DYER GOES D1

A high school student by day, senior Nevaeh Dyer hides her talents, until she is presented with a practice, game, or meet where she transforms into a D1 performing athlete.

On one of these occasions, April 17, 2024, at a home track meet against San Luis Obispo High, the advisor of the shot put ring called out “Dyer, on deck”, and Dyer took in her last deep breaths before she entered the ring. She stepped into the ring, squatted down into place, with the shot put firmly against her neck and a high elbow, and began her spin movement to launch the ball.  When the weight of the ball was released from her hand, the stress left with it as she saw the ball drop past the 40 feet mark.

When her mark was finally announced, she learned that she had obtained a new personal record with a distance of 42 ‘7”.

Dyer has found much success in throwing shot put for track and field and is also very talented in basketball, though she prefers throwing more because of the solitude of the sport.

“I would say I enjoy track over basketball since it’s an independent sport and I can just rely on myself,” Dyer said.

Dyer is still deciding between two colleges that have different offers for her. Cal State Northridge offered for her to play D1 in both track and basketball, and Concordia University Irvine has offered for her to play D2 in track.

Inspired by her dad to start playing basketball, Dyer began playing the sport in second grade with her elementary school team, Virginia Peterson.

She shared that a lot of coaches have helped her throughout her journey in the competitive sport, but especially Coach Hall, who has “pushed her to be able to do what she does today,” Dyer said.

She continued to play basketball with her elementary and middle school, Lewis, teams, as well as with YMCA and club teams until she started playing in high school. All four years in high school, Dyer made the varsity women’s basketball team.

This past 2023 season of basketball, Dyer averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals per game, and her free throw percentage was 78%.

As the seasons shift, so does Dyer with her sports, and she begins to compete in shot put for track and field.

Deborah McPherson, Dyer’s throwing coach that has been supporting her the past three years, knew from the start that she had the potential to go far.

“We were in Arroyo Grande at her first track meet… and she threw around 28’ on her warm up throw. I challenged her, and I told her that if she hit 30 ”, I’d buy her lunch. Her first throw, she threw about 29’, and I mean, you could just see the potential she had,” McPherson said.

She started throwing shotput and discus for track and field her sophomore year. She quit softball after her freshman year, 2021 season, because she wanted to try something new. Thus, she started track and field her sophomore year to not only find a new passion, but to also complete her P.E. credits.

“I had been playing softball for a long time. I wanted to try something new and now I found another sport that I really love,” Dyer said.

Her sophomore year, she was throwing 29’, but with focus and hard work, she has increased her distance by over 10’. At the first meet of  the 2024 track and field season, Bearcat Relays on Feb. 24, 2024, Dyer threw 36’ 7 ”. Nearing the end of the season, Dyer currently has a personal record of 42 ’ 7 ”, which she threw at the Paso Robles/San Luis Dual meet.

Dyer not only brings far distances to the throwing team, but also humor and a helpful personality.

“She’s really helpful. You can tell she knows what she’s doing, so if I was ever struggling with anything, she would help with my form. She’s a perfect balance of messing around and being funny, but she’s also there to improve and work hard,” said Sara Espinoza, one of Dyer’s teammates over the past season.

Dyer plans on either playing both track and basketball at Cal State Northridge or just track at Concordia University Irvine throughout the entirety of her college career. She is excited to meet people and find new groups to join regardless of where she commits.

“I feel as though she wants to do really well. She knows she has to put the work in, and I think there’s still another level that she hasn’t untapped,” McPherson said.