KWC News & Information

Office: 270/852-3143 | Fax: 270/926-9360 | Home: 270/926-3898
E-Mail: pickeril@kwc.edu | Internet: http://www.kwc.edu

June 2001

NCAA CHAMPIONS TO PLAY HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS (June 21, 2001)

Kentucky Wesleyan College, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, will open the 2001-02 basketball season with an exhibition game against the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters on Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Owensboro Sportscenter at 3 p.m. CT.

KWC is one of several elite college programs the Globetrotters will be playing in the fall, a list that includes Iowa, Minnesota, St. John's, Western Kentucky and Div. III champion Catholic University. These games will be competitive exhibitions played under NCAA rules.

"This game is an exciting opportunity for our fans and will be a competitive challenge for our team," said Kentucky Wesleyan Head Coach Ray Harper, whose Panthers defeated Washburn, 89-76, for their eighth record breaking national title this past March. "The NCAA Champions playing against the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters is the match up of a lifetime.

"This should be one of the best preseason attractions we've ever had here. In addition to being great entertainers, the Harlem Globetrotters are also a group of very talented basketball players. This is the second year the Globetrotters have played exhibition games against colleges, so we're excited about playing in their fall college tour."

On April 1, 2001, the Globetrotters defeated the NABC College All-Stars, 75-63, during the Final Four weekend at Minneapolis Target Center before a record-setting crowd of 15,253 fans. This marked the second year in a row the Globetrotters competed against the nation’s top college seniors.

Last year the Globetrotters defeated Purdue (74-65), Div. II champion Metropolitan State (76-69) and lost to defending NCAA Champions Michigan State (72-68) to break their 1,270 winning streak.

The original World Series of Basketball began in 1950 that pitted the college all-stars against the Harlem Globetrotters and was resurrected by Mannie Jackson, current owner of the Globetrotters, in 1997 after a 35-year layoff. Overall, the Globetrotters own a 154-66 record in games versus college all-star competition. The team’s current win streak stands at 284 consecutive games without a loss.

Ticket prices will be $20 for chairbacks and $10 for bleachers and will go on sale at a date to be announced in the fall. The game will not be part of Kentucky Wesleyan's basketball season ticket package.

NEVY NAMED GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE SOFTBALL

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (June 21, 2000)

Kentucky Wesleyan College's Sandy Nevy was named to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Nevy, daughter of David and Kathleen Nevy of Fairfield, Calif., was a two-year starter on the Panthers softball team in the outfield. She led the Panthers in nine offensive categories: .382 batting average, .588 slugging percentage, 136 at bats, 52 hits, 33 runs scored, 25 runs batted in, 11 doubles, seven stolen bases and tied her season record of five home runs.

Nevy also set two career records this season with a .385 batting average and a .628 slugging percentage and finished second in home runs with 10. She

graduated in May with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. Nevy is a 1997 graduate of Kentridge High School in Kent, Wash.

The GLVC selects one student-athlete in each conference sport to be named GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The award is based upon academic excellence (at least a 3.0 grade point average) and athletic accomplishments.

SOCCER PANTHERS SIGN THREE (June 21, 2001)

Nathan Thompson and Joey Flory from Russellville, Ky., and Zach Heil from Cheyenne, Wyoming, have signed a national letters-of-intent to attend Kentucky Wesleyan College and play soccer for the Panthers according to KWC head coach Scott Pulliam.

Thompson, a four-year starter at forward, led the Panthers with a season record 30 goals, 10 assists and 70 points as a senior for head coach Tom Thompson (father). He also holds Russellville's career records for goals scored with 89, assists with 28 and points with 206. Thompson was a two-time all-district performer, twice selected Most Valuable Player, played in the Kentucky All-Star showcase as a junior and senior and named academic all-state three times.

"Nathan can play both forward and midfield," said Pulliam. "He reads the game very well and I believe the best years of soccer are ahead of him. We are excited to have him join the Panthers next season."

Flory was a four-year starter at defender for Russellville. "He's a very good defender with a nose for the ball and good foot speed," said Pulliam.

Zach Heil, a two-time second team all-state goalie, guided East High School to the Wyoming state championship last month for head coach Kosta Tsandes. He also was twice chosen all-conference and all-region. He is the parents of Ray and Dorthy Heil.

