The toughest athlete at Bridgeport High School competes in four sports. The same athlete in question at Bridgeport High School has yet to qualify for the postseason in those three sports but is still battling.

 

Think that assessment is insane? Actually, the real question is who ranks number two when looking at the history of the student-athlete of who I have hung this title on.

 

The senior in question is Ian Scroggs. He just finished up his prep career in cross country, will soon be entering another year of wrestling, and will begin the spring months wrapping up his time as a member of the Indians track and field program.

 

So, what is it that makes Scroggs the toughest athlete at the school?

 

Ian Scroggs s a warrior. Plain and simple.

 

There are kids faster, ones that can run higher, and overall, plenty more physically gifted. None of them have had to deal with the hand Scroggs has dealt with in his 17 years of life.

 

Scroggs, an aspiring engineer, was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma. It is a cancer that affects the eyes – both eyes.

 

“When he was six months old, he was diagnosed and they found tumors in both eyes,” said his mother, Jessica Scroggs.

 

From there, he started a medical journey that was ongoing as recently as a month ago. But at that early age, he was in surgery and treatment that would make an adult hardened, let alone a person yet to speak their first words.

 

Jessica said her son had chemotherapy, external radiation, radiation implants, and more than 100 trips for surgery – some invasive – to treat his cancer. In fact, between his diagnosis at six months of age to his first birthday, Ian Scroggs had six surgeries for his eyes, and others for the placement and removal of a central line.

 

There was more. For added measure, little Ian had six cycles of chemotherapy.

 

The early battle has produced results. The cancer has officially been in remission since he was four and a half years old, but he lost vision in his right eye due to the cancer and subsequent treatments by the time he was 8.

 

Jessica described that even a blind eye is alive, but when blind the optic nerves can tend to atrophy. Recently, while already in high school, the blind eye was dying and causing complications. And they were severe.

 

“My eye was giving me headaches and any time light, or air was hitting it, my headaches would just throb so I would a lot of times have my eyes closed and look at the ground,” said Ian, who would wear drank sunglasses and often squinted due to the issue. “I remember going to a concert with flashing lights and holding my head down. I couldn’t enjoy the experience of the concert, but it was like that for a lot of things.”

 

To remedy the situation, the family made a familiar trip. The headed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

After meeting with doctors and having a discussion with family, a decision was made. Ian elected to have the eye removed, and he waited from his junior year (because when the decision was made, he was getting ready for his AP exams, finals at BHS, and didn’t want to ruin his summer) to before the start of his senior year. On August 7, he had enucleation surgery and had the area where his eye used to be stitched shut.

 

“We left St. Jude two days after that,” said Jessica. “The implant has to heal at least eight weeks before you can do a prosthetic eye.”

 

What that meant was shortly after surgery, Ian Scroggs would walk the halls of BHS not only with one eye, but with the place his left eye used to be sewn shut.

 

“I would have been apprehensive as student with one eyeball, but he didn’t want to miss picture day for the cross-country team,” she said. “He could have worn a patch, but he wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed. He treated it like it wasn’t a major loss.”

 

Two days after surgery, Ian Scroggs was with the BHS cross country team to take the picture for the program sold at football games. Jessica was astounded with him handling the post-surgery process better than she was handling it.

 

“I had a piece of my child’s body removed. It was a long surgery, and I was not okay with it even though it was necessary,” said Jessica. “What was amazing was when he was done and we headed home, he didn’t miss a stride.”

 

Part of the reason Ian Scroggs is able to do things in stride is because of the support of his classmates. They have never made issues with his vision. His mother said she had a discussion with BHS Principal Renee Mathews regarding concerns she had and was assured Ian could use her as a sounding board if there were any problems and that the administration would let the family know if such was the case.

 

There have been zero issues.

 

“The support of my peers is probably the biggest thing I’ll take about my time at Bridgeport. They have been so supportive,” he said. “They’re wanting to hear about what I’m doing, and they even tell me how cool my prosthetic eye is.”

 

As for the prosthetic eye, he had it placed Oct. 4, a little more than a month ago, after flying down to St. Jude for a procedure – that included the eye mold, the painting of it, and placement – that went from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

His thoughts?

 

“It was such a big relief to have it removed and have the prosthetic eye put in. The last year or so with the headaches were awful,” he said. “It is so much better now.”

 

So much so, that Ian did not waste any time getting back into his normal routine.

 

“We flew back with the eyeball, stayed all night in Pittsburgh, and he got up in the morning and flew to space camp,” said Jessica of her son who not only excels in school, but works 15 hours a week at Marshalls at the Meadowbrook Mall. “On Oct. 5, the day after, he was in space camp in Huntsville, Alabama.”

 

The space camp is part of his goal to go to college and study mechanical and automotive engineering to hopefully work in motor sports, and at the Formula One, NASCAR level.

 

Ian hopes to attend Clemson University but has not yet applied. He has waited because he retook the SAT earlier this month to improve his score and his chances of admission. And if he does not get in, he hopes to go to West Virginia University or the University of Louisville.

 

He is doing all this with a right eye that also has side effects due to the cancer. His vision is not good enough to be able to drive so he will motor around on his electric mode of transportation. It is clear nothing will slow this young man down.

 

“He completes each mission in school or in the classroom,” Jessica said. “When it comes to sports, he may not be the fastest or strongest, but he gives it 100 percent every time because he tries to remain positive.”

 

So, how does he stay so upbeat and focused with a lifetime of living with cancer and its impact?

 

“You always have to have a positive mindset, so I look forward to being involved with as much as I can,” Ian said. “I just try my best to live through it, act normally, and share my experiences.

 

“I also lean more on my faith, particularly as I’ve gotten older … God made everyone perfect in his eyes and this is how He wants me to be,” Ian said. “I trust in Him.”

 

The soon-to-turn 18-year-old (birthday this coming week) is also getting ready for wrestling season where he’ll likely compete in the 138 or 144 weight classification. Like cross country, and running distance for track, it is a physically challenging sport.

 

“Wrestling and cross country and two of the most demanding sports on your body. I enjoy them, and part of the reason I take part is to push myself,” said Scroggs.

 

One of his coaches said having Scroggs on the team is a joy. In fact, he said he is the type of kid every coach wants to have as part of their roster.

 

“He’s just a good kid and a hard worker who is fun to have around, and he’s little goofy and at times ornery,” said cross country Coach Nathaniel Lutyens. “It’s a pleasure to watch a kid that has been through so much and overcome so many challenges to be out there competing and having fun.

 

“You see him out there and know his background and it makes you feel good knowing he just doesn’t quit,” Lutyens, who is in his 14^th season (fourth as head coach) with cross country, continued. “Tough is definitely one word to describe him.”

 

Lutyens points out something else that let me know my assessment of him being the toughest athlete is not entirely correct. He is also the most courageous, and while you are at it, go ahead and tag him with the most determined as well.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Ian Scroggs as a child in a familiar place - the hospital. He is shown in the second photo in action with the BHS wrestling team and running with his dark sunglasses for cross country in the third image. In the next three photos, Scroggs is shown prior to his eye being removed, just after the eye was surgically removed, and with his prosthetic eye in the sixth image. In the seventh photo, Ian has his mother Jessica on his right and his girlfriend Sara Rexroad on his left. In the bottom photo he is with his friend and rescued boxer Ziva that helps keep a smile on his face. All photos provided by Jessica Scroggs.