Gardner-Webb Announces 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame Class
October 11, 2019 | Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Track & Field
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb welcomed six new members to its Athletics Hall of Fame Friday, in addition to announcing its 2019 Hall of Fame Meritorious Service Award.
The newest inductees are: William Andrews, Jr. (Football); Brooks Derrick (Soccer); Shed Harris (Football); Brian Johnston (Football); Elizabeth Maxwell Knippen (Track & Field) and John Searight (Basketball).
The 2019 Meritorious Service Award was presented to longtime Gardner-Webb supporters Hamrick Insurance.
Biographies for the six Hall of Fame inductees are listed below:
Standout receiver William Andrews, Jr., finished his four-year career at Gardner-Webb with more catches than any man before him. He wasted little time announcing his arrival to college football, catching a GWU freshman-record 70 passes in 2000 as the Runnin' Bulldogs made their move to the NCAA Division I-AA ranks. His 12 catches for 203 yards that November helped GWU shock No. 23 New Hampshire on the road, and Andrews capped the season by earning honorable mention I-AA All-America honors from the Football Gazette. By the time his career finished, Andrews caught at least one pass in each of his 43 career games played and set Gardner-Webb's all-time receptions mark with 234. He added 3,149 yards and 35 touchdowns over four seasons, earning first-team All-Big South Conference honors in both 2002 and 2003. Andrews posted 10 games with at least 100 yards receiving in four years and was part of teams that compiled an impressive 30-13 overall record during that span. Andrews' efforts helped Gardner-Webb win 17 games in 2002 and 2003, along with a pair of Big South Conference titles and top-20 rankings in both major national polls in 2002.
An early standout for head coach Tony Setzer between the posts, Brooks Derrick finished his four seasons at Gardner-Webb as one of the best goal keepers in program history. Derrick's legacy was built on steady production. He posted school records with 18.0 career shutouts and a 1.43 goals against average from 1993-1996. Derrick also ranks second in GWU history with 362 career saves. His best season came in 1995, when he established Gardner-Webb's single-season records with 10.0 shutouts and a 0.95 goals against average. His 1995 shutout total still ranks No. 5 in the South Atlantic Conference record book. Derrick's heroics in goal that season helped Gardner-Webb to its first winning season, as the Runnin' Bulldogs closed that campaign with a 12-6-1 overall mark and a 4-3-0 record in the South Atlantic Conference.
One of Gardner-Webb's unsung heros on the gridion in the 1990s, running back Shedrick "Shed" Harris was a workhorse in the backfield. Harris played on Gardner-Webb's famed 1992 team that finished 12-2 and advanced to the NAIA National Championship Bowl, but was at his best after fighting back from an injury-shortened 1993 season. Harris returned stronger than ever, leading Gardner-Webb in rushing in 1994, 1995 and 1996. He was a force in his final campaign, rushing for a career-high 1,080 yards and 13 touchdowns in 1996. That production saw Harris earn second-team All-South Atlantic Conference honors and finish his career as one of the most productive rushers in program history. Harris finished with 2,453 career yards and 24 touchdowns on 513 carries, with his yardage total still ranking No. 6 in program history. He is also one of only five ball carriers in program history to record 500 or more attempts in a career.
Defensive end Brian Johnston played college football more than 2,300 miles from his home in San Diego, Calif., and spent four seasons making the most of his time on the east coast. After one productive season at outside linebacker in 2004, Johnston's career took off when he moved to defensive end as a sophomore. He led the Big South with 5.0 sacks in 2005 and posted 12.5 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Conference honors in the process. Johnston improved once again in 2006, earning second-team Division I FCS All-America honors and Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors after finishing with 77 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 11 games. Prior to his senior season, Johnston was named to the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List. He responded with 74 total tackles, 29.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and 23 quarterback pressures to earn consensus Division I FCS All-America honors and Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Johnston finished his career with 296 tackles, a school-record 53.5 tackles for loss and a school-record 69 quarterback pressures. His 20.5 career sacks remain in the top-10 in school history and his overall tackles are the most ever by a defensive lineman at Gardner-Webb. Johnston went on to record two sacks in the 2008 Hula Bowl and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played in nine games as a rookie in 2008.
Elizabeth Maxwell Knippen spent time with Gardner-Webb's volleyball program as part of her two-sport career in Boiling Springs, but it was her excellence with the GWU track & field program that turned heads. Maxwell Knippen finished her career as one of the most honored and decorated throwers in program history. She was a two-time Academic All-America selection, garnering those awards following the 2007 and 2008 seasons. She earned All-Atlantic Sun Conference honors 12 times and finished her career with five school records to her credit. Maxwell Knippen was named 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Most Outstanding Field Performer following the Outdoor Championships – winning the shot put title with a distance of 12.99 meters. She also earned All-Conference honors with strong efforts in the hammer and javelin during that same meet. Maxwell Knippen also won the 2008 Atlantic Sun Discus title at the Outdoor Championships with a distance of 38.58 meters.
A key piece for Gardner-Webb's basketball juggernaut in the 1970s, John Searight continued a rich tradition of strong post play during his two seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs. His effort in the paint helped the 'Dogs to 48 wins over two seasons and produced two-year totals of 675 points and 470 rebounds. As a junior, he was solid down low with averages of 8.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to help Gardner-Webb to the NAIA National Tournament. He took on a more notable role as a senior, exploding for season averages of 16.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Searight earned first-team NAIA All-District 26 honors that season and was also the MVP of the Asheville Optimist Tip Off Tournament and a member of the 1974 Gardner-Webb Holiday All-Tournament Team. He ranked second in scoring and first in rebounding on that 1975 Gardner-Webb squad and was the 1974-75 recipient of Gardner-Webb's Karl Neilson Award.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2019 will be recognized again prior to kickoff of Saturday's football game with Hampton (1:30 pm kick).
