiting coordinator we have, Richelle Hall. She’s like the best mentor I could have. The coaches I have (Brooke Wilson, Britney Wilson, Emma Nedley, and Addy Nicholson) are all awesome and have led me to where I am now.”

Photo courtesy of Tobias Newman.

While these coaches have been fundamental these last few years, the number one coach in her life has been her father and now Cathedral Prep assistant softball coach, Bill Wagner. Her first coach in softball, the duo will have one final hoorah as player and coach this spring, something they can each be excited about.

Though one door will close, another will follow after that as she will journey off to Philadelphia to begin her college days. Still deciding between physical therapy or psychology, there may be some way she can include both in her future career. 

There’s been moments of adversity in Jenna Wagner’s high school career. Through it, she’s dug deep and kept focused on what matters in her life. Her faith, family, future career, and softball endeavors have all led her to commit to St, Joe’s, a decision that will help her grow deeper in her faith and compete against some of the best players in the entire country. This Erie kid will always have a special place in her heart for the Prep-Villa community and the city that raised her, but soon, it will be time to move on for what’s next.

Good luck in the rest of senior year, Jenna! 🥎