Keana Berkhalter: Abandoned Teen Gets Taken In By Basketball Coach

As reported by CNN.com, 17-year-old Keana Berkhalter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin has a lot to be thankful for this year. The "basketball wizard" at Washington High School was abandoned by her parents at Thanksgiving last year, which in turn led to slipping grades and an eventual breakdown in basketball practice, where she confessed her situation to her coach. He said, "I told her now that you're here in Washington, we're family. We don't abandon our kids." He and his wife decided to take Keana into their home, and in only one year, her grades have shot back up and she is now her class valedictorian.

Comments

[Fkyles]

05:10 PM on 12/04/2011

It is a great feel good story, but I am sure her father would be very hurt to hear what she said! I am so disappointed with you Keana for saying your father abandoned you. I am your cousin and I know you father loves you! F. Kyles...

[jinsin]

05:26 AM on 12/02/2011

Great story, Great kid, Great coach and his Great wife. My hats off to this wonderful family.

[been2there]

11:41 PM on 11/28/2011

My husband and I have had several teen abandoned by parents live with us. The situation is painfully common, and the late teens get very little help.

[Michaela19801]

07:24 AM on 11/28/2011

It just takes one good person to make a huge difference.

[Margo Arrowsmith]

06:05 AM on 11/28/2011

Cudos to HuffPo for picking up this story when the temptation is for sensationalism.  The next worst thing to the damage of these kids, is that people become afraid to trust the good.  The good far outnumber the bad.   Thanks for showing the good.

[SteveDenver]

04:41 AM on 11/28/2011

Considering the rash of negative reports about coach misbehavior, this is an uplifting report of human kindness from the coach and his wife. It's good to read that she is doing well in school and I hope this "family" continues to thrive.

[Chim Richalds]

03:01 PM on 11/28/2011

What's interesting is that this story only has 30+ comments and the stories about misbehavior usually have hundreds (or thousands) of comments. Why do we, as a society, seem to like negativity so much?

It is very refreshing to read a story about someone that believes that he is his brother's (sister's) keeper.

[Arian Williams]

03:57 AM on 11/28/2011

what a great story. I have read about throwaway kids for years. Sometimes things turn out really well for them. Usually , a responsible caring adult has to step up to the plate and help out. That is so cool. I pray things work out for you Keana Berkhalter out in Milwaukee. carve out a good life for yourself. Great choice to you coach for helping out this young girl.

[valmach]

01:53 AM on 11/28/2011

Bravo -

[ButchManowski]

10:32 PM on 11/27/2011

This is a good outcome.

The term "coach" has bee scuffed up a bit over the past few weeks.

Coach Boyd provided a true example.

[Eagle076]

05:30 PM on 11/27/2011

That is so wonderful and refreshing to hear. So glad for her and congrats to the coach and his wife. That is so great.

[Barbara0817]

04:57 PM on 11/27/2011

God bless that coach and His wife, and God bless That little girl. Her parents dont deserve a daughter like that.I hope She will have a wonerful life

[bessielil]

04:42 PM on 11/27/2011

One of the college freshmen I taught last spring had no home due to dysfunctional parents. Apparently, he tried to hide it from the school, because he feared being kicked out or sent to another district. He slept outside and stayed with friends here and there. One of his coaches finally got the story, contacted children's services AFTER the coach's 79 year old mother agreed to give him a home. Foster care OK'd the request, and that's the home he goes to when school is out. He's very grateful; the woman feels more secure in her home, and the coach can check in on both of them as needed. Some people are great.

The student's biggest complaint? He and his foster mother have radically different tastes in movies, and it's hard to agree on what to watch together. He's not complaining.

[pab08]

05:41 PM on 11/27/2011

Great story. But one question, how does a college freshman get sent to another district?

[callinguonit]

07:38 PM on 11/27/2011

believe bessielil means that he is NOW a college freshmen and that happened to him when he was in school.

[wakeup804]

03:42 PM on 11/27/2011

I like people with open hearts. That bought a tear to my eye.

[SteveDenver]

04:44 AM on 11/28/2011

F/F In a climate of "me" and "mine" rhetoric, report of welcoming hearts are uplifting.

[wakeup804]

09:31 AM on 11/28/2011

Morew folks should try opening their hearts. The heart is a muscle, it gets stronger with use, not by keeping it closed off.

[pecosdog]

03:03 PM on 11/27/2011

That is awesome! Hang in there kid, it get's better.

[OMG1]

12:50 PM on 11/27/2011

Wonderful story....