"Zach at 6-4 is a very good athlete with a lot of size to defend the goal. He is a proven winner with big game experience."

NEVY SELECTED TO SOFTBALL ALL-REGION TEAM (June 18, 2001)

Kentucky Wesleyan center fielder Sandy Nevy has been selected second team National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region in softball as voted on by region coaches for the second straight season. Last month she was named first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Nevy, a senior from Kent, Wash., led the Panthers in nine offensive categories: .382 batting average, .588 slugging percentage, 136 at bats, 52 hits, 33 runs scored, 25 runs batted in, 11 doubles, seven stolen bases and tied her season record of five home runs. She set two career records this season with a .385 batting average and a .628 slugging percentage and finished second in home runs with 10.

The Panthers finished the season with a 14-32 record under second-year head coach Fred Gillum.

KWC RETURNS TO FORMER WINCHESTER CAMPUS TO RETRIEVE ORIGINAL BASKETBALL FLOOR FROM 76 YEARS AGO (June 18, 2001)

Kentucky Wesleyan College, who called Winchester home for 61 years, will return to their old eight-acre campus on Wednesday, June 20 at 11 a.m. ET to remove the center jump circle from the original basketball floor in KWC's former "Spencer Memorial Gymnasium" [now called College Park Gym] that was built January, 1926.

"We are thrilled to be bringing the Center Jump Circle from the Spencer Gymnasium floor to Owensboro," said KWC President Dr. Wesley H. Poling. "The legacy of championship basketball at Kentucky Wesleyan College started in Spencer Gym, and we will now be able to have a piece of that legacy on permanent display on the Owensboro campus".

"We appreciate the generosity of the City of Winchester and the Parks and Recreation Department in making this historical artifact available to us. We continue to celebrate and preserve our rich heritage of the years Kentucky Wesleyan occupied the campus in Winchester."

The Panthers defeated Transylvania, 34-23, in the first game at Spencer Gym on January 9, 1926 and went on to a career home record of 124 wins and 77 losses for a 63.5 winning percentage in 24 seasons (1926-51). KWC won five of their first 11 Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament basketball championships while in Winchester.

Today, Kentucky Wesleyan continues the "championship tradition" by winning their eighth record breaking NCAA Division II National Championship in March. With the eight titles the Panthers are second all-time to UCLA’s 11 in NCAA basketball championships. The Panthers won the NCAA titles in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999 and 2001, making KWC the only school in NCAA history to win a national championship in each of the past five decades.

The Winchester campus, located on College Drive, is now called College Park. The gym currently serves as offices for the Winchester Parks and Recreation Department's along with their indoor activities. The building was built for $100,000 and will be renovated later this summer.

MCVEY RESIGNS (June 6, 2001)

Kentucky Wesleyan head baseball coach Greg McVey resigned today to accept the same position at Quincy University in Quincy, Ill. McVey posted a 37-54 record in two seasons with the Panthers. A national search for the position will begin immediately.

PANTHERS FINISH SECOND IN BASKETBALL ATTENDANCE (June 5, 2001)

Kentucky Wesleyan College, who won their eighth breaking NCAA Championship in March, for the second straight season and fourth-time in school history finished second in the nation (Div. II) in average men's basketball attendance for the 2000-01 season with 3,883 per game as released by the NCAA today.

The Panthers led the nation in total home attendance with 69,902 in 18 games for the third straight year. In the past 22 years, Kentucky Wesleyan has been the only private college or university in Division II national attendance figures. The rest have been state colleges or universities.

First was Morehouse (Ga.) with 4,404 per game, followed by KWC, South Dakota State (3,765), North Dakota (2,987), South Dakota (2,716), Southern Indiana (2,577), Northern State [S.D.] (2,507), Pittsburg State [Kan.] (2,494), Johnson C. Smith [NC] (2,493) and Augustana [SD] (2,456).

The Great Lakes Valley Conference, which KWC is a chartered member, finished fifth in attendance for Division II conferences with an average of 1,210 per game. The top league was the North Central Conference with 2,118.

The Panthers won the NCAA titles in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999 and 2001.

The national average for a Division II game (261 members) in 2001 was 887. The NCAA began reporting basketball attendance figures in 1977.

