In sports, sometimes the biggest wins don’t necessarily come with the best time, the longest distance or most points scored. Such, it’s safe to say, is the case this year with the Bridgeport High School boys cross country team.

 

What the Indians are finding out, as well as their foes, is that one of the biggest winners is not only in his first year, but he’s generally toward the back of the pack. He’s not only winning, but he’s doing so with a big heart, a big smile and a trademark red baseball cap.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, meet one of Bridgeport High School’s top student-athletes – Joshua Reinhart. Reinhart is a proud member of Jon Griffith’s cross country program. He’s also autistic, which for those knowing Griffith and his long history of welcoming special needs students into his program was never going to be an issue.

 

“Josh is officially part of our cross country program. We hope he’s going to be here for all four years and we expect him to be here all four years,” said Griffith. “His parents have told me he’s excited to be on the team and I can assure you I’m excited to have him on the team and I think if you’d ask the kids they would tell you the same thing.”

 

Josh Reinhart started showing up for the summer conditioning program and his parents – Amy and Michael Reinhart – came to introduce themselves and talk about their son. It all came about in a pretty cool way, according to his mother.

 

“Josh does all of the Challenger League sports offered in Bridgeport and by the Harrison County Parks and Recreation,” said Amy. “He was actually talking about getting in better shape and eating healthy and the night before tryouts we were talking with him about things for school because he’s a planner and very organized. He looked up and told us he wanted to try out for cross country.

 

“His dad and I were pleasantly shocked and that was on a Sunday morning so we had one day to get a physical so he could compete,” she continued. “We then went to the practice and met with Coach Griff and Josh met with him. Coach Griff asked him if he wanted to come out and he said that he did. He was so welcoming to all of us. To be honest, the whole cross country program has been welcoming. They are truly a family.”

 

Griffith was very clear that his desire wasn’t a flash in the pan moment. In fact, Griffith said he’s one of the most dedicated athletes on the team.

 

“He never misses a practice or a meet unless he’s sick. He’s been to every meet and Josh is sure to tell me when it’s time to warmup because I get lackadaisical sometimes and he won’t let me get behind. He told me he wants to get started on time so he gets finished on time,” said Griffith as he began to chuckle. “Invariably, he wants done because he’s hungry by the time he’s finished and ready to eat.”

 

Early on Griffith knew what to do. He set him up with Eli Bailey, the program’s resident superstar who also has special needs and just happens to be perhaps the most popular young man in recent BHS sports history.

 

“Eli was his running partner and since then he’s just been off and running,” said Amy. “What makes me happy when I watch him is that he’s always happy. Most runners look tired and grumpy, but no matter where you look at him on the track, he’s happy. He really gets his day brightened when someone at the race sees him and yells his name. The smile really comes out then.

 

“Outside of him being involved with the program, it’s helped him make new friends and it’s been a great way to enter high school,” she continued. “It’s helped tremendously with his socialization to the point he wants to do track in the spring. We’ll see.”

 

Griffith said Reinhart is indeed one of his most upbeat participants. He also added that Josh is getting more and more comfortable.

 

“He’s meshed pretty well, but he started out really reserved. Now he’s opening up to me and others on the team,” Griffith said. “It’s really a positive thing for him.”

 

As he’s said in the past in similar situations, the “positives” are a two-way street.

 

“The kids absolutely benefit from Josh being on the team. It’s such good exposure for the students to accept him and be around a young man with special needs,” said Griffith, who has a soft spot in his heart for youth like Josh as his own niece has special needs. “I think back to when I was growing up. Our generation at school were separated from special needs kids. At the beginning of my teaching career that started changing with a huge emphasis on integrating them with the rest of the student body and the change in attitude I’ve witnessed is phenomenal.

 

“They’re not any different and we need to be together. I can tell you from my experience it’s a shame it’s not always been that way,” he continued. “I can also tell you from my experience with several special needs athletes I’ve been involved with that their attitude is better and they’re often just better to be around.”

 

Reinhart, for those wanting to catch a glimpse at a meet, will likely be the one in the red hat. And there’s a reason for it.

 

“He does not like water touching his face at all,” said Amy. “Being outside with any chance of rain we have to have the hat on him.”

 

Reinhart is the only one wearing a hat. The WVSSAC prohibits runners from wearing hats in cross country.

 

“We had to approach the SSAC about the situation to see if they would grant a special waiver. They did and I’m thankful for them quickly doing what was right,” said Griffith. “That hat is very important to him if it rains and we’ve seen it.”

 

With the exception of the upcoming regional meet and state meet, barring qualifying, Joshua Reinhart will be competing in every cross country meet the Indians have on their schedule. Chances are good he’ll be doing it for the next four years.

 

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Griffith. “Come out and watch our teams and be sure and cheer for Josh.”

 

Again, he’s easy to spot. He’s the one with the red hat, big smile and big heart. And he’s the one who manages to get a win every single meet.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Joshua Reinhart during last weekend's meet at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex. In the second photo, as the applause starts, the smile starts to appear on Reinhart's face. In the third photo, Reinhart's red hat makes him easy to spot in the usually large cross country fields. In the bottom picture, Reinhart is shown taking part recently in the Challenger Division of Bridgeport Little League baeball. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.