NW Valley Times

GCU Club Sports water polo coach and Paralympian Tye Dutcher believes there was a purpose behind his life-altering injury. "I was never mad at God for it," he said. Photos by Ralph Freso.

“Mom, I know this happened for a reason.”

These were the first words Grand Canyon University water polo coach and Paralympian Tye Dutcher said to his mother after undergoing foot amputation surgery at age 11.

Growing up in Merced, California, Dutcher spent most of his time in the water, with water polo being his greatest passion. An accident that resulted in the loss of his foot did not deter him; instead, it intensified his dedication to the sport.

Dutcher's commitment is evident as fellow Paralympians compete through Sunday in Paris, including GCU alumna Jataya Taylor representing Team USA in wheelchair fencing.

“I was never mad at God for it. I knew there was a purpose behind it," Dutcher reflected on his injury.

The incident occurred when Dutcher tried to surprise his father while he was mowing the lawn. His father reversed the machine without realizing Dutcher was behind him, leading to an accident that severed Dutcher’s right foot.

“I thought I was in a total nightmare,” recalled Dutcher.

After four surgeries over 11 days, doctors amputated his leg four inches above the ankle. Despite this setback, Dutcher chose resilience over bitterness.

“This is where my story starts,” he affirmed.

His recovery kept him out of the water for six months. Initially terrified to return, he found solace once back in the pool.

“There was a sensation...I thought, ‘Oh, this is great. I’m back.’”

At 16, Dutcher moved with his family to Washington state and quickly rose to become one of the top high school water polo players there. His achievements attracted attention from a former Paralympic coach who invited him to train at Colorado’s Olympic training center post-high school graduation in 2015 with hopes of qualifying for Tokyo's 2020 Paralympic Games.

“They wanted me there for Tokyo,” but determinedly added: “I trained for one year and I made it [to Rio].”

Dutcher’s rigorous training regime saw him swimming between 10,000 and 14,000 meters daily across six days per week. He competed in Rio de Janeiro's 2016 Paralympic Games but faced unexpected resistance during a critical race moment which thwarted his medal hopes.

"I don’t know if it was the Lord or what...but it didn’t happen."

Undeterred by setbacks like missing selection for Tokyo's team despite meeting requirements at trials—an outcome that led him towards new realizations about identity beyond sports—he eventually accepted Jeremy Phung’s offer to coach GCU’s club water polo team after initially declining due to ongoing athletic pursuits.

Now into coaching duties since last year while rebuilding ambitions within GCU’s Club Water Polo Team structure aimed higher rankings alongside fostering competitive yet enjoyable environments among athletes—Dutcher emphasizes aligning personal goals with divine guidance amid reflective gratitude towards unforeseen pathways shaped via past adversities:

“Where I am now is where God wants me.”

GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected]

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