On September 1, the Jamestown High School soccer team faced more than just a challenge on the field as they took on Bismarck Century; they also united to raise awareness and funds for a former teammate battling cancer. The event, held at Rotary Field, was dedicated to Bernadette Belzer, a graduate of the Class of 2023, who is currently undergoing treatment for acute myeloid sarcoma.
Head coach Brandi Harty emphasized the importance of supporting the Belzer family, stating, "The Belzer family has been in our program for a really long time, so we wanted to show our support to the cause and to Bernie herself because they are a big part of our life and a big part of our family. It's bigger than the game — it really is." This sentiment resonated throughout the community as the team worked to raise awareness and funds for Belzer's medical expenses.
Acute myeloid sarcoma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that is related to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It occurs when immature white blood cells form tumors outside of the bone marrow, affecting various parts of the body, including skin, lymph nodes, bones, and soft tissues. Since her diagnosis in June, Belzer has spent significant time at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy and receiving blood transfusions. During the event, the Jamestown soccer team successfully raised $1,900 to support Belzer's fight against this challenging disease.
Harty praised the community's generosity, saying, "That is how Jamestown is. They care. They support the families that are in need, and they've always supported our soccer program, so I am not surprised at how much was raised." Although Bernadette did not play soccer for the Blue Jays, her younger brothers, John and Ben, have been active in the program, with Ben currently playing on the varsity team.
Reflecting on the family connection, Harty noted, "He reminds me so much of his brother John. It's neat to see that because he is a little bit different, but he still plays in the back, and I enjoy watching that and seeing him grow. It's fun." Despite the emotional support and community spirit, the game against Bismarck Century ended in a challenging 8-0 loss for the Blue Jays, leaving them with a record of 0-4-2 in the Western Dakota Association (WDA) standings.
Harty acknowledged the difficulties faced during the match, stating, "We knew that it was going to be a battle. In the first 10 minutes, we did play really well. We made connecting passes, we were challenging them in the attacking third, but unfortunately, this team struggles with mistakes. When a mistake happens, they put their head down, and they can't work through it. That's one of the things we are going to have to overcome. It just unraveled after that."
The Blue Jays had two returning players, Grady Eckart and Evan Harty, who provided experience on the field. Harty praised their efforts, saying, "They are phenomenal players. It's tough to play in a situation, but they just keep playing hard and keep fighting." Jamestown's next opportunity to regroup and improve is scheduled for September 8, when they will face Mandan-St. Mary's at 7:30 p.m. Harty concluded with determination, stating, "We are just going to go back to the grind. We are going to try and fix those mistakes and try to find that chemistry that we need."
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