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Berea Middle School was highlighted for its new college and career cafe

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GREENVILLE, S.C. —

The Greenville Triumph recognized Berea Middle School Wednesday night at Furman's Paladin Stadium for a project geared toward inspiring students as they progress through their academic careers.

According to the Greenville Triumph:

"Over the past several months, Greenville Triumph and Liberty SC have been working with Berea Middle School to transform the school’s cafeteria into the “College and Career Café.” With the goal of inspiring students to pursue a college education, the transformation included murals composed of a multitude of college and career logos, motivational messages, and artistic inspirations custom designed by local Artist Adam Schrimmer. On Wednesday, the club will recognize Berea Middle School for the project pre-game of the Triumph’s match against the Chattanooga Red Wolves. Over 800 students and faculty have been given tickets to the match with the opportunity to participate in a special Berea Middle School parade at half-time."

Principal Brianna Falvey was presented with the “Hometown Hero Award” prior to kick-off.

"This award is not only for Berea Middle School, but because of Berea Middle School,” Falvey said.

Falvey said the school's motto this year is "success is my responsibility." Falvey said she hopes the new college and career cafe will be a catalyst for students to envision their future beyond any limitations.

"No one person is more important than the other,” Falvey said. “We try to make sure that in our environment that we provide them balances of love, support and accountability. Berea Middle School does get funding from Title I because over 90% of our students are considered pupils in poverty. We want to prove the haters wrong. Our kids are smart, they’re intelligent, they’re capable, and they’re worthy of great things. This cafeteria has opened their eyes to even some of the local colleges and universities that they’re not aware of.”

Jose Olivares was one of several Berea Middle School students in attendance Wednesday night.

"The cafeteria used to be green and white, and kind of boring in my opinion,” Olivares said. "Now, it looks great. It looks great. When I see it, it makes me feel bigger. It makes me feel better about myself and seeing the cafeteria like how it is it makes me want to pursue my dream a lot more.”

Falvey said she hopes students realize that despite life's circumstances, defying the odds is possible and can be made a little easier with a daily reminder. Something she said she hopes the new cafe provides its students.

“Ultimately, in the long run, they’re going to be taking care of us one day," Falvey said. "So, we need to make sure we’re doing right by them and to make sure they have every opportunity to make it.”

Greenville Triumph Vice President Doug Erwin said being involved with Berea Middle School has been a rewarding experience for the Triumph organization.

The South Carolina High School League announced Dec. 17 its proposal for realignment -- a shakeup that determines the region and classification for each team competing in the SCHSL. Realignment occurs every two years.

The SCHSL uses each school's enrollment in grades 9 through 11 on the 45th day of the school to determine its classification. In the current proposal, the 36 schools with the largest enrollment would be placed in Class AAAAA; the next 41 were placed in AAAA, 43 in AAA, 44 in Class AA and 55 in A.

There are opportunities for a school to appeal its proposed placement to the SCHSL. The first occurred this week; others occur Feb. 9 and Feb. 16 before realignment is finalized Feb. 22.

On Monday morning, Berea High athletic director Andrew Chisholm and principal Mike Noel appealed the Bulldogs' proposed placement in Class AAAA to the Class AAAA and AAA executive committees.

The Bulldogs, who have competed in Class AAA for the past two years, are proposed to head back up tp AAAA, the classification they competed in during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

"If you take a look at our financial situation as well as the students that come to us that, for lack of a better word, are not going to be able to participate," Noel said during the appeal to the AAA executive committee, "then we should be in AAA."

The Class AAAA executive committee voted 5-4 against allowing Berea to remain in Class AAA; the Class AAA executive committee voted 6-3 in favor of Berea. Both committees have to vote in favor for the appeal to be approved, so the appeal now goes to the Feb. 9 appeal date, where Chisholm and Noel will again appeal their proposed placement in AAAA.

Berea appealed the proposed placement in Region 1-AAAA and hopes to be placed in Region 3-AAA with Blue Ridge, Broome, Carolina, Chapman and Travelers Rest.

Berea is the only school in Greenville County among the seven that are proposed to move classifications that would placed in a higher classification by the SCHSL.

In its letter of appeal, Berea stated that, "Berea High School sits at the center of a multiculturally diverse community. Many factors in the surrounding community skew an accurate count of the real time enrollment of Berea High School."

That statement is key to Berea's appeal. According to a copy of the appeal filed to the SCHSL, Berea's 45th-day enrollment count was 1,025, a total that deems the school large enough to be placed in Class AAAA, but barely. Another Greenville County school, Travelers Rest, has an enrollment count of 976 -- 49 fewer students than Berea in grades 9 through 11 -- but Travelers Rest is proposed to moved down from AAAA to AAA next fall.

