W. Greene student keeps love of football alive
West Greene High School freshman Bryer Berdine is the team manager for the school’s football team. He helps with many tasks, including making sure the players are hydrated during practice and games.
Bryer Berdine, left, helps Bray Jackson, a junior studying athletic training at Waynesburg University and one of the student trainers for West Greene, study for a college exam by giving a quiz during some down time at football practice.
One of Bryer Berdine’s many tasks as the team manager for the West Greene High School football team is making sure the water bottles are full.
When Trish Keller cuts West Greene freshman Bryer Berdine’s hair at Classy Cuts in Waynesburg, she doesn’t merely discard what she sweeps into the dustpan. Instead, Berdine’s hair – all 8 inches from each cutting – is saved and becomes part of a donation for wigs to assist children who have cancer.
“When we accumulate so much hair, we send it to Pantene hair-care products,” Keller said. “Hair that we accumulate for Pantene must be at least 8 inches long, and we’ve used Bryer’s hair for the program several times.”
Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths hair donation program then creates real human hair wigs for women undergoing cancer treatment.
Berdine’s generosity and role in the program grew out of a television commercial he saw.
“It was summer and it was hot, and I saw a commercial about donating hair for cancer patients,” he said, adding that he wanted to “help take care of others the way others have taken care of me.”
“Bryer is a great kid, and he genuinely wants to help others,” Keller said. “He had a rough time, and he has had considerable medical care. He wants to give back.”
Rough time is a big understatement.
Born with a congenital heart defect, Berdine was 12 hours old when doctors recognized he was having breathing issues. An examination revealed complications with his heart. At 8 days old, Berdine had his first open-heart surgery.
Berdine’s mother, Jan Berdine, explained that her son has a mechanical aorta, in which the aortic valve is replaced with an artificial heart valve, and a Melody valve that replaced failing pulmonary valves and serves as his pulmonary valve. Sometimes referred to as the pulmonic valve, according to the Healthline website, the pulmonary valve is one of two valves that allow blood to leave the heart via the arteries.
Additionally, he takes blood thinners and developed chronic kidney disease from using a bypass machine. He also developed celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, and is restricted to a gluten-free diet.
But those issues didn’t stop him from playing Little League baseball, where he earned several game balls, or playing football for West Greene Middle School, where he served as the team’s kickoff specialist. Kicking for both the seventh- and eighth-grade teams, Berdine, however, was prohibited from any physical contact.
Teammates, and especially opposing teams, were aware of his physical condition, and there was an agreement among coaches that no players would hit him.
“Bryer absolutely cannot take a hit, especially to his chest,” said West Greene head coach Rod Huffman, who is in his fourth season.
As Berdine entered high school, it appeared his football days would be over.
But then West Greene assistant coach Brian Jackson, who doubles as West Greene’s school superintendent, approached Jan Berdine, inquiring if her son would be interested in continuing his football career as team manager.
Once Berdine understood his new role, even though his on-field days had ended, his response was an “enthusiastic yes,” his mother said.
Huffman said that Berdine, at 5 feet, 118 pounds, would receive a game shirt – he wears No. 1, the same number he wore in middle school – and a varsity letter.
“Bryer’s best opportunity to remain involved with football would be as team manager,” Huffman said. “He helps with equipment, water, anything that needs to be done. Our players like him, and he does his job. He keeps them laughing, as well.”
Berdine’s mother agreed. “Coach Huffman and I talked, and this opportunity would be great for him and us.”
Serving as the lone manager for the Pioneers, Berdine “will learn on the job,” Huffman added.
Berdine gets water for the players, refills water bottles, carries balls, equipment and equipment bags, and helps with tackling dummies.
“He provides all-around help, whatever we need,” Huffman said. “On game days, he will help put uniforms in players’ lockers, and will take care of game towels and game balls. It’s a constant battle getting everything. His attitude is very positive. He was timid at first, afraid of making a mistake, but we all encouraged him, and the players have been very receptive to him, and they help him with equipment.
“We have a trainer intern from West Virginia University, and she has two interns from Waynesburg (University), and they all help him. He has only been there a few weeks but is progressing well. We only have to say something once to him. He has a good grasp of what must be done and is very responsible.”
Contributing in every possible way, Berdine was especially pleased with one recent practice session, assisting with “dummy” drills and helping the trainers.
“Our trainers pretended I was injured with a concussion,” he laughed, “and the trainer showed the interns what to do. They placed me on a stretcher and examined my injury.”
Berdine said he also dries off wet footballs, gets coaches what they need, helps trainers ice players’ legs and retrieves balls after kickoffs and returns them to referees.
In West Greene’s opening win Aug. 25 over Bentworth, played at Washington & Jefferson College, Berdine admits that he was “nervous at the beginning, but then I was OK.”
“All the coaches and players were helping me,” he said.