Captions Magazine - Bethel University

Kayla McSweeney
Kayla McSweeney came to Bethel College in 2000 from Mayfield,
Ky., where she was a basketball standout at Graves County High
School. She was a defining player for the Lady Cats' basketball
program and helped elevate the program to a new level during her
stint from 2000-2004.
She was the first Lady Wildcat to be named to the NAIA All-
American team. She had 440 career assists and 277 career steals.
She scored 1,389 points and was a four-time KIAC All-Conference
player. She was named the KIAC MVP in 2002-2003. At the
conclusion of her career her No. 12 was retired at the school.
Along with her talent and accomplishments on the court she was
also a two-time member of the KIAC All-Academic team.
Her coach at Bethel, Larry Eddings, commented, "She was one
of the most coachable young ladies I ever had the privilege to
coach. She certainly made me a better coach. We just put the ball
in her hands, and she made things happen. As great as a player
she was, she was and is a great person as well."
Former Bethel assistant and now head coach, Chris Nelson
shared his thoughts about Kayla's impact and legacy. "It is fitting
we pay tribute to Kayla for not only being a great player but for
being the cornerstone for this program. Coach Eddings had a vi-
Shorty Akers
Shorty Akers is one of Bethel's biggest fans.
He has been a devoted fan at home and on
the road for many years. His love for Bethel
Athletics is recognized by all of those who
follow the Lady Cats and Cats.
Shorty Akers graduated from Cottage
Grove High School in 1958 in the top ten
of his class. He was invited to try out at
Bethel, and that began his association with
the school. He played basketball for a year,
starting 14 of 18 games that season. He hurt
his back during the summer while working
at Reynolds Aluminum Company and was
unable to continue to play.
This was the pre Vietnam era and rather
than being drafted Shorty joined the Navy.
During boot camp he was selected to be the
Company Honor man. He was able to continue
some basketball playing on the USS
Wasp's team. They had a 25-1 record.
After leaving the Navy, since he had previous experience at
Aluminum Company, when a new company opened at New Johnsonville
he applied there and served as foreman for six years. A
new company opened in New Madrid, Mo., and he transferred and
worked there as General Foreman in Metal Products for 20 years.
Most of the Hall of Fame people here coached a lot after their
careers was over at Bethel. Shorty's was limited to Midget League.
He did not have a very successful career going 2-12,
sion where he wanted the program
to be and Kayla McSweeney was
one of the key ingredients. The sacrifice,
perseverance, teamwork and
"Championship" accomplishments
helped create the opportunities our
players and staff have here today.
The success of our program has
been shaped by her and the dedicated
members of her teams to rebuild
the Lady Wildcat Basketball foundation
from the ground up. Those
players and staff were committed in
changing the culture of the program
and alter the landscape of women's
basketball at the school."
Kayla McSweeney Collins is
married to Dwight Collins, and they
reside in Jackson with their four
children. She is a teacher at North
Parkway Middle School in Jackson.
Bethel Fan Shorty Akers is congratulated
by Bethel Athletic Director Dale Kelley upon
his induction into the Bethel Athletic Hall of
Fame.
Hall of Fame Inductee Kayla
McSweeney addresses the
crowd at the Homecoming
Dinner and Hall of Fame
Induction.
After heart bypass surgery in 1989, he
retired in May of 1990. In 1994 he moved
back to Tennessee.
Akers commented about his relationship
with Bethel, "A cousin of Kayla McSweeney
said we should go watch her play at
Bethel. We did and have been hooked on all
Bethel sports ever since. We look forward
to cooking another fish supper for the Men's
Basketball team at Christmas."
Bethel men's basketball coach, Jeff Britt
said, "It is a pleasure and joy Bethel University
will be inducting Mr. Shorty Akers into
the Bethel Athletics Hall-of-Fame. He has
not only been a mentor to our program but
to me as well. I don't know if he will ever
know how much he means to me personally
as a father figure."
"Even though I have only known Shorty
for a short time, I have come to realize he
is one of Bethel's biggest fans. His trademark is to hand all of us
candy at press row before the games. He loves Bethel, and I think
it is fitting his love for the Cats and Lady Cats is being recognized
tonight. The school is a better place having fans like Shorty," said
Bethel Sports Information Director and radio broadcaster, Dave
McCulley.
Shorty, his wife, Linda, and son, Craig, have and continue to be
devoted fans and supporters of the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats.
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