According to Virginia swimming coach Mark Bernardino, the ideal student-athlete is Luke Wagner.
It is hard to argue with Bernardino's assessment of the senior swimmer from Colorado. Wagner's list of accomplishments encompasses almost every major athletic and academic achievement imaginable. Wagner is a 13-time All-American, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, a Lawn resident and an Olympic hopeful.
When the ACC championships begin tonight at the Aquatic and Fitness Center, Wagner will look to lead the Cavaliers to a sixth straight ACC title. If the swim team captures the title, it will set a Virginia record for most consecutive conference championships for any Virginia sport. For Wagner, the team's success has always been a goal.
"When I came in, our goal was to break into the top 10, and we accomplished that goal last year," Wagner said. "That's still our goal, but now we're talking more about the top five and setting the stage for a team that could win the national championship."
Wagner has done his part in helping Virginia this season. In addition to leading off many of the Cavalier medley relay teams, he also has been consistent for Virginia in backstroke events this year.
"It's hard for me to say that there's anybody that's been a more valuable performer to his team this year than Luke has been for us," Bernardino said. "I expect him to continue to be our most valuable performer. I truly believe that he's a man on a mission at this meet -- that he will win both backstrokes."
At the ACC championships, Wagner will look to add to his three individual conference titles and to regain his dominance in the 200 backstroke, an event in which he holds the ACC record. Wagner won the 200 backstroke in both of his first two seasons and also won the 100 backstroke his sophomore year. At last year's ACC championships, however, Wagner failed to defend his titles in both events.
"I do better in situations when I'm focused," Wagner said. "I don't want to say 'pressure situations,' but those are what make me focus more -- meets where I have something on the line personally or as a team."
Wagner has been working to improve in all aspects this season. He has spent a lot of time in the weight room and has gained, in Bernardino's estimation, 8 to 10 pounds of muscle this year.
"I think he's really knuckled down and focused and put a lot more energy and effort into everything he does in the weight room," Bernardino said. "Strength is speed, and there's a true difference in his speed this year from the speed that he's possessed at any other time in his career."
Wagner's work has not gone unnoticed by his teammates, who have voted him in as team captain multiple times.
"Luke's leadership skills are second to none," Virginia swimmer Bo Greenwood said. "He can motivate anyone to do their best and expects the same type of commitment and effort from himself in every facet of his life."
Wagner does not want to take all the credit for himself and praises the work of his teammates as well.
"Our team has always been characterized by our work ethic," Wagner said. "Everybody that comes to Virginia since I've been here has bought into that idea of improving the program by changing our training."
Wagner will continue to train in Charlottesville for the NCAA championships in March and the U.S. Olympic qualifying meet in Long Beach, Calif., which will take place in June. In Wagner's estimation, his chances of making the team are not particularly strong but he added that everyone always has a chance.
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