Middle children are known for their independence and adaptability. Avery Wangnild, the middle child of the Wangnild family, represents this perfectly. She proves this stereotype is a strength of hers.
Avery Wangnild was born on October 1st, 2005, in Fort Collins, as the second of three children in a family of five. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Melissa Wangnild. She has two siblings, an older brother, Evan, and a younger sister, Olivia.
“Growing up, I think I was closest with my sister, Olivia, because we are so close in age,” Avery said.
Avery began playing soccer at the age of four and continued her involvement in the sport until she was seventeen. In 4th grade, she joined the Storm Soccer Club, where she played on the Select Team. A few years later, she transferred clubs to Arsenal Soccer Club, where she competed on the Gold Team. Years of competitive soccer shaped Avery’s character, teaching her the values of teamwork, perseverance, time management, and dedication. Avery grew up playing three sports: soccer, basketball, and softball. Soccer was her favorite, and by her sophomore year of high school, she quit basketball and softball to focus solely on soccer.
“When I played competitive soccer, I played the midfield position,” Avery said.
One of Avery’s most significant challenges was in soccer, when she tore her acl. She tore her ACL during a rivalry game against Fossil High School in her sophomore year. She had surgery a month after the incident. She could not participate in soccer seasons moving forward, Avery turned to skiing once she had fully recovered. Unfortunately, during a trip at the back bowls of Copper Mountain, she reinjured her acl, requiring a second surgery.
“Tearing my ACL, twice, upset me because it crushed my soccer and skiing opportunities moving forward,” Avery said.
Following the loss of her favorite activities due to her surgeries, Avery decided to focus on working throughout the remainder of high school. She began as a server at Columbine health systems, assisting residents.
“It was a very interesting job because I learned about the residents’ life and grew closer to them,” Avery said.
After a year at Columbine, she worked as a hostess at Los Tarascos in Old Town Fort Collins. When she turned eighteen, she transitioned to be a server at the restaurant. Avery continues to work as a server at Los Tarascos and will take a break when she goes to college.
“I work a lot of hours at Los Tarascos, as a server, but it is very rewarding with the money I make,” sh said.
From a young age, Avery dreamed of becoming a heart surgeon and she was drawn into a career in healthcare. She made sure to maintain a strong academic record throughout school. Avery consistently achieved A’s in the pursuit of this goal. Avery achieved this goal when she got accepted into the University of Tampa. She will move into her dorm, with two other roommates, in mid-January of 2025. In Tampa, she is getting a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry.
“I’m excited to go to college and have fun with my friends, while maintaining good grades,” Avery said.
