Wegener leaves historic two-sport legacy at Ida High School
IDA, Mich. (BVM) — A lot of high school athletes play multiple sports. But not many dominate in two of them the way Taylor Wegener did the past four years at Ida High School.
Wegener is a volleyball and basketball player, and put up historic numbers in both sports while playing for the Bluestreaks. She will now focus solely on volleyball as she heads to Saginaw Valley State University, but the legacy she left at Ida will not be forgotten anytime soon.
The 18-year-old athlete’s initial sport was softball, which she took up at age 7. Wegener’s father played baseball in college, and her sister — who now plays collegiate softball at Hope College — also grew a passion for being out on the diamond.
Wegener decided to join her sister’s travel team during their youth, even though she was two years younger than the rest of the girls. Wegener had a special talent on the diamond herself, and played softball in her freshman year of high school, helping lead the Bluestreaks to an MHSAA Division 2 state title.
“I had been playing with most of those girls since I was 8 years old,” Wegener said. “I’m so glad I played because I got to experience so much with the girls and we just kept winning and winning. That season and the state title game was one of my favorite memories from high school.”
However, Wegener began developing as a basketball player in her youth as well, which she grew a passion for thanks to the quick pace and physicality of the sport. Wegener also played volleyball in her youth, yet was not a fan of the sport when she was younger.
But as Wegener entered high school, the narrative changed. Her interest in softball began to wane, and she continued to grow more and more serious with volleyball, playing for the Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy during her spring seasons.
During the fall though, Wegener shined on the volleyball court at Ida. Over her four-year career, Wegener posted an eye-popping 2,144 kills playing the middle blocker/hitter position. This number was a region record, and she became just the 20th girl in state history to eclipse the 2,000-kill mark. The 676 kills she had in her senior year also set an Ida single-season record.
“That was a great accomplishment that I really cherish,” Wegener said about her 2,144 career kills. “All I could think about was the start of my freshman year when I set that goal for myself and all of my teammates and coaches that helped me get to that point. Volleyball is a team sport. I give myself some credit, but if I didn’t have that first pass or that first set, I wouldn’t have that kill.”
Wegener is as selfless of an athlete as you might find today. Her teammates in both sports meant everything to her during high school, and the bonds she made with numerous girls over the years will never be broken.
“At the beginning of my career, the seniors had a huge influence on me,” Wegener explained. “And I think I took that over to when I was a senior. I just wanted our younger girls to feel comfortable. At the end of my high school career, the thing I cared about most was the memories and friendships I created.”
Volleyball may have become Wegener’s main sport, but her talent in the game of basketball can not be overlooked. Playing all over position-wise during her four years with the Bluestreaks, Wegener racked up 1,423 career points — a school record on both the girls and boys basketball sides.
Wegener credits the work she put in behind the scenes as an underclassmen as a reason for her successful career at Ida, and cherishes holding the school record for points scored.
“I first broke the girls record which everyone knew was coming,” Wegener said. “That one was awesome because it was at home. But when I broke the boys record I had no idea. It was at the end of a district game and as we were receiving our district medals a tall guy [Nic Jobe] came up to me to tell me I broke his record. So much happened that night but honestly I cared about the district championship more because I got to share that with my teammates.”
Ultimately, Wegener knows she would not have accomplished what she did during her prep career without the help of others. She specifically credits her head coaches — Ida girls volleyball coach Bree Russow and Ida girls basketball coach Tim Leonard — as being huge helps to her development and success.
“Bree Russow started coaching me in eighth grade for travel volleyball which was intimidating,” Wegener said. “But I can’t stress enough that she has helped turn me into the player I am and also the person I am. Tim Leonard created a family bond for basketball and it made the sport so fun. Both coaches were so amazing and pushed me to my full potential. I can’t thank them enough.”
Wegener has also received an abundance of support from her parents, both in the good times, and the bad.
“My dad is a big competitor and always pushed us,” Wegener said. “He’s an intense guy but he cares so much. My mom has been so supportive and has traveled everywhere with me. They’ve been at every game and were always there for me after the bad games when I’d be frustrated.”
The 18-year-old also has grown closer to her siblings while again receiving support from them throughout her athletic career.
“My sister was amazing through the years that I played with her and I grew so much closer to her,” Wegener said. “I’ve always been the closest with my twin brother and he’s the person to always calm me down when I get upset. I’m so thankful for all the support from my entire family.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic closing down most of her local gyms, Wegener hasn’t been able to get as many reps in on the volleyball court as she’d like over the spring and summer. But she has made sure to keep active through running, and has also traveled south to Ohio where some gyms have reopened.
In the fall, Wegener will officially begin her tenure at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU). However, with fall sports postponed, she will have to wait until she officially begins her volleyball career for the Cardinals. Wegener will transition from the middle to the outside while playing in college, and is ready to embrace that challenge whenever she is able to finally get out on the court.
“A huge goal of mine is to get playing time while transitioning from the middle position to outside,” the Ida grad said. “I want to prove to my teammates that I can do that and be there for them. I’m excited for the opportunity and while I know it will be a challenge, I’m ready for it.”
Wegener probably could have pursued a collegiate basketball career as well, and actually had colleges like SVSU proposing that she play both sports at the next level. However, volleyball was her main focus, and combined with the family ties she has at SVSU, Wegener was sold on becoming a Cardinal.
“Saginaw Valley called me and said they wanted me,” Wegener said. “Both my parents went to Saginaw Valley and my dad grew up in Saginaw so it just is a great fit for me and I think I’m sitting in a good spot right now.”
Wegener is still undecided on what she ultimately wants to do career-wise someday, but will begin her college tenure studying nursing and hopes to possibly work in pediatrics someday. She also hopes to take her passion and love for sports and turn it into a future coaching career.
Big things await Wegener in college and beyond, but what she accomplished at Ida and the legacy she left there will stand the test of time.
“When people say my name, I hope they say I was not only a great athlete but also a great person,” Wegner said. “I hope they also see me as a strong, independent woman who can hold her head up high after failures but also can put in the hard work to become the all-time girls and boys basketball leading scorer. You just have to stay positive, believe anything is possible, and remember to smile and have fun with your teammates.”
