Wagner set to take over Lady Bucks basketball program
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL, PA- For the first time in 33 years, Bucktail fans will see a new court general lead the Lady Bucks basketball program. Suellen Wagner was named earlier this month as the new head coach, replacing the retired former coach Carl Gentzyel.
Gentzyel set a top level of precedence amongst the girls’ program at Bucktail and Wagner has all of the tools to keep that tradition alive in Dale Florey Gymnasium.
Wagner, who’s taught for the past 18 year has kept herself busy with plenty of activities. Those activities include class advisor, interact club advisor, marching band director, positive behavior team leader and a member of the Guided Coalition. She also was bookkeeper for both basketball and softball.
She has experience coaching at the Midget League level, as well as AAU coaching experience with former Bucknell head women’s coach Kathy Fedorjak with Next Level Strong in Lewisburg.
Coach Fedorjak was on hand at Bucktail Wednesday evening conducting a clinic for both varsity and junior high programs.
“I spend my summers training on the court and field with my three daughters” said Wagner “I want to take that dedication and love for sports to all the girl athletes at Bucktail.”
Two of those three daughters have already made an impact at Bucktail. Mak and Kendall Wagner will both return for the Lady Bucks and both are expected to be key contributors this season.
Tanya Tarantella will return to spearhead the JV squad and assist Wagner. Marissa Hillyer and Ashley Kelly will lead the junior high program.
Coach Gentzyel left behind a legacy at Bucktail. Six postseason appearances and a semifinal district appearance were among his many accomplishments. Already, out of the gate Wagner has truly set her sights in the right direction.
“When the position came open, I wanted to support our school in this new capacity.” Wagner said of her reasoning to pursue the head coach job.
Wagner is a 1997 graduate of Bucktail Area High School, and she joins fellow classmate Jon Ogden as members of that particular class to lead a varsity program. Ogden leads the Austin program.
The Lady Bucks begin preseason drills in late November, with their first game set for December 8 at the annual Galeton Tipoff Tournament. Bucktail has won that tournament two-straight seasons.