NCAA CHAMPIONS ADDS THIRD DIVISION I TRANSFER (June 5, 2001)

Trey Ferguson, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound, guard/forward from Tennessee Tech University, will transfer to Kentucky Wesleyan College for his final two seasons and play basketball for the defending and eight-time NCAA Div. II National Champions according to KWC head coach Ray Harper.

Ferguson, a native of Birmingham, Ala., saw limited playing time for the Golden Eagles where he averaged 4.8 points, one rebound and one assist in 11 games this past season as a sophomore. He shot 45.7 percent from the field, 52.2 from three-point land and 52.9 percent from the foul line. As a freshman, Ferguson played in 22 of 28 games averaging 3.4 points and 1.0 rebounds.

"Trey brings a lot of versatility to the program where he could play up to four positions," said Harper. "He can really shoot the three but he can also put the ball on the floor for the drive to the basket. With his size, strength and bulk Trey will also play some on the inside. He's a very solid player who plays a very smart game of basketball."

Ferguson led Hoover High School with 16.5 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game where he was named first-team all-state as a senior in 1999. He finished second in rebounding with 5.8 per contest and shot 50.1 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from three-point territory and 78.2 percent from the free throw line.

After his senior year, Ferguson was named by the Birmingham News to their Super 12 squad by ranking him fourth best on the state list. He also was placed on the 1999 State's Super Seniors list by ranking second in class 6A. Ferguson twice attended NIKE All-American camp and Future Stars National camps twice each.

In the classroom, he was an honors graduate where he maintained a 3.85 grade point average and was a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

Ferguson joins fellow Division I transfers 6-7 forward Tyrus Boswell from Mississippi State and 6-2 guard Gene Evans from Wisconsin Green Bay along with prep signee 6-4 guard Dewayne Rogers from Hart County (Ky.) High School to bring the Panther newcomers for the 2001-02 season to five.

Kentucky Wesleyan returns eight letterwinners including two starters from the 31-3 NCAA Championship squad.

SEVENTEEN STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE (June 4, 2000)

Seventeen Kentucky Wesleyan College student-athletes were named to the 2001 Great Lakes Valley Conference Winter and Spring Sports All-Academic team today.

Topping the list is three-time member Allison Estes (basketball) a junior from Lewisport, Ky./Hancock County High School.

Two-time honorees include Lori Boarman (softball) a junior from Owensboro, Ky./Owensboro Catholic HS; Ryan Brickwood (baseball) a sophomore from Canton, Ohio/Canton South HS; Kerry McHugh (softball) a senior from Louisville, Ky./Ballard HS; Thomas Melton (baseball) a senior from Graham, Ky./Muhlenberg South HS; Travis Powell (basketball) a junior from LaCenter, Ky./Ballard Memorial HS; Alisha Tanner (softball) a sophomore from Slaughters, Ky./Webster County HS; Kami Vaal (basketball) a sophomore from Celestine, Ind./Northeast Dubois HS;

First-time selections are Brian Crowe (golf) a senior from Manitou, Ky./Hopkins County Central HS; Adam Hancock (baseball) a freshman from Owensboro/Owensboro Catholic HS; Katie Kavanaugh (softball) a sophomore from Louisville, Ky./Eastern HS; Selena Morris (softball) a freshman from Whitesville, Ky./Trinity HS; Sandy Nevy (softball) a senior from Kent, Wash./Kentridge HS; Lydia Purvis (basketball) a freshman from LaGrange, Ky./Oldham County HS; Brandy Reynolds (basketball) a freshman from Mt. Vernon, Ky./Rockcastle HS:

Carol Richardson (softball) a freshman from Radcliff, Ky./North Hardin HS; Katie Vandiver (golf) a junior from Livermore, Ky./McLean County HS; and Kelly Waters (basketball) a junior from Cold Spring, Ky./Campbell County HS.

Overall 34 Kentucky Wesleyan student-athletes were named to the GLVC All-Academic teams during the 2000-01 seasons.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a starter or significant substitute and the student-athlete has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 or has attained a GPA of at least 3.4 in each of the preceding two semesters. Freshmen or first-year transfers must achieve a GPA of 3.4 or higher during the academic year.

Kentucky Wesleyan College
Office of Sports Information
270-926-3111

07/11/06
pickeril@kwc.edu