JAMESTOWN — Five years ago, no one in the Belzer household owned a soccer ball.
“After running cross country my seventh grade year, I decided to switch my fall sport to something that would get me ready for a hockey season,” Jamestown High School senior John Belzer said. “Soccer seemed like a good choice for endurance, speed, strength and coordination.”
Belzer first started playing soccer in 2021 when he was an eighth grader. Belzer was greatly persuaded to join the soccer program by now-senior captain Miles Anderson.
“He persuaded me to come to the last captains practice before the season began (that year),” Belzer said. “To this day, I talk with Miles and thank him for his encouragement. I also sat down with Nick Becker, head coach of the UJ women’s team and he gave me some great tips about the game.”
Belzer spent his eighth grade year with the Jamestown High School junior varsity team playing in the midfield. After watching him play for a year, the coaches decided to make a change and moved Belzer to right outside back — they also moved him up a level which required him to up his game — a feat made possible by his teammates and coaches.
“My first start was against Minot at home, playing outside back,” Belzer said. “I kept taking illegal throw-ins that game, Coach (Danica) Brekken was quick to get me on the right track and into her ‘throwing school’ for improvements. I am still working on my throw-ins today.
“The upperclassmen, specifically the captain leadership group from my eighth to 11th grade year playing soccer were some of my biggest influences,” he said. “(I’ll give) shoutouts to Dylan Altringer, Hunter Nelson, Jack Paulson, Brady Harty and Gabe Jenison.”
After going 6-8-2 his freshman year, Belzer strapped in for two storybook seasons.
His sophomore and junior years ended with a combined record of 30-5-2. The Jays appeared at the NDHSAA State Soccer Tournament Belzer’s sophomore and junior seasons.
Getting back to the state tournament is Belzer’s main goal for the season.
As of Thursday, Sept. 11, the Jays are 3-5-0 in the West Region standings. The team picked up a huge 4-1 victory over Bismarck Century on Tuesday, Sept. 9 that keeps them in the running for a state tournament berth.
The Blue Jays’ began practices for the year on Aug. 4. The senior captain said he spent the summer training two to three times per week and playing in multiple tournaments to get ready for the season. As practices progressed Belzer said he felt increasingly prepared and excited for the team’s first game on Aug. 15.
Jamestown won the season opener, defeating Mandan-St. Mary’s 2-0.
“We have to keep up the hard work in practice which will hopefully pay off in the upcoming games,” Belzer said. “We have a great group of guys this year. … (there will be) ice cream celebrations at the Belzer house after some wins at home.”
Katie Ringer is a sports reporter for the Jamestown Sun. Katie joined the Sun staff in the summer of 2019 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a degree in journalism. She can be reached by email at kringer@jamestownsun.com or by phone at 701-952-8460.