KU alumna keeps twirlin' and cheerin'
By Heather Woodward
Special to the Kansan
The Jayhawk and Baby Jay do not show up for just anyone's wedding. But the former KU-featured baton twirler and former Miss Topeka, Beverly Bernardi Post, did cut her wedding cake with the KU mascots.
Whether it is in recognition of her "JHAWK 2" license plate or the thousands of dollars she has raised in KU sports ticket sales or her longest running stint as a KU majorete, she is, without a doubt, the University's No.1 cheerleader.
Post, a1978graduate, still twirls her batons at KU football and basketball games and will perform with the KU alumni band at the homecoming game Oct.24.
"I'm so proud of what the school stands for," Post said. "I was asked by Nebraska to twirl there, but I liked what KU provided.I'm so proud of the academic tradition there."
"The fans really make it fun to come back and perform," she said. "It's almost like they clap more for the alumni band because we're older and out of school. It's more rewarding than when I was young."
While a senior at Topeka High School in 1974, Post, now in her 40s, said she auditioned to twirl at the University and made the cut.
Friday nights, the high school senior would twirl for Topeka High, and Saturday nights she and her batons made the trip to Lawrence.
Announcer Max Falkenstein happened to witness both ends of her performance one weekend and became confused during half time. He let KU fans know about it.
"He kept saying, 'That girl is awesome, but it looks like the same girl I saw last night.' The other commentator was trying to get Max to move on,
was any way that it could have been the same girl," Post said.
but I think it was just bugging him since he didn't think the
Robert Foster, band director and coordinator of the alumni band that Post performs in, said he also auditioned her in 1974 when she became the University's featured
hen she became the University's featured twirler.
"I was so nervous trying out," she said. "Itwasaroundthattimethatwomen
were first even allowed to march in the band."
Fosters said he also had fond memories of working with Post.
"Her husband was actually a really good trumpet player in the band," he said. "She was a real good twirler, and we knew that. They are great folks. She is such a supporter of the University of Kansas ... just super loyal."
Hired as a YWCA dance teacher at age 13. Post said she has been dancing since she was 2-and-a-half years old. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, baton and pom. By age 22, Post had her own studio. Today, she is the only teacher at the Beverly Bernardi Post Conservatory of Dance in Topeka and has an enrollment of more than 500 students.
"I just loved dance and baton," she said. "I just thought it was fun to practice, and I just wanted to get better."
Despite her fame as Miss Topeka and as a finalist in the Miss Kansas contest, both in 1977, Post said she has never forgotten her KU roots. In fact, she has revealed in them.
Since 1988, she has coached the junior Hawkettes, a group of girls from Topeka who dance at one basketball game and one football game every year. Before the games, the Hawkettes would sell about 400 tickets. Post also coaches the 1,000-member Topeka Jayhawk Club, which donates at KUparades and hancuets SheaLorais funds
dances at KU parades and banquets. One also raises funds for the KU cheerleaders by providing clinics in pom and baton.
"I just think, 'How can I help the University? I don't have thousands of dollars to donate." So this is one thing I can do," Post said.
Beverly Bernardi Post, a 1978 KU graduate, still twirls her baton at KU events. Bernardi is pictured (left) twirling in a 1985 parade in Topeka. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Post lived in Oliver and Naismith halls as a student and graduated with a master's degree in English education in 1978. She lives in Topeka now with her husband, Blake, and their 10-year-old daughter, Belinda.
And, yes, both KU mascots did show up for the Post wedding.
"They weren't there at the Catholic ceremony ... no, no, no," she said. "But they came to the reception."
Friday, October 23, 1998
The Hill
Homecoming 3