Evelyn Wagner doesn’t just excel on the soccer field. The Stillwater High School junior has also made her mark in Future Farmers of America competitions, earning national recognition while maintaining her passion for athletics.
Wagner, a midfielder and defender for the Stillwater varsity soccer team, appreciates the chemistry her team has built. “I love how well everyone works together,” Wagner said. “We are all very connected and I feel like our team has really good chemistry. We are all good friends and enjoy being around each other.”
On the pitch, Wagner faces the constant challenge of transitioning between offensive and defensive roles. “The most difficult part of it is the pressure and the speed of play,” she said. “It is also difficult to switch between defense and offense and the physicality of it all.”
But soccer is only part of Wagner’s story. Through FFA, she has achieved remarkable success in agricultural issues competitions. Her team won the state championship in 10th grade and advanced to the national competition in Indianapolis, where they placed fourth in the country.
“We placed 4th out of the whole country which is a pretty big deal,” said Wagner, who competed on the agricultural issues team from eighth through 11th grade. This year, she is competing in agriscience research with teammate Tassi Fadely.
Wagner credits her agriculture teacher, Dr. Robby Branscum, as a major influence. “He makes sure that everyone has a chance to succeed and is a great speech teacher,” she said. “He works tirelessly for all of his students and has always been patient with me and my teams.”
Another significant mentor is Juan Benites, her former Spanish teacher and soccer coach. “Coach Benites taught me a lot about the game of soccer and about life,” Wagner said. “He was the one who made me truly love soccer and he motivates and inspires me.”
After graduation, Wagner plans to pursue either a military career in the Air Force or study medicine at Oklahoma State University. For now, she continues to balance her dual passions while making the most of her junior year at Stillwater High School.