Noel and Chisholm argued to the AAA and AAAA executive committees that Berea should be placed in AAA, too. The main reason being the makeup of its community and its impact on enrollment. According to the letter, "121 students included in our 45th day count ... are not eligible to participate in athletics in the next realignment."

Those 121 students would put Berea's 45th-day count below that of Travelers Rest. According to the filing, the high school has experienced the withdrawal of 283 students since Aug. 17, 2021 – the first day of school – while enrolling 192 since the start.

"Our uniqueness skews our numbers," Chisholm said during the appeal to AAA Executive Committee.

That uniqueness includes two programs and two types of students who attend the school that make up the 121 students that are ineligible to compete in athletics.

The school has 15 students with intellectual and physical disabilities, that "do not possess the mental or physical abilities to compete in athletics," according to the filing. There are 37 students in Berea's Newcomer Program that is for "for new immigrant children to enroll in public school," who do not have the proper education background or paperwork to be eligible to compete in athletics, according to the appeal filing.

There were 21 students who graduated early in 2020 and 48 who are in their fourth or fifth year at Berea but not on the grade levels that were counted as 9th- through 11th- graders on the 45-day count provided to the SCHSL.

Keep reading:

The SCHSL has not publicly announced the cutoff numbers for each classification and did not respond to an email and voicemails requesting specific numbers as of Thur. Berea's appeal filing states that their 45-day count "is only 49.17 students above the cutoff line between AAA and AAAA."

If Berea's appeal is denied Feb. 9 by the overall SCHSL executive committee and again on Feb. 16 by the SCHSL appellate panel, the Bulldogs will be one of the smallest schools competing in AAAA.

The filing also cites the immense struggles of Berea High's athletic teams while competing in AAAA. The boys soccer program at the school has been highly competitive for several years. Berea's boys soccer team won state titles in Class AAA in 2017 and 2018.

"Traditionally, my last point is, we struggle every time we're placed in AAAA," Chisholm said during Berea's presentation to the Class AAA Executive Committee. The SCHSL has not said it takes competition into account while realigning regions and classifications.

Joe Dandron covers high school sports for The Greenville News. Contact him at jdandron@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @JoeMDandron. You can send in scores, stats and story tips to 864Huddle@gannett.com.

Whether you want to call it by its nickname, the “Textile Capital of the World,” or just by its name, Greenville, SC, is one of the great destinations to reside in the South. From iconic eats to the arts scene, it’s not a surprise that about 72,100 people live in Greenville.

As more people move to Greenville, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $334,500 and the average sale price per square foot is $194. And the average rent price for a 2-bedroom apartment in Greenville is $1,570.

Don’t worry if those numbers don’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best affordable suburbs of Greenville, SC, to check out. And they’re all less than 25 minutes away from the city. That way you can live nearby without paying the price of living in Greenville.

#1: Parker

Median home price: $170,000 Average sale price per square foot: $119 Driving distance from Greenville: 11 minutes Parker, SC homes for sale Parker, SC apartments for rent

With a median home sale price of $170,000, Parker lands the number one spot on our list as the most affordable Greenville suburb. About an 11-minute drive away from downtown Greenville, Parker is home to roughly 13,400 residents. If you’re considering moving to this area make sure to check out one of the many local restaurants and shops or visit one of the city’s parks.

Your next home is just a tap away

Median home price: $220,000 Average sale price per square foot: $166 Driving distance from Greenville: 10 minutes Welcome, SC homes for sale Welcome, SC apartments for rent

About a 10-minute drive away from downtown Greenville is the town of Welcome. So you can visit the Greenville Zoo and explore the Pettigru Historic District in just a quick drive. When living in this suburb of 7,300 people, you can spend time exploring the charming downtown.

#3: Gantt

Median home price: $227,000 Average sale price per square foot: $154 Driving distance from Greenville: 20 minutes Gantt, SC homes for sale Gantt, SC apartments for rent

Roughly 20 minutes away from downtown Greenville, you’ll find yourself in the suburb of Gantt. Even with a population of about 15,000, there are plenty of cool areas to explore in Gantt. If you find yourself moving to the third most affordable suburb, visit Lakeside Park where you’ll also find the 7th Inning Splash Park.

#4: Berea

Median home price: $230,000 Average sale price per square foot: $159 Driving distance from Greenville: 10 minutes Berea, SC homes for sale Berea, SC apartments for rent

A little more expensive than Gantt is the suburb of Berea, home to roughly 15,600 residents. It’s just a 10-minute drive into Greenville, so you can take a quick trip into the city whenever you please.

