Brookings High School

For Beckett Bergstrom, football has always been about more than wins and losses.

Beckett, who has a chromosomal abnormality that affects his ability to process information, has found a strong sense of belonging on the Brookings Bobcat football team.

Beckett grew up around the game. His dad, Brian, has coached football for 24 years, and Beckett spent much of his childhood watching his dad coach from the sidelines and his older brother, Krayton, play. He began playing FCA flag football in second grade and wanted to keep playing even after flag football ended.

Because of the challenges associated with Beckett's genetic condition, his family knew playing a contact position could be difficult. He began learning to kick, following in his older brother's footsteps as a kicker and punter.

Beckett, now a sophomore, has continued attending summer workouts, camps, practices, and games, even when he wasn't sure he'd get the chance to play. He shows up because he loves football and feels at home with his team. That dedication led to a special moment last Friday night. During the Bobcats' varsity game against the Pierre Governors, Beckett kicked off, recovered an onside kick, ran for a touchdown, and made the extra point, celebrating alongside the teammates who have become such an important part of his life.

What happened Friday night wasn't planned or scripted. It came together through a series of decisions made in the moment by the officials and coaches from both teams.

According to Brookings head football coach Carter Gordon, the coaching staff had planned to give Beckett a couple of opportunities to kick. After Beckett missed his first extra-point attempt, the plan was to give him another chance by having him kick off. That was when an official approached Gordon with an offer from Pierre head coach Steve Steele.

"Coach Steele said that they were willing to let Beckett score a touchdown," Gordon recalled.

The coaches welcomed the opportunity, working together to give Beckett a moment he and his teammates would never forget.

Gordon said the moment was a reminder of what high school athletics can mean to a community. "We were able to witness the true meaning of high school athletics as Beckett was able to fulfill his football dreams against Pierre."

There is another meaningful connection to this story: Beckett hopes to become a football referee someday. The officials who helped make his special moment possible represent the very profession he hopes to join.

For Beckett, the best part of football is simple: his teammates. When asked what he loves most about them, his answer was just as simple: "They are kind."

His teammates appreciate him just as much. Sophomore Hayden Jones describes Beckett as the highlight of the team and someone who can bring a smile to everyone's face, even on a difficult day.

"He is a very hard worker and our team wouldn't be the same without him," Jones said.

Beckett's mom, Kate Bergstrom, says his teammates make sure he is included in everything, from sharing a tent at camp to sitting together on the bus. He is treated like one of the guys because he is one of them.

The Bergstrom family is deeply grateful to the Brookings Bobcat coaching staff, players, and community for welcoming Beckett. They also thank the Pierre Governors football team and the officials whose actions helped make Friday night possible.

Their hope is that Beckett's story reminds others that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and included. When people are given opportunities to participate and are welcomed for who they are, the impact reaches far beyond the field.

Friday night was more than football. It was a moment of belonging and a reminder that kindness matters.

Photo courtesy of Goal Line Shots