Hometown favorite Wagner finishes freshman year at U of M
TRANSITION GAME — 2014 NRHEG High School graduate Carlie Wagner learned much during her freshman season at the University of Minnesota. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
The Golden Girl. The Dagger. The best athlete to emerge from NRHEG. These are all attributed to Carlie Wagner, and now that she’s been off the basketball court in New Richland for a year and nearly a full year out of high school, she had time to reflect on the hurricane of activity that’s encompassed her since moving on to become a Minnesota Golden Gopher.
What’s the biggest difference between playing schools like Braham and Kenyon-Wanamingo for state championships and moving to Division I college hoops against Maryland and Ohio State?
“At the collegiate level, the game moves at an incredible speed, and at first I felt like I was in a whirlwind on the court,” explained Wagner. “Eventually things started slowing down for me, and I started seeing openings and opportunities I struggled to see before.”
She gives her coaches and teammates full credit for helping her move to that level of play.
An even bigger adjustment was figuring out the academic requirements at college. Wagner noted that reading textbooks and articles accounts for about half of her homework load. While most people think of her athletic prowess, she’s also very proud of her academic acuity. She hopes to officially declare her major in sports management next year and is excited that she might even be able to graduate early due to some college credits she earned in high school.
While many college students find a part-time job, being an athlete fills that time. “During the season, I spend anywhere from 4-5 hours a day at Williams Arena,” said Wagner. That includes practice, treatment, and lifting. Even though her season is over, the workouts are not. Lifting and conditioning are year round, and there is basketball work involved a couple times a week during the summer as well.
With a full season of Gopher basketball behind her, Wagner can be proud of a strong start to her collegiate career. She started 28 of 33 games and averaged 12.1 points and 3.6 rebounds a game. She also tallied 77 assists and 27 steals on the season. The team finished 23-10, 11-7 in the Big Ten, and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009. Wagner was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice and made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team at season’s end.
Her former coach, John Schultz, said he knew she had the capability to contribute as a freshman, and once she got the green light on offense, she’d show that ability. Wagner said that green light appeared when Rachel Banham was sidelined for the season with injury. Coach Marlene Stallings told Wagner she’d have to step up her game for the team to be successful. “After having a couple of good games offensively, my confidence became stronger and I felt like I really realized what my role was at this point,” commented Wagner.
The NRHEG Panther basketball team enjoyed tremendous success from 2012-2014, making three straight trips to the state tournament, and that success drew many people to Panther games, many to watch the future Gopher. Gyms would be packed, not only in New Richland, but on the road as well. That support of Wagner carried over to the University of Minnesota. Most home games at Williams Arena had a large contingent of Panther fans. Wagner and the rest of the Gophers noticed this. “Having the crowds of New Richland people support and follow me during the season and Big Ten Tournament means the absolute world to me. I am so blessed to have come from such a loving, caring, and supportive community,” Wagner said. “The coaches and team absolutely love it! Every game I am asked how many buses are coming to this game and I love it!”
And it wasn’t just the support of the local fans that helped boost Wagner’s game; her close connection to her family played just as important a role. “The part that excited me most was knowing that all my friends and family were there supporting me. That was a huge part of why I picked Minnesota.”
Upon seeing his little sister hit the floor for her first college game, brother Danny commented, “I can remember the first game; it didn't even seem real, looking out on the Williams Arena floor. There was my little sister out there, this time for the Gophers. It took a while to sink in.”
Sister Maddie added, “I thought it was cool seeing her do what she has wanted to do since she was little, and that was to play for the Gophers someday.”
It didn’t take long for others to notice Carlie either. Sister Marnie said, “You can tell it’s real when you see your sister on ESPN about how good of a game she had the night before!”
Carlie has great memories of her high school days and especially her teammates that helped NRHEG win back-to-back state titles. However, those Panthers didn’t lose many games. So how does an athlete deal with more losses? Danny said that he would text her after games, and, “The ones they lost she would be so mad that they didn't pull off a win, and it bothered her so bad.”
“We lost some very tough and close games, but it is a learning experience and you learn more from a loss than a win,” ruminated Carlie.
Many know that Carlie is a true competitor though, and will work to improve. According to her brother and sources close to the team, Carlie is the first one at practice and the last one to leave. That hard work led to her reaching two goals she had set prior to the season: to be a starter and to make the All-Freshman Team. She also was given the Iron Woman award by the team for dedicating herself to become stronger to compete at the highest level.
Now the bar is raised. The Gophers won’t sneak up on anybody next year with the return of Rachel Banham, side by side with Carlie, as well as an incoming freshman class that Carlie said should be good. She said goals for next season are high: winning the Big Ten and making a run in the NCAA Tournament. Reaching those goals might be determined by Carlie reaching some personal goals: improved shooting percentage and more consistency as a scorer.
“The future is bright here at Minnesota, and I am excited to be a part of it,” said Carlie.
Everyone back home is excited too, Carlie!