#5: Sans Souci

Median home price: $266,500 Average sale price per square foot: $206 Driving distance from Greenville: 8 minutes Sans Souci, SC homes for sale Sans Souci, SC apartments for rent

Drive 8 minutes outside of Greenville and you’ll find the suburb of Sans Souci, another great area to add to your list. With 8,600 people living in this affordable town, Sans Souci is a great option to consider when looking to stay close to Greenville without paying the premium for a home in the city.

#6: Easley

Median home price: $269,995 Average sale price per square foot: $162 Driving distance from Greenville: 25 minutes Easley, SC homes for sale Easley, SC apartments for rent

Sixth on the list is another one of the well-known suburbs of Greenville, SC – Easley, where the median home sale price is about $60K less than in Greenville. With just about 22,900 people living in Easley, it’s a great suburb to consider moving to. Make sure to stop by one of the local restaurants, go shopping, or visit one of the town’s ponds or parks.

#7: Greer

Median home price: $290,942 Average sale price per square foot: $166 Driving distance from Greenville: 25 minutes Greer, SC homes for sale Greer, SC apartments for rent

Claiming the seventh spot on our list of affordable suburbs of Greenville, SC, is Greer, which is roughly a 25-minute drive into downtown. With a population of close to 35,300, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to experience in Greer. If you’re going to call this suburb home, plan time to visit the downtown Greer area, or check out one of the parks like Greer City Park or Lake Robinson.

#8: Powdersville

Median home price: $293,500 Average sale price per square foot: $174 Driving distance from Greenville: 15 minutes Powdersville, SC homes for sale Powdersville, SC apartments for rent

If you’ve been living in Greenville for some time, you’ve likely heard about the suburb of Powdersville. This affordable city is home to about 10,000 residents, so you’ll have a fraction of Greenville’s population while remaining only 15 minutes from the city.

#9: Lyman

Median home price: $299,900 Average sale price per square foot: $155 Driving distance from Greenville: 25 minutes Lyman, SC homes for sale Lyman, SC apartments for rent

Another great place to consider living in that will get you access to downtown Greenville in just about 25 minutes is Lyman. Roughly 6,200 people live in this suburb, but there’s always somewhere new to check out in Lyman, like exploring the downtown area.

#10: Fountain Inn

Median home price: $300,213 Average sale price per square foot: $158 Driving distance from Greenville: 25 minutes Fountain Inn, SC homes for sale Fountain Inn, SC apartments for rent

Taking the last spot on our list of affordable suburbs of Greenville, SC, you’ll want to consider moving to is Fountain Inn. Without traffic, you’ll find yourself in Greenville in roughly 25 minutes. This suburb has a population of 10,400 and you can visit historic landmarks like the McDowell House and F.W. Welborn House. There’s always something to check out while living in Fountain Inn.

Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Greenville and under a 25-minute drive from downtown Greenville. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com March 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.

Serving homebuyers and sellers in the South Carolina area, Christopher Corley is a top real estate agent at Redfin with the latest market insights and local expertise. With years of experience as a real estate agent in the greater South Carolina area, Christopher Corley possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the local market.

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EDISTO ISLAND, S.C. (WYFF) - Berea High School teacher and avid shark angler, Nikki Colwell, is celebrating for multiple reasons as the school year comes to a close.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources confirmed her latest shark catch is now the largest of its kind recorded in state history.

Gov. Henry McMaster confirmed the record with his signature.

Colwell pulled in the 173 lbs., 5 oz. spinner shark off Edisto Island while on a fishing trip with her dad on April 18.

A business & computer science teacher at Berea High School, Colwell said the record and trip with her dad was a great way to end the year.

“It got really surreal at that moment,” said Colwell. “I almost started crying at the dock because it’s something I’ve wanted for a really, really long time.”

On the day of the catch, Colwell and her dad were resting in the boat while off the Charleston coast near Edisto Island.

She was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when she felt a tug on her line.

“The rod starting going off,” she said. “I had like three bites left and I said alright just let it go for a second, let me finish my sandwich first, at least.”

Colwell said she then reeled in the somewhat calm shark for 30 minutes before bringing it close to the boat.

“Sometimes they’re calm when they get to the boat but because she didn’t fight at all, she was not calm. She kind of went crazy.”

Then the rod snapped.

“I was handlining in my left hand and reeling it in with my right hand while it was still in the rod holder,” she said. “Then it broke off 3 more eyes so there was only one eye on the fishing rod left!”

Once they secured the shark to the boat, Colwell says her dad knew something was different about this catch.

“You could just see in his facial expressions. The wheels were turning that I think this might be a pretty big one.”

He was right. His daughter’s spinner shark beat the state record by over 2 lbs.

