In 1980, a very special and unique name was given to a very special and unique girl--
Keith-Ann Wagner.
She has grown up with a zest for life, a love for God, and a passion for sports. She is an active member of Lake Arlington Baptist Church, Chi Omega Sorority, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is an excellent student, as well as a very gifted athlete. At one point in her life she was a very gifted gymnast advancing to a USGF Level 8, excelled in junior high basketball and volleyball, but her true gift was in soccer, as a goalie.
Keith-Ann began playing soccer at age 6, on the Corpus Christi Herricanes. After moving to Arlington with her family, she played for the Angels soccer team through the Arlington Soccer Association for three years. At first she was a field player, but soon switched to goalkeeper. She grew to love this position and guided her team to many regular season and tournament victories. Although she stopped playing for a couple of years to devote time to gymnastics, she continued to play soccer as a guest player on several teams. She then returned to the sport she loved and put her gymnastic skills to good use in the goal.
She played club soccer with Texas Lightning from U-16 through U-19. Her goal-keeping abilities anchored the defense for a team that routinely finished in the top four of the Lake Highland Girls Classic League--Division I.
As a junior on the Martin High School soccer team, she led her team to the Texas State 5A final four and received All-State honors. Although they failed to make the finals that year, Keith-Ann was determined to return with the challenge of winning the Texas State 5A Championship. In her senior year she did just that. She led Arlington Martin to the class 5A State Championship and once again was named to the All-State Team.
Later that same year, Keith-Ann helped her Lightning team win State in North Texas Soccer Youth State Cup. The team then participated in Regionals in Columbus, Georgia, where they proudly represented North Texas. The following year, Keith-Ann was asked to play on a U-20 adult amateur team that was specifically put together in hopes of winning State Cup. The team was composed of players from four Lake Highlands teams - Texas Lightning, Sting, Texas Longhorns, and Texas Image. The girls decided, fittingly, to name the team "North Texas United", since the team was a union of several Lake Highlands teams. The team won North Texas State Cup and was asked to participate in Regional play in Montgomery, Alabama. The girls won all of their games and advanced to Nationals. In June, 1999, Keith-Ann and her teammates represented North Texas in St. Louis in the coveted National Tournament.
*****
Keith-Ann graduated in the top 3% of her senior class at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. She earned an academic/soccer scholarship to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. She started as goalie her freshman and sophomore years and was WAC All-Academic both years.
Three summers ago in Crested Butte, Colorado, while attending her uncle's wedding, she learned there was a 1/3 marathon held every year on the 4th of July. Keith-Ann was in good shape but had never run over 3 miles, especially at a high altitude. Once again, she stepped up to the plate and took the challenge of the 8 1/2 mile-high altitude run and did it without any hesitance. She finished the race along side her newly-wed uncle with that great smile on her face.
*****
The 4th of July, 2000, was a little different; Keith-Ann was in a car accident. She was going to the movies with her boyfriend when another car ran a stop sign and hit them. No one in their car was drinking; they all had on their seat belts. It was a freak accident. The car went into a ditch, flipped upside down and pinned Keith-Ann underneath. Her boyfriend was able to get out and call 911. The firemen were there in a very short time and cut her out of the car, but she could not move and could feel nothing. She has a spinal cord injury, but again without any hesitation, she is stepping up to the plate for probably the greatest challenge of her life.
For the past seven months, Keith-Ann has worn a halo head and neck brace, undergone two extensive neck surgeries, and has been in intensive rehabilitation. In addition, she took six hours at T.C.U. in the fall semester and is enrolled in nine hours for the spring semester. Throughout her three-month stay in the hospitals and the trying times she has experienced, she always tries to maintain her beautiful, heart-warming smile.
The impact she has had on many people is amazing. Her spirit is filled with hope and determination. Through her constant faith in God, prayers and encouragement from family and friends, and her courage to overcome all odds, she is on the road to recovery. With extensive rehabilitation, she has had almost full-movement return in her arms, and her legs are getting stronger every day. God has His hand on Keith-Ann, and there are going to be more positive, "unbelievable" things happen in her life. However, as strong as she is, she continues to need prayer and encouragement to make it through this tragic event. She is holding on to hope with the help of her friends.
