WARREN, OH- On the latest episode of YSN, standout multi-sport athlete Taggart Carfangia joined hosts DJ Yokley and Anthony Hartwig for a memorable conversation that covered everything from his unique name’s origins to his impressive journey through sports and academics at Warren JFK.
Taggart’s unique first name has always sparked curiosity. But, as DJ Yokley quickly learned, its roots are both unexpected and memorable. “Where did the name Taggart come from?” DJ asked early in the interview.
Taggart shared, “So when my mother was younger, my mother and my, her sister, her sister had a boss and she didn’t like that boss too much. But my mom thought the name Taggart was super unique and she’d never heard of the name Taggart before, so that’s just what she went with.”
As DJ put it, “So you got named after a bum boss?” Taggart laughed, “I guess that’s how the story goes.”
Over his high school career, Taggart has earned a whopping ten varsity letters across golf, soccer, basketball, and baseball. When asked what drives him to compete in so many sports, Taggart credited his upbringing: “Growing up, I was a super athletic kid. My parents always pushed me and drove me to really be the best I could. My dad always told me, if you’re going to do something, do it at 110%.”
But balancing sports with academic and social life can be daunting. Taggart admits there are challenges: “I do get burnt out, just like everybody on this planet does—I’m human, we’re all human. Recovery is key… I like to keep my whole body in a correct order. I like to eat healthy, you know, after a game, maybe go get a smoothie or something, you know, really rebuild myself.” He also emphasizes the importance of friends and stepping away from sports, adding, “I like to hang out with my friends… just kind of keeping a level head, you know, taking care of my body is the real good key.”
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Taggart revealed that the summer before his senior year, he hit a major setback: “My junior year, summer, I tore both of my hip flexors, which is kind of a bummer because that’s really when you need your baseball and golf swing. But, you know, coming back from that, getting, having the best PT in the entire planet, just kind of got a grind through it… Since I can’t do a bunch of physical stuff, I just make sure my mental is all tough.”
Mental toughness and a support network played a huge role in his recovery: “If I’m having a bad game or something, [I] make sure I find ways to pick myself up and just keep going through it.”
Despite being a state champion in golf, Taggart chose to pursue baseball at the next level. “I started playing baseball when I was a very, very young age. My dad threw me in. He was like, you’re either gonna be good at it or you’re not. So I was like, okay, so I might as well, you know, be really good at it,” Taggart recalls. “The atmosphere, everything, just makes the love, my love for the sport grow.”
Leadership has been another central part of his story. Asked how he’s adjusted to shifting roles on the team—from underclassman to upperclassman, outfielder to shortstop—Taggart discussed the importance of nurturing younger players: “I like to take them in and, you know, show them what’s right, what’s wrong. And yes, that does come with some vocal things and some physical things, like maybe getting them riled up before a game or giving them a few words.”
He named a few underclassmen who have impressed him—like Landon Snyder (“he’s the best all around catcher I think I’ve seen at JFK”) and Lucas Mele (“our play styles are so similar”).
Taggart’s journey to play collegiate baseball at Chatham University was marked by persistence. “Junior year I struggled to get any offers but, you know, I always tried, tried, tried and tried. And that’s what I really pride myself in is I really never give up. I really don’t like to take no for an answer… I hammered the recruitment camps and everything.”
His advice for aspiring athletes? Never settle for less. “My father told me, always strive for greatness, never settle for less.”
Taggart plans to study business and finance at Chatham, but he remains open to where his academic journey takes him. As he steps into college life, he’s excited about independence but admits leaving the nest is a little nerve-wracking: “One thing that makes me nervous is being away from my parents, actually not having that guidance… But I think that my parents have given me the right—the correct steps to be able to live life on my own.”
In closing, Taggart credits his parents and role models for molding him into the young man he is today: “It’s always been my parents. And then two of the guys that I really give props to is my cousin Jacob Carfangia and Hubbard’s Andrew Kali. Those two guys went to play college ball. I looked up to those guys. They took me in when I was a freshman and they showed me the ropes… It really inspired me to chase greatness.”
With dedication, resilience, and a sense of humor about a name most often mispronounced, Taggart Carfangia leaves behind a legacy at Warren JFK—and the promise of even more achievements ahead.
