June 30, 2015 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Association of Lettermen has elected eight new members to the USC Athletic Hall of Fame for 2015, it was announced Tuesday morning.
Miki Barber, Women’s Track & Field (1999-2003) – As a sprinter, Barber collected 21 All America titles and 5 NCAA titles, including 3 individual titles. She was a member of the USA Olympic team in 2000, the 2001 World Championship team, and a member of the Gamecocks first-ever NCAA title winning team in 2002.
Mark Berson, Men’s Soccer (1978-present) – Berson has served as head men’s soccer coach since 1978(37 years). Berson’s teams have won 472 games and he owns more NCAA Division I victories than any other active coach. He is one of three men’s soccer coaches all-time to win 450 games in Division I and his teams have appeared in 20 NCAA Tournaments. In 12 seasons in which his teams played under conference affiliation, Coach Berson’s teams have won four conference championships. His 1988 and 1993 teams made the NCAA Final Four, and his 1993 team played in the national championship game. Berson has coached 11 individual All Americans and 2 National Goalkeepers of the Year with six of his former players at Carolina that have been inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sheldon Brown, Football (1998-2001) – Brown earned first-team AFCA All-America honors in 2000 and was a third-team All-America honoree in 2001 by The Sporting News. Brown was also a two-time All-SEC selection in 2000 and 2001 and was a member of the back-to-back 2001 & 2002 Outback Bowl champion teams. Brown was a second round selection in the 2002 NFL Draft and went onto an 11-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns.
Devan Downey, Men’s Basketball (2008-10) – Downey ranks fourth on the South Carolina all-time scoring list with 1,901 points, a mark he achieved in just three seasons (2008-10). Downey was a three-time first-team All-SEC performer by the AP and Coaches and earned honorable mention All-America honors in 2009 and 2010. He was also a two-time SEC All-Defensive team selection in ’09 and ’10.
David Marchbanks, Baseball (2001-03) – Marchbanks went 31-8 in a three-year career including a 15-3 mark in 2003 to earn SEC Pitcher of the Year honors. Marchbanks was a 2003 first-team All-America selection by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Marchbanks played on two College World Series teams in 2002 and 2003.
Kenny McKinley, Football (2005-08) – McKinley is South Carolina’s all-time leader in pass receptions with 207 in a four-year career and second only to Alshon Jeffery in yards receiving with 2,781. McKinley caught 19 career touchdown passes and holds the Carolina record with 43 consecutive games with a reception.
Karen Sanchelli, Softball (1985-88) – Sanchelli earned NSCA first-team All-America honors in 1987 and 1988 and was three-time NSCA All-Region selection. She led the Gamecocks in batting average, base hits and slugging percentage for three consecutive seasons.
Greg Ward, Baseball (1972-75) – Ward ranks third in career wins with the Garnet & Black with 34 and hurled 25 complete games, three more than any other Gamecock in a career. He is fifth all-time in career strikeouts with 323 and once threw two complete games in a doubleheader sweep of Georgia Tech in 1973, the second game being a shutout. Ward played on the 1975 Gamecock baseball team that was the first to punch a ticket to Omaha and the College World Series.
These individuals will be honored and inducted on Thursday, September 10 in The Zone at Williams Brice Stadium, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Inductions will begin at 6:45pm. They will also be recognized at the Carolina vs Kentucky football game on September 12.
Ticket information will be forthcoming.
