- "I made Virginia Wesleyan my top choice because of the smaller campus, more one-on-one time with the professors, the S.T.E.M. program with the opportunities in the engineering field, and being a part of the Marlins' track team"
- Selected VWU over Randolph-Macon College, Old Dominion University and James Madison University
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2017 Indoor All-South/Southeast Region - Heptathlon
2016-17 ODAC All-Academic Team
2015-16 ODAC All-Academic Team
Junior (2016-17): (Indoor) Competed in the 60m hurdles, pole vault, and shot put… Set a new personal best in the pole vault at the Artie O’Connor Invitational, finishing eighth with a height of 11’ 7.75”… Registered a distance of 35’ 9.5” in the shot put at the CNU Holiday Open… (Outdoor) Participated in the 110m hurdles, pole vault, shot put, discus, and javelin… Finished in the top 10 each time he competed in the spring… Ran a 21.16 in the 110m hurdles at the ODAC Championship to finish eighth… Set a best with a throw of 139’ 2” in the javelin at the ODAC Championship to finish sixth.
Sophomore (2015-16): (Indoor) Specialized in the pole vault and shot put in the indoor season… Heaved a distance of 29’ 0.5” at the Ken Taylor Invite… (Outdoor) Threw the discus and did pole vault in spring season… Cleared a height of 11’ 0.75” to finish 10th in the ODAC Championships… Threw the discus 86’ 2” at the New Captains Classic.
Freshman (2014-15): (Indoor) Mainly participated in pole vault in the indoor season, throwing the shot one time… Saved his best for the biggest stages, topping out at 10’ 4” in the pole vault at the ODAC Indoor Championships to take sixth place… (Outdoor) Set his personal best in the pole vault at the ODAC Outdoor Championships, earning fifth place with a 10’ 10” vault… Finished second in his first outdoor meet of the year, vaulting 9’ 7.75” at the Dr. Harry Jopson Track and Field Invite.
Academic Accomplishments: Presidential Scholarship recipient… Dean’s List honoree fall ’14.
Before VWU: Competed in track and field, swimming and football… Recipient of the Nancy Sayer Award for Excellence in Academics, Athletics, and Student Leadership… Ranked 77th in a class of 447… Perfect attendance K through 12… Recipient of the Presidential Award… Member of the Student Council Association… Member, and treasurer, of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Son of Amy and Wade M. Jernigan II… Parents attended Old Dominion University… Has three siblings: Brittany, Jordan and Savannah.
Get to Know Wade
- Enjoys hip-hop, rap and country music, shepherd's pie, and spending vacation time in the Bahamas
- Current favorites include the book "Divergent," the "Fast and the Furious" movie series, and the TV series "The Walking Dead"
- A fan of basketball legend Michael Jordan, football's Washington Redskins, baseball's New York Yankees, basketball's Miami Heat, and actor Kevin Hart
- Self-description in 10 words or less: "self-determined individual who will accomplish anything and everything"
- My career goal after graduation from VWC is: "to have a life-long career that supplies good money in order to take care of my family, to ensure they can have the best lives possible"
- My favorite aspect of being an athlete is: "being a part of a team effort and knowing no matter if you win or lose your teammates have your back!"
- The part of my game I've improved the most is: "pushing myself beyond what I ever believed I could do, as well as having no fear no matter what obstacle is thrown ahead of me"
- My personal athletic goal at VWC is: "to set and break school records"
- It's the year 2030 and: "I'm in a house working on a daily basis, loving my job and supplying for my family as much as I can"
- People might be surprised to know: "I was supposed to be born a girl"
- The most important advice I've received is: "don't ever use excuses. Hard work, no excuses!" -- Dad
