Fab Five: Rachel Wagner

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings, and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com. 

Today, Rachel Wagner, a rising senior on the women's tennis team, shares her collection.

Last season, the program's second competing in Division I and the Big West, Wagner paced the Tritons with nine doubles victories. In singles play, Wagner competed in all 19 matches and tied teammate Ella Pachl for the most singles wins among UC San Diego competitors.

A native of Calabasas, Wagner is a general biology major with a business minor in UC San Diego's Revelle College.

1. Ready for Whatever Comes My Way

This particular photo was taken during practice time. I love this photo because, well, for one I look happy, and also because it has some symbolism for me. This is considered a ready position in tennis terms and for me it symbolizes that being ready for something doesn’t always have to be intense and focused. Sometimes, life throws you curveballs and as ready as you might think you are, there will be times when something happens that you are not ready for. 

Facing that might be challenging, but having a positive attitude is a simple way to make the most out of every situation. Both personally and professionally I have learned that it is important to appreciate the small things. Therefore, I have come to appreciate my teammates' humor and their different personalities in order to enjoy my time spent as a Division I athlete.

2. Training for Match Day

This photo is one of my favorites as it showcases the strength and power that goes into a seemingly simple shot. A lot of work is behind being competition ready: the countless hours of training on court and in the weight room, the nutrition talks, and time spent in the athletic training room for treatment and rehab, etc. I am really thankful for our coaches, athletic trainers, and our athletic performance unit for being hard on us and making sure we give 110% effort so that when it is match day we are more than prepared.

3. Grateful for Every Opportunity

As a freshman who came in fall  of 2019, UC San Diego was still in its last year of Division II. As a team, we were going strong and I really do think we had a shot of going to regionals. Unfortunately, we all had to say goodbye to each other and it was truly heartbreaking. Fast-forward to 2020 when COVID is still very much real and happening, it was policy that masks were to be worn at all times. While I appreciated the measures of UCSD and the Athletic Department in fostering a safe environment that allowed scholar-athletes to be back on campus and competing, I would be lying if I said it was easy. At times it was really, really hard. We would travel in masks, work out in masks, and even practice in the dead heat of the afternoon in masks. For me, this photo really shows how hard the COVID year was and what we as a team did to make the best out of a tough situation that was being felt in every corner of the world.

4. Supporting One Another on the Court

When I was younger, I tended to gravitate more towards doubles than singles and that still holds true to today. Even though I love battling out tough matches on my own in singles, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming, so there is nothing like having a partner on the same court helping you out. In juniors, I have been ranked #1 in Southern California and as high as #4 nationally in the doubles ranking. It really is something I enjoy and there is no greater feeling when you win with a teammate on the court next to you. In college, I have enjoyed the challenge of playing with different partners and really getting to know each and every one of them. Over my three years on the tennis team, I have played with three different people. This is something that has really pushed me to be adaptable in any circumstance and has given me lifelong friendships with my partners.

5. A Close Bond on the Court

This is a photo from the women’s tennis team for the years 2021-2022. It is one of my favorites because it shows how close of a team we are with not only each other, but also our coaches. Although our head coach, Liz, is not pictured, our assistant coach, Sebastian, can be seen kneeling in the center. Tennis is considered an individual sport, so college tennis is something that is special because even though you are out there competing on your own, you are really out there competing for your team, your coaches, and the school you represent. My dream was always to play college tennis and I am so grateful that I got to fulfill that dream here at UCSD. Not only are we one of the best schools academically, but we also have some of the smartest, most kind, and determined people that I have ever met. I am so lucky to have such amazing friends on this team who truly have made my life better by just being a part of it. If I had any advice for the readers, it would be to have as much fun as possible and be grateful for every second spent with the people you care about because time really does fly.

Check back on UCSDTritons.com all summer for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Previous “Fab Five” entries are below.

2022
• Matt Palma (Men's Volleyball)
• Nick Cirrito (Men's Soccer)

2020
• Sergi Mata (Men's Golf)
• Gabe Hadley (Men's Basketball)
• Jonathan Sabouri (Men's Soccer)
• Grace Murphy (Swimming & Diving)
• Collin Shannon (Men's Volleyball)
• Cindy Tran (Women's Volleyball)
• Jake Selstad (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
• Calder Hilde-Jones (Men's Water Polo)
• Anu Bhadada (Women's Tennis)
• Natalie Widmer (Women's Soccer)
• Konami Masui (Women's Fencing)
• Sarah Proctor (Women's Rowing)
• Neil Tengbumroong (Men's Tennis)
• Cameron Leonard (Baseball)
• Isabel Lavrov (Softball)
• Zeinab Torabi (Women's Track & Field)
 

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.