New Hampshire Football Report

Yukica Profile: Jacob Wenger

NOTE: The 2020 Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholar/Athlete banquet was cancelled this year because of COVID-19. Each Scholar/Athlete will be recognized with a commemorative program, a plaque and a personal profile that will appear in the program, on the New Hampshire Football Report, the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter web site (joeyukicafootballfoundation.org) and the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter Facebook page. This is one in a series of 39 profiles. Once published, each profile can be accessed by clicking on the athlete’s name at the bottom of the page.

JACOB WENGER
Trinity High School

Trinity High School football coach Rob Cathcart didn’t know what he had when he saw Jacob Wenger for the first time. Truth be told, Cathcart wasn’t sure he had anything at all.

Cathcart said Wenger was “a skinny little backup tight end as a freshman,” but by his senior year Wenger had become one of the best offensive linemen in Division III. 

“When I saw him his first year I just looked at him as a program kid,” Cathcart said “I was going into the cafeteria and just recruiting guys and he looked like the most unlikely football player you could imagine. I think the first thing that told me something could come of it is when Jacob worked his tail off in the weight room during the offseason of his freshman year — and that was noticeable. That’s when I said, ‘OK this kid could maybe turn into a starter for us moving forward because he’s working so hard in the weight room.’

“Jacob worked for everything,” Cathcart continued. “He’s a grinder. He probably went to every single weight room program we had. Went to all of them and did everything he was supposed to do. From there it was his 100 percent dedication to doing what you’re telling him he needs to do on the field.”

Despite being an undersized (6-feet, 175 pounds) guard, Wenger was a two-year starter for the Pioneers and was a key piece on the Trinity team that won the Division III championship last season. He was selected to the Division III First-Team as an offensive lineman. 

Wenger showed dedication to his schoolwork as well. He scored 1,470 on his SAT and received the Scholar/Athlete Award from the Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

“Quiet kid,” Cathcart said. “Very cerebral and analytical.”

Cathcart said Wenger could easily have been a two-way starter for the Pioneers, but he was used more as a guard than a defensive end because he was so valuable on the offensive line. Wenger served as a team captain during his junior and seniors seasons, and received Trinity’s Coach’s Award his senior year.

“He was our best offensive lineman and to make sure he could be his best on the offensive line I wouldn’t let my line coach start him on defense,” Cathcart explained. “I said, ‘You can work him in a little bit and give him a chance to play there, but keep him fresh for offense.’ That’s how I looked at it.

“If you lay out for the team what you need to be successful, he would just look at that as a blueprint and do everything that you’re outlining. That’s why he got the Coach’s Award. Literally, he was the most coachable kid on the team. Jacob Wenger is the hardest worker I have ever had the privilege of coaching.” 

Q and A with Jacob Wenger

Q: Please describe the most memorable moment of your high school football career.

A: The most memorable moment of my high school football career would definitely be winning the 2019 Division III state championship. Just watching the final seconds tick off the clock at the end of the game, and realizing that I, as well as my teammates, had just achieved what we had been working towards for the past four years was absolutely incredible.

Q: Tell us about someone who has had a significant influence on your life.

A: My godfather was always a big role model for me, especially when it comes to academics. I always looked up to him and idolized him, and as he was incredibly smart, I always wanted to be smart just like him. He always did what he thought was right, and was a kind, good-hearted man. I strive every day to live up to the standard he set for me, both academically, and as a man.

Q: What is your favorite subject in school and why?

A: My favorite subject is biology. I have always been naturally drawn to the subject, as I find it fascinating. It has consistently been my strongest subject throughout the past few years. Additionally, some of my best teachers taught biology, which has also pushed me in that direction.

Q: What life lessons have you learned from football?

A: The biggest life lesson that I can take away from playing football for the past four years is the value of hard work. It taught me that when I have a goal that I want to accomplish, the best thing I can do is to put all my effort into it. There is no easy way out, but if I keep working, and keep pushing forward when times are though, all of it will pay off in the end.

Q: What is your dream job?

A: My dream is to graduate from medical school and practice medicine as an Oncologist. I want to be able to help people, to be able to provide treatment for them, and to help them fight against the terrible disease that is cancer. I want to be able to help prevent some of the pain it causes, because so many are afflicted by it.

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2020 Scholar/Athletes: Keith Albergo (Winnacunnet), Thatcher Allen (Exeter), Cole Ames (Lebanon)Mason Belsky (Windham), Patrick Brust (Bishop Brady)Jaedon Cliche (Exeter), Riley Desmarais (Windham)Bobby DiCicco (Windham), Jared Dyer (Merrimack)Casey Gladu (Portsmouth)Owen Gormley (Salem)Jack Grogan (Bedford)Steven Guerette (Bow)Evan Haskins (Pelham)Samson Hodges (Milford)Ethan Holt (Bishop Guertin)Jack Jones (Bedford)Charlie Kneissl-Williams (Bedford)Hunter Lassard (St. Thomas)Joseph Lupo (Bishop Guertin)Jake MacInnis (Pinkerton)Braden McDonnell (Nashua South)Will MacLean (St. Thomas), Hayden Moses (Bishop Guertin)Riley Mulvey (Salem)Kyle O’Connor (Nashua South)Nolan Pafford (Portsmouth)Wade Rainey (Lebanon)Ismael Rivera (Bishop Brady)Oceanne Skoog (Newfound)Caleb Smith (Lebanon)Rolando Sylvain-Stott (Newfound)John Thibault (Trinity), Zach Twardosky (Merrimack), Gavin Urda (Milford), Carter Vedrani (Campbell), Jacob Wenger (Trinity), Jon Willeman (Lebanon) and Devin Wood (Merrimack).

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