The newest inductees are: William Andrews, Jr. (Football); Brooks Derrick (Soccer); Shed Harris (Football); Brian Johnston (Football); Elizabeth Maxwell Knippen (Track & Field) and John Searight (Basketball).
The 2019 Meritorious Service Award was presented to longtime Gardner-Webb supporters Hamrick Insurance.
Biographies for the six Hall of Fame inductees are listed below:
Standout receiver William Andrews, Jr., finished his four-year career at Gardner-Webb with more catches than any man before him. He wasted little time announcing his arrival to college football, catching a GWU freshman-record 70 passes in 2000 as the Runnin' Bulldogs made their move to the NCAA Division I-AA ranks. His 12 catches for 203 yards that November helped GWU shock No. 23 New Hampshire on the road, and Andrews capped the season by earning honorable mention I-AA All-America honors from the Football Gazette. By the time his career finished, Andrews caught at least one pass in each of his 43 career games played and set Gardner-Webb's all-time receptions mark with 234. He added 3,149 yards and 35 touchdowns over four seasons, earning first-team All-Big South Conference honors in both 2002 and 2003. Andrews posted 10 games with at least 100 yards receiving in four years and was part of teams that compiled an impressive 30-13 overall record during that span. Andrews' efforts helped Gardner-Webb win 17 games in 2002 and 2003, along with a pair of Big South Conference titles and top-20 rankings in both major national polls in 2002.
An early standout for head coach Tony Setzer between the posts, Brooks Derrick finished his four seasons at Gardner-Webb as one of the best goal keepers in program history. Derrick's legacy was built on steady production. He posted school records with 18.0 career shutouts and a 1.43 goals against average from 1993-1996. Derrick also ranks second in GWU history with 362 career saves. His best season came in 1995, when he established Gardner-Webb's single-season records with 10.0 shutouts and a 0.95 goals against average. His 1995 shutout total still ranks No. 5 in the South Atlantic Conference record book. Derrick's heroics in goal that season helped Gardner-Webb to its first winning season, as the Runnin' Bulldogs closed that campaign with a 12-6-1 overall mark and a 4-3-0 record in the South Atlantic Conference.
One of Gardner-Webb's unsung heros on the gridion in the 1990s, running back Shedrick "Shed" Harris was a workhorse in the backfield. Harris played on Gardner-Webb's famed 1992 team that finished 12-2 and advanced to the NAIA National Championship Bowl, but was at his best after fighting back from an injury-shortened 1993 season. Harris returned stronger than ever, leading Gardner-Webb in rushing in 1994, 1995 and 1996. He was a force in his final campaign, rushing for a career-high 1,080 yards and 13 touchdowns in 1996. That production saw Harris earn second-team All-South Atlantic Conference honors and finish his career as one of the most productive rushers in program history. Harris finished with 2,453 career yards and 24 touchdowns on 513 carries, with his yardage total still ranking No. 6 in program history. He is also one of only five ball carriers in program history to record 500 or more attempts in a career.
Defensive end Brian Johnston played college football more than 2,300 miles from his home in San Diego, Calif., and spent four seasons making the most of his time on the east coast. After one productive season at outside linebacker in 2004, Johnston's career took off when he moved to defensive end as a sophomore. He led the Big South with 5.0 sacks in 2005 and posted 12.5 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Conference honors in the process. Johnston improved once again in 2006, earning second-team Division I FCS All-America honors and Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors after finishing with 77 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 11 games. Prior to his senior season, Johnston was named to the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List. He responded with 74 total tackles, 29.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and 23 quarterback pressures to earn consensus Division I FCS All-America honors and Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Johnston finished his career with 296 tackles, a school-record 53.5 tackles for loss and a school-record 69 quarterback pressures. His 20.5 career sacks remain in the top-10 in school history and his overall tackles are the most ever by a defensive lineman at Gardner-Webb. Johnston went on to record two sacks in the 2008 Hula Bowl and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played in nine games as a rookie in 2008.
Elizabeth Maxwell Knippen spent time with Gardner-Webb's volleyball program as part of her two-sport career in Boiling Springs, but it was her excellence with the GWU track & field program that turned heads. Maxwell Knippen finished her career as one of the most honored and decorated throwers in program history. She was a two-time Academic All-America selection, garnering those awards following the 2007 and 2008 seasons. She earned All-Atlantic Sun Conference honors 12 times and finished her career with five school records to her credit. Maxwell Knippen was named 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Most Outstanding Field Performer following the Outdoor Championships – winning the shot put title with a distance of 12.99 meters. She also earned All-Conference honors with strong efforts in the hammer and javelin during that same meet. Maxwell Knippen also won the 2008 Atlantic Sun Discus title at the Outdoor Championships with a distance of 38.58 meters.
A key piece for Gardner-Webb's basketball juggernaut in the 1970s, John Searight continued a rich tradition of strong post play during his two seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs. His effort in the paint helped the 'Dogs to 48 wins over two seasons and produced two-year totals of 675 points and 470 rebounds. As a junior, he was solid down low with averages of 8.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to help Gardner-Webb to the NAIA National Tournament. He took on a more notable role as a senior, exploding for season averages of 16.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Searight earned first-team NAIA All-District 26 honors that season and was also the MVP of the Asheville Optimist Tip Off Tournament and a member of the 1974 Gardner-Webb Holiday All-Tournament Team. He ranked second in scoring and first in rebounding on that 1975 Gardner-Webb squad and was the 1974-75 recipient of Gardner-Webb's Karl Neilson Award.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2019 will be recognized again prior to kickoff of Saturday's football game with Hampton (1:30 pm kick).
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