The 1954-55 Mountaineers, one of the first integrated basketball teams in Kentucky.
Photo by Robert McGraw, '03

On Feb. 2, eleven members of the historic 1954-55 KIAC championship basketball team were honored at a half-time ceremony during the Berea vs. Bethel men's basketball game at the Seabury Center. President Larry D. Shinn presented commemorative certificates to team members Irvine Shanks, Bill Masters, James Crase (cousin of Darrell Crase), Joe Disco, Aubrey Etherington, Arnold Thurman, Glen Higgins and John Stapleton. Managers for the team, Bob Miller and Joe Neal, and equipment manager Elvin Combs were also recognized.

Coached by C. W. Wyatt, the team won the 1955 KIAC tournament, the first KIAC championship for Berea College since 1931. Many of these athletes were part of the team that won an even more important victory the previous year. As one of the first racially integrated collegiate basketball teams in Kentucky, these athletes faced many challenges both on and off the basketball court. The efforts and experiences of these players, black and white, in breaking down the "color barrier," helped pave the way for other players and future generations.

Irvine Shanks, who helped integrate basketball in Kentucky was interviewed by regional media at the honor ceremony.
Photo by Robert McGraw, '03

Irvine Shanks was a freshman when he became the first African American to play basketball for Berea College, joining the Mountaineers mid-way through the 1953-54 season as a 6'5" center. On February 6, 1954, the first racially integrated college basketball game at Berea was played when Shanks started against Bellarmine College in a game in Berea's Old Seabury Gym. Shanks attended Berea for two years, playing for two seasons with the Mountaineers, including the '54-'55 championship team. Originally from Richmond, Shanks currently resides in Lexington.
A more complete account of this remarkable period in Berea's and Kentucky's history can be found in volume one of "B" For Berea: The Amazing Story of Berea College Basketball in the Words of the Men Who Played It (2000) written by Tom Chase.

Andi Amburgey, Berea's new rebounding champ, with KIAC Coach of the Year Bunky Harkleroad, '93

Amburgey Breaks Berea Rebound Record

Returning Lady Mountaineers starter Andrea Amburgey, ’03, a 5’ 8” forward from Richmond, Ind., broke the Berea women’s basketball career rebounding record of 539 on Jan. 12 against Midway College. Unfortunately, she tore her ACL in the same game, and was lost for the season. She had already tied the school record for most rebounds in a game with 22 against Union College, a record that had stood since 1978. With that number, she also joined Berea’s elite 500 Rebound Club. “I didn’t know I was even close,” she says. She was also a member of the All Tournament team her freshman year and looks forward to returning strong in 2002-2003.

"Basketball in Kentucky” Includes Berea

“Basketball in Kentucky: Great Balls of Fire,” a documentary produced by Kentucky Educational Television (KET), which aired March 5 and 6, included a segment on the integration of intercollegiate competition at Berea. Tom Chase, author of ‘B’ For Berea, The Amazing Story of Berea College Basketball in the Words of the Men Who Played It, was interviewed for the program. The program's director, Tom Thurman, a former instructor of English at Berea, is the son of Berea alum Arnold Thurman, '56, who played basketball for the Mountaineers from 1952-55.

Coach Roland Wierwille

Coach Wierwille Announces Retirement

NAIA Hall of Fame Coach Roland Wierwille, who just completed his 30th year as men’s basketball coach at Berea College, has announced he will retire from coaching basketball. He will take a sabbatical leave in the fall and short term of 2003, then return as men’s golf coach and co-athletic director in spring 2003, and continue to serve through the 2003-04
academic year.

Wierwille began his coaching career at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky. under Lee Rose and C.M. Newton, before taking over at Berea in 1972. At Berea, he
compiled a 464-334 mark, and leads the College’s coaches in all-time wins. He guided the Mountaineers to the NAIA Tournament in 1985, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, including a trip to the Final Four in 1999.

Wierwille played for Eastern Kentucky University from 1958-61, and one of his proudest moments at Berea was the Mountaineers’ 94-88 victory over his alma mater in 1997. He also served as an assistant coach at the World University Games in 1985. However, his biggest victory came when he overcame a stroke he suffered in 1994. He returned to coaching the very next season, and in 1997, Wierwille received an award from the National Council on Communicative Disorders for his successful comeback from the stroke.

His players also excelled in the classroom, where over 30 years, all but one of his students obtained their degrees. “That’s perhaps his most important achievement,” says Berea College President Larry D. Shinn. “He not only makes the players better athletes, but makes them better citizens and students.”
John Mills, who spent last season as an assistant under Wierwille, will take over the program for the next two years, before a national search is launched in 2004.

“It’s time,” Wierwille says. “Some of my friends have told me I would know when it’s time (to quit coaching) and I know that now is the right time.”

