SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Liz Wagner '93

It has been written here before, how the early 1990s were a real "golden era" for the Lady Warriors athletic program. League and Section IV champions, the only team State title, and a slew of individuals who went on to college and did great things. Some are already in the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame...and now we add one more.

Liz Wagner started early, with encouragement from her family - her dad was a standout baseball player. She learned the softball basics at home and was first able to showcase that talent in the Lassie League. She still admits that she could taiern in me Lassie League. one still aarnits mat sne coma throw harder overhand than as a windmill ("underhand") pitcher. There was a lot of talent in that league, led by caring coaches who knew this group of girls would be successful some day.

By her freshman season, Liz had jumped to varsity, though she was more of a field player. A 2-2 pitching record paled in comparison to leading the team in five offensive categories including 17 RBIs and a .417 batting average. The next three seasons she was equal parts hitting and pitching as the Warriors won 62 of 71 games. Overall, Liz sported a 40-4 mark in the circle, with earned run averages between 0.33 and 0.67!! Though not thought of as a strikeout pitcher, her average per seven-inning game was exactly 10. From the plate, her .461 BA carried the team with an average of 34 hits, 4 doubles, 3 triples and 22 RBIs per season.

Sidney's time to shine came in the 1990-91 campaign. There was a division and League banner, plus the Class C Section IV title, which was actually delayed a few days by rain, but was well worth the wait - Liz threw a no-hitter! She had earlier pitched 3 straight no-hit games. But the magical season came crashing down the very next day when, in the State Quarterfinals, the "1" of their 23-1 record was notched on a rocky field in the Buffalo area.

Liz was named Softball Player of the Year for the Daily Star in 1991 and 1993. But let's not forget she was also a force as a sweeper on arguably the finest of field hockey teams over a 3 year stretch, highlighted by sectional titles all three seasons, the NYS crown in 1991-92 and almost a repeat the following fall. Liz was named to the NYS All-Tournament team in 1992. In volleyball, the serving dynamo (remember, overhand!) was known for scoring in bunches back in the era when only the serving team could score. She played two varsity seasons, but then opted out as a senior as she had committed to U-Mass by then and wanted to concentrate on preparing for that next chapter.

And at the University of. Massachusetts, Liz became a part of a program that was hitting its stride among national competition. 1994, she played as a true freshman, but did not pitch. After a red-shirt season, Wagner hit her stride, earning a 31-16 pitching record from 1996-98. During that time, U-Mass won 3 straight Atlantic 10 titles, and went on to win regionals in 1997 and 1998, making their way to consecutive College World Series appearances.

Long after her career was done, the record book still shows Liz Wagner among her school's Top 20 pitchers of all time in many categories. In addition to one perfect game versus Central Connecticut on 4/7/98, Liz is still the all-time leader for fewest walks per nine innings (minimum 200 IP) at 1.17 and can boast a career ERA of 1.47.

While the opportunities for women playing professional softball are slim, Liz did find a niche with the Robuschi Parma team in the Italian Serie A. Her record as a pro was 5-4. It's bit misleading, as this team did not have much offense. Indeed, her 1.28 ERA is a testament to that fact.

By 2007, she was named as head coach for the SUNY-Oneonta Red Dragons, with her tenure lasting seven seasons (2007-13). Her best finish was 2010, as her team compiled a 21-17 record in a very competitive SUNYAC conference. She left in 2013 and has not looked back. With an MBA on her resume, Liz has found life away from the athletic arena to be most rewarding. Her current position is at Spring Brook.

It's with great Warrior pride that we honor Liz Wagner with her Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame induction.