Eric Wagner
Born: 1957 in Pasadena, California
Family: Wife: Kimberlie, married 39 years. Children: Jeannie, 33; John, 29; and Brent, 25. Seven granddaughters
Residence: Manassas, Virginia
Athletic highlights
Track and Field
Brookside High School (1972-1975)
1975: Wagner was the Class AA (now Division II) high jump state runner-up to Mansfield Ontario’s Craig Hunt. Both cleared 6-8. Hunt won on fewer misses. Wagner’s state placement is the best-ever performance in track by a Brookside boy. A week later, Wagner finished third at the Midwest Meet of Champions with a mark of 6-9.
1975: Wagner was the Kent Class AA District (now known as regionals) champ with a meet record 6-6. He was also the Elyria Class AA Sectional (now known as districts) champ at 6-8, sectional record.
1975: Earlier in the season Wagner was the indoor state champ. He defeated defending Ohio Class AAA state champ Mike Whitehead of Cincinnati Princeton. Wagner’s winning height on the indoor boards with a jump of 6-6.
Other 1975 season and career highlights
Twice defeated Clearview senior Larry Fortner, the 1974 and ’75 Class A state high jump champ. One came at the Lakeland Conference meet at Amherst where Wagner cleared 6-6 and Fortner went 6-4.
Earned awards for Brookside’s most outstanding track & field athlete, most outstanding senior athlete. He was also the 1975 Lorain County Invitational winner at 6-6. Broke seven school high jump records. Team captain. Two-year high school basketball player.
Coached by Bill Taraschke and was also helped by role models like Clint Cuny, Bill Balm, Denis Bring, Charlie Stapleton and Tom McSheffrey.
1974: Wagner was sixth at the Class AA state meet at 6-4 to earn All-Ohio (top six)
1974: Wagner finished third at the Kent Class AA District at 6-3. He was Elyria Class AA high jump winner at 6-2 and was third at the Lakeland Conference meet.
1973: Wagner just missed advancing to the Kent District (top four) from the Elyria Class AA Sectional as he was fifth at 5-10. He was fourth at the Lakeland meet.
Ohio University (1975-79)
1979: NCAA Division I finalist, top 12 in U.S. at Eugene, Oregon. Wagner was the only straddle jumper, the other 49 except one in the preliminaries were all “floppers.” Missed the 1980 Olympic Trials standard of 7-2 by one inch.
Broke outdoor varsity record 7-1, All-MAC. Mid-American Conference 3rd place.
Dean’s list, Fall 1979
1978-79: MAC Conference finalist. Triple jumped between 36-42 feet at some meets to help score points. Co-captain
1977: Broke indoor varsity record 6-11. Penn Relays 3rd place. Knights of Columbus meet, word class division, 3rd place 6-10. MAC finalist
1976: Broke outdoor school freshman record 6-10. MAC finalist.
1976: Broke indoor freshman record at first-ever collegiate meet at 6-9. MAC finalist.
Other highlights
* Three out of 4 of Wagner’s OU high jump records remain. The one record that was beaten by one inch by an OU athlete that Wagner coached as an OU graduate assistant
Hall of fame
2015: Brookside High School Athletic Hall of Fame
Professional experience
1989-2017: Stonewall Middle School, Manassas, Virginia. Athletic director for three years. Department head for three years. 20 years coaching both volleyball (1989-2009) and track and field (1989-2009).
2010-12: Osborn High School, Virginia: Track and field volunteer coach
Part-time Class A home builder and remodeler for 20 years
1985-1989: Brentsville High School, Virginia. Coached cross country, volleyball, track and field. Three of Wagner’s student-athletes were state track and field champions. He also coached cross country for three years. One of Wagner’s former state champs – Mike Sergent (1988, shot put and discus) – is now in Virginia Tech’s Hall of Fame. Mike Jackman was a 1988 Class A high jump champ for Wagner.
1979-80: Ohio University graduate assistant – track and field
Education
1975: Brookside High School
1980: Ohio University, bachelors of science
1981: Ohio University, masters of science