Coach Wierwille cuts down the net with grandson Logan Spradlin after the 1999 regionals. The Mountaineers reached the NAIA Final Four that year. (enlarged image)

Brandon Snowden

Snowden Is Nationally Ranked

Brandon Snowden, ’03, a 6’7” center on the men’s
basketball team, ranked second in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (KIAC), and 15th nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (N.A.I.A.) in individual rebound average, with 9.9 per game. Luke Hodson, ’02, was named KIAC player of the week twice, finishing fourth in the conference in individual scoring percentage at 17.6 points per game, and was in the top 20 in individual rebounding and assists. Andrew Cash, ’04, was third in assists, with 4.39 per game, sixth in individual scoring, and top 20 in individual rebounding and free throw percentage. Jeremy Hamby, ’02, was 11th in individual scoring, seventh in individual rebounding, and top 20 in field goal percentage and assists.

Both Hamby and Hodson mark the end of their college careers, having played on three conference championship teams, and three conference regular season championship teams. They are the last remaining players from Berea’s NAIA National Tournament Final Four team.

The Mountaineers finished with a 14-16 record, defeating Mid-Continent College 97-60 in the first game of the NAIA Division II East regional tournament before falling to Indiana University-Southeast 82-77.

The 28th annual Wierwille Basketball Camp will be held at Berea College June 17-21, 2002. Call Coach Wierwille's office at 859-985-3423 for more information.

Coach Bill Best, works the lights at his final aquatic arts show in the Seabury pool in January 2002.
Photo by Mary Lynch, '02

Coach Best, ’59, Rules the Pool

During the fall of 1954, a small-town boy from Haywood, N.C. began his journey towards higher education by coming to Berea College. Coach Bill Best has been both student and professor at Berea College for over 40 years and will retire at the end of this year. Best, a biology and physical education major, attended the University of Tennessee for his graduate work in physical education, and he served in the Army reserves.

In 1962, Best returned to Berea as director of the Alumni Building. "I thought that I could be of help in developing a better social and recreational life for the college," says Best. Besides being Alumni Building director, Best taught general studies classes, developed the Upward Bound program, and began coaching the swim team. He coached from 1967 to 1972 and from 1988 to the present, as well as teaching aquatic art. Nine of his swimmers have qualified for nationals, including this year's Jeremy Fink, '05.

After Best retires from Berea, he will spend most of his time with the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center. He has farmed all his life and wants to start an heirloom seed bank to preserve genetic diversity in plants. He hopes his students will continue to work hard, but he also advises them "don't lose your creativity in the pressure of daily living."

"I will miss his expertise, patience, and dedication," says Heather Veeder, '03, swim team member and Best's teaching assistant. "He'll be hard to replace."

Left to Right: Bunky Harkleroad,Ashley Miller,
Rachel Bates,
Morissa Benberry

Harkleroad Is Coach of the Year

The motto for this year's Berea College women's basketball team was "No Seniors, No Problem." The Lady Mountaineers fielded a team with one returning player, Andrea "Andi" Amburgey, '03, and eight freshmen. Taking this team to a 16-12 record earned second year coach Bunky Harkleroad, '93, the KIAC Division II Women's Coach of the Year award.

The young Lady Mountaineers held their own this year, due mainly to the leadership of returning starter Amburgey, until she injured her knee on Jan. 12, and the talented freshman recruits that Coach Harkleroad brought in this year. Ashley Miller, '05, and Rachel Bates, '05, were named to the NAIA Division II All-East Independent Team. In the KIAC Division II All-Conference voting, Bates, '05, made first team, Morissa Benberry, '05, made second team, and Miller was honorable mention. "We needed a strong recruitment class because we lost seven players from last year's team," Coach Harkleroad comments. "We were fortunate to find talented players who not only had exceptional athletic ability but also the academic and financial requirements to qualify for enrollment at Berea College."

The Lady Mountaineers finished third among the NAIA Division II East independent colleges. They have taken advantage of the Seabury crowd, with a home record of 9-1, and an 18-4 home record since Harkleroad started in fall 2000. In the regional tournament, they defeated Huntingdon College 67-52, before falling to Bethel College in the second round.

"The best part about this year's team is everyone is able to play and contribute to the team," Coach Harkleroad concludes. "I have eight freshmen, and the playing experience they are getting now will be invaluable down the road. I can't help but be excited about the future of the program.

Veeder, Fink Break Swimming Records; Fink Goes to Nationals

Jeremy Fink - Photo by Robert McGraw, '03

Heather Veeder, ’03, broke two records at the Appalachian Conference meet at Asbury College January 26. She broke Susan Hazel’s mile record, set in 1992-93, by one minute and 28 seconds, and also broke DesAnne Fanger’s 1984-85 400 individual medley record by 16 seconds. “I’ve been waiting all year to break these records,” says Veeder. “I’m very excited.” She adds these records to the 500- and 1000-yard freestyle records she already holds.

Jeremy Fink, ’05, broke Steve Saran’s 1983-84 200 freestyle record of 1:53.73 with a time of 1:53.29 at the Warren Wilson meet at Berea on November 17. Fink also qualified for the nationals in both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events, the first Berea swimmer to qualify for nationals in five years. He competed at the NAIA national championship meet Feb. 27-Mar. 3 at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.