Colwell said they named the record-setting shark “Elda.”

Copyright 2021 WYFF. All rights reserved.

Still a few weeks out from the region-play section of the season, Week 2 of the high school football season is upon us. Byrnes beat Greenville handily, Carolina and Berea got in a shootout and Eastside, Greer and the Berea Bulldogs all got their first wins of the season.

On top of all that? Mann is 3-0 for the first time since 2011 after beating Woodruff. Check out a roundup of all the action below from Week 2 of the high school football season in the Greenville area:

Powdersville 41, Mauldin 20: Thomas Williams ran all over Mauldin for 158 yards and four total TDs. Kelvin Johnson had over 100 rushing yards and Emory Watson was 6-of-10 passing before being injured in the third quarter. Josiah Simpson had five catches for 41 yard and a touchdown. Barrett Swedin had one catch for a touchdown for Mauldin.

Hillcrest 19, Clover 14: Hillcrest's Bennett Judy was 16-of-30 for 155 passing yards and a rushing touchdown. Logan Coldren had 39 rushing yards and AJ Mayberry had two catches for 71 yards for Hillcrest. Avery McFadden had seven catches for 43 yards and a 90 yard kickoff return TD.

Travelers Rest 31, Palmetto 20: New TR head coach Michael Lancaster (longtime Dorman assistant) got his first as head coach Friday night as the Devildogs handed Palmetto its second loss.

Holy Innocents Episcopal (GA) 40, Christ Church 0: Christ Church suffered its first loss of the season and is 1-1 on the year.

Crescent 49, Fountain Inn 0: The Fury fell to 0-3 with the loss to Crescent on Friday.

Byrnes 56, Greenville 28: Jayvion Sherman scored two rushing touchdowns and Jayden Pepper had a receiving touchdown and rushing score for Greenville. Quarterback Jordan Sink was 7-of-9 passing for 37 yards and a touchdown.

J.L. Mann 21, Woodruff 3: The Pats improved to 3-0 and handed Woodruff its first loss of the year. Mann QB Ethan Anderson had 83 passing yards with a TD. OJ Jones had two rushing touchdowns and Mikel McClellan had one catch for a 13 yard touchdown.

Eastside 38, Liberty 13: Kalvin Banks and Eli Foster each scored twice on the ground for Eastside. The Eagles averaged 9.56 yards a carry and totaled 373 yards on the ground as Eastside got its first win of the season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kalvin Bank's 226 rushing yards headlines Greenville's Week 2 top football performers

MORE: Thomas Williams can carry Powdersville football. Now he's motivated to win a state title

BYRNES-GREENVILLE: Byrnes football pulls away after close half with 35 straight points, keeps Greenville winless

Berea 41, Carolina 30: Amazay Robinson tallied three total touchdowns (two pass, one rush and wideout Dezmond Tywmon had two receiving scores for Berea. Jimiyah Butler rushed for 107 yards. Drake Laws threw for 164 yards and rushed for 104 for Carolina. Ki'moiray Holland had 12 rushes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Ja'Sean Bowen had 108 receiving yards, Javius Burton had two catches for 32 yards.

Abbeville 28, Southside Christian 14: Southside Christian drops to 0-3 and has played two out of state teams and Class AA powerhouse Abbeville so far.

St. Joseph's 54, Landrum 13: The Knights kept it rolling, improving to 3-0 with a dominant win over Landrum.

Greer 56, Blue Ridge 20: Greer's offense got on track as LaDainnian Martin rushed for over 200 yards, Chase Byrd had over 100 receiving yards and Kaden Rowland threw three touchdown passes. Tucker Massey scored two rushing touchdowns and threw for another score for Blue Ridge. Massey was 11-of-16 passing for 135 yards. Quentin Rice rushed 13 times for 78 yards.

Woodmont 35, Riverside 28: Woodmont intercepted a Riverside pass attempt in the final stages of the game to seal the victory. Woodmont is 2-1 and Riverside is 1-2 on the year.

Southside 48, Pickens 27: The Tigers got their first win of the season and first win over Pickens in school history. Southside had lost the previous 14 meetings between the two.

Easley 28, Wade Hampton 27: Nigel Bruster had 134 rushing yards for Wade Hampton. Quarterback Cooper Tankersley had 97 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and 155 passing yards. Thomas Combs had 102 receiving yards for the Generals. Samari Johnson scored a touchdown with 3:21 left in the game but Easley stopped the two-point conversion attempt to win the game.

Joe Dandron, a Michigan native and graduate of Michigan State University, covers high school sports for The Greenville News. Have a question, story idea, or story tip involving prep sports in the Upstate? Email him at jdandron@gannett.com or reach out via phone at 864-415-6213.