Lion Career
2009 (Sophomore): Saw action in five matches, including against Juniata (1/28), Harvard (2/13), NJIT (2/28), Mount Olive (3/28) and at Princeton (4/10) ... served as libero for the third set against Juniata (1/28), posting two digs ... stepped in as libero in the third set against NJIT (2/28), notching two digs ... led the team with six digs in two sets against Mount Olive (3/28).
2008 (Freshman): Played in nine games and nine matches, picking up nine digs for the year ... recorded first collegiate dig versus Juniata (2/5) ... posted a career-high four digs against Princeton (2/16) ... added in three digs versus East Stroudsburg (2/29) ... also recorded a dig at East Stroudsburg (2/20).
High School
Three-year varsity letterwinner for State College Area High School ... aided the Little Lions to the 2007 PIAA AAA state championship tournament and an overall record of 20-2 ... helped the squad to four consecutive district championships ... led the varsity team in digs in sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... member of the Nittany Elite Volleyball Club ... member of the National Honor Society and the High Honor Roll.
Personal
Born Jesse Daniel Wagner on Oct 28, 1988 in State College, Pa. ... parents are Anthony and Lisa Wagner ... has one brother, Tyler (23) ... both parents and brother attended Penn State ... names tennis and beach volleyball as hobbies, Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers and John Legend as favorite musical entertainers, government as favorite school subject, the Dallas Cowboys as favorite professional sports team, Earl Campbell as favorite athlete, 'Harry Potter' as favorite book, 'Entourage' as favorite television show, 'Boondock Saints' and 'A River Runs Through It' as favorite movies, Morgan Freeman as favorite actor, Jessica Alba as favorite actress and Dubai as favorite place to visit ... majoring in business.
Quoting Coach Pavlik
'Jesse is like the glue that holds our team together. When Jess was a freshman, one of the things that enabled him to make the team was his personality. He[apos]s at a point now where he realizes how to wield that personality to the benefit of the team. He[apos]ll do everything that he can to make sure the team doesn[apos]t have a bad practice. That[apos]s always a trait that unsung leaders have. Jess is really good at digging balls and his passing is more that adequate. He has a role that is a tough to be in. The guy in front of him is an All-American who is awfully good. Jesse[apos]s awfully good, but he knows that he is one play away from being in there. Jess prepares himself that way. He[apos]s a great example of the athletes who wear blue and white.'