Harvey-Wells County, N.D. – After a season marked by personal health battles and an early 0-2 start, head football coach Bret “Doc” Dockter celebrated his first Class A state championship on Friday. The victory was more than a trophy for Dockter, who has spent more than three decades teaching and coaching in the region.
From the brink of death to the championship field
Last December, Dockter was hospitalized with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, a condition that forced him into a medically induced coma. “There was a point where I was lying in a hospital bed by myself thinking, ‘I’m never going to do this again,’” Dockter recalled. When his health began to improve, he felt a divine call to return to the sidelines. “I just knew I hadn’t finished things, and they hadn’t finished things, and I at least wanted to go one more,” he said.
Turning a struggling program around
The Hornets entered the 2026 season after a 4-5 record the year before and a 0-2 start this year. Yet the team rallied, winning eleven straight games to claim the state title. Senior athlete Christian Mertz, the Class A Senior Athlete of the Year, missed the 2025 season with an injury but returned to help lead the comeback.
Wide receiver Dylan Heitmann summed up the locker‑room sentiment: “We love Doc with all of our hearts, and we were so happy we could win it for him.” Dockter emphasized that the triumph was about character as much as football. “More so than football it was those boys and their resolve. The idea that we’re not giving up, coach, you better not,” he said.
Faith, family, and perseverance
Dockter’s story resonates with the community’s Christian values of perseverance and gratitude. He noted that the championship is a testament to the boys’ resilience and the support of their families. “To see this team come back and be resilient after an 0-2 start and just to see these guys understand that we’re not down until we’re out,” Dockter said, adding that he is proud of the life lessons the players have learned along the way.
The Hornets’ victory adds a bright chapter to Harvey‑Wells County’s athletic history and offers a powerful example of overcoming adversity through faith, hard work, and community support.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
