ToquiNotes: Recalling the Tale of "The Magic 15"
By Jeff Toquinto on October 26, 2019 from ToquiNotes
Recently, as I’ve waxed nostalgic about the many topics that dabble into the “greatest ever” category, it generates plenty of fun discussion and often suggestions from others about other categories to hit as well. With the fall sports seasons shortly coming to an end and even though spring sports is months from officially getting started , it seemed as 
good a time as any to talk about not just the greatest sports moment in Bridgeport High School history, but arguably one of the best moments in BHS history.
good a time as any to talk about not just the greatest sports moment in Bridgeport High School history, but arguably one of the best moments in BHS history.
For those wondering how a 51-year-old who didn’t grow up or go to school here and has has only deeply been involved in the community for large portions of the last two-plus decades can make such a bold statement, trust me that I’m certain on this one. And, hopefully, after you read this, you’ll know why.
It goes back to 2007 and involves the Bridgeport High School boys’ track team. And it involves the shot put.
Here’s the kicker: The moment didn’t involve a state champion. Heck, the person that provided the greatest sporting moment in BHS history didn’t even qualify for the state meet and didn’t compete in the regional meet.
The winner of the shot put that year in Class AAA (Bridgeport was in the big school class at that point) was Cabell Midland's Cole Bowers. With apologies to Mr. Bowers, his throw was good enough to win the state meet, but it wasn’t the best throw of the year. If fact, it wasn’t even close.
In order to find the best throw of the 2007 season, one would have to go back to the Big 10 track meet on May 4 of there. On that day, the person that provided the greatest throw of the year and the greatest moment in Indians’ sports and perhaps school history had a throw in the shot put that was more than 35 feet short of Bowers' state mark of 50 feet, 5.25 inches.
So what happened and who got it done?
The honor belongs to then Bridgeport High School senior Nathan Dye. It was Dye who managed to throw the shot 15 feet, 2 inches during the Big 10 Track and Field Championship.
I still remember Dye talking about his throw after it was over.
"The magic 15," said Nathan excitedly when asked of his throw.
If you're confused, allow me to explain. You see, Nathan Dye had just completed a four-year run as a member of the Indians' track squad. Nathan, who is now 31, is Autistic.
While at BHS, Nathan's father Alan wanted to make sure his son was involved at the school. And he wanted that involvement to be social, academic and athletic. That led Alan Dye to approach BHS track coach Jon Griffith about Nathan joining the squad.
"Coach was so receptive," said Alan. "He didn't put up any resistance."
Of course joining the team meant finding an event. Nathan's big stature led him to the shot put. There, his father said, he found a niche.
"Autistic kids need repetition and the throwing was something he could do over and over," said Alan Dye. "We felt it was the best event."
While getting on the team and finding an event were positives, Alan Dye still had that worry he sometimes had with Nathan – would he fit in? As it turns out, dad had nothing to worry about.
"The kids were extremely receptive of Nathan," said Alan. "Eventually some of the guys got really close to him (that) year and took Nathan under their wing."
Seniors from the 2006 team – Sam Romano, Adam Krohe and Ryan Vernon and others – served as mentors and friends for Nathan. They also served as his motivation to top the 13 foot mark the coaching staff established for Nathan during his junior year; a mark he surpassed during a meet at Lincoln.
The 2007 track season brought changes. Gone were buddies from the year before, as was the prior standard Griffith set for Nathan.
As it turned out, neither would be a problem. Despite being the only senior shot putter, guys like Ben Griffith, Stephen Young and others filled the void as mentors. As for the new standard, it was 15 feet.
"We decided to call it the magic 15," said Alan Dye. "For a while, I just didn't think it would happen."
The father's skepticism was rooted in results. Not one time had his son cracked 14 feet throughout the 2007 season, which made 15 feet seem a long way off.
Eventually, the magic throw happened. As it turned out, 'the magic 15' was reached at the very last meet and on the very last throw for Nathan Dye as a BHS track team member.
On that day, Nathan Dye utilized a new technique taught to him by teammates and it immediately paid dividends as he obliterated his best throw of the year (13 feet, 4 inches) on his first throw at the Big 10 meet with a toss of 14 feet, 8 inches.
Although the second throw was four inches shorter than throw one, the magic happened on throw number three. Stepping into the circle with what his dad said was "a smile that showed he knew something," Nathan Dye let it rip. The result? Fifteen feet, three and one quarter inches.
"I knew it was a good throw, but I waited for the workers to measure. Then they announced the mark. I'll never forget that," said his father. "It was emotional for me not only to see him get the mark, but to see those kids so excited for him. That was very touching."
It was touching for Griffith as well.
"It was a huge moment for me personally and I'm sure the rest of the coaches and athletes would agree," said Griffith back in 2007. "To get it on the last throw of the last meet is one of those ultimate moments in sports we all dream about."
As for the treatment Nathan received once entering the local school system at Bridgeport Middle School since his graduation years ago, his father said he couldn't have dreamed it would be any better.
"We' didn't have one problem; there was no teasing and no bullying," said Alan Dye, whose son today lives at the Autism Services Center in Huntington, which is an assisted living center for adults with autism. "It's a tribute to those kids at the schools and the staffs. From day one to the end of that year, it was perfect."
Perfect indeed. I can guarantee you there’s never been a bigger moment in prep sports since I’ve been watching and it's probably hard to find any moment at BHS at the level. And I’ll gamble any story someone else throws out there likely won’t match up and at best, it can only be close.
After all, this was what being a high school student is truly about. It was arguably the greatest moment in BHS history – it was pure magic.
Editor's Note: In the top and bottom photos, Nathan Dye is shown during his track days at BHS. In the middle photo, Nathan still gets visitors in Huntington from his high school classmates. Nick Sellas, left, and Nat Frederick recently paid their friend a visit. All photos courtesy of Alan Dye. For those that have read this before, this ran in 2014 and have had it requested to be reran several times since then.
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