A product of Holy Cross High School Bernie was a successful three-sport athlete - football, wrestling and track. His scholastic wrestling accomplishments included being a three-time Conference Champion while compiling a varsity career record of 50-7. Upon graduation from Holy Cross in 1966 Bernie enrolled at the University of Tulsa where he continued his football career. A three-year starter as an offensive tackle and team captain his senior year, Bernie attracted the attention of the Chicago Bears. Bernie would eventually sign a contract with the Bears only to have neck injury prevent him from fulfilling that contract. With both his Bachelor's degree and his Master's degree from Tulsa firmly in hand, Bernie returned to his alma mater to begin his long and successful teaching can coaching career. For the next six years Bernie served as an assistant football coach and Head wrestling coach for Holy Cross. In that six year time span Bernie's Holy Cross wrestling teams won three conference championships and qualified two individuals for the IHSA Individual State Finals. In 1977 Bernie made the move to Glenn Ellyn where he took on a similar role - assistant football and Head wrestling coach at Glenbard West High School. Bernie would remain the Hilltoppers wrestling coach for the next twenty-nine seasons. During Bernie's thirty-six years as a Head coach his teams have won 465 dual meets along with multiple Conference Championships, numerous independent tournaments and two IHSA Regional Championships. A significant number of Botheroyd-coached wrestlers have advanced to the IHSA Individual State Finals; seven of them were medalist. Equally as impressive is the fact that twenty-three of Bernie's former athletes have gone into coaching. A tireless wrestling enthusiast, Bernie has always been there for wrestling. Back in the early days of Illinois' Prairie State Games, one can still remember Bernie and his wrestling cohorts - at close to midnight- rolling out the wrestling mats in the Uof I Armory in preparation of the next day's event. At an early IWCOA All-State Banquet it was Bernie who plunked down his personal credit card when the bill exceeded the IWCOA bank account. Whether the IWF, USA Wrestling or the Frosh/Soph. state organizers needed a venue, Bernie would step forward and open his facilities simply because it was good for the sport and its participants. He has been an active coach and organizer throughout his career. He has given his services "officially" to at least six Illinois Junior National Freestyle and Greco-Roman coaching staffs - and has undoubtedly been involved in many more. He has hosted international competitions with both Japan and Poland. In 1985 he served as the President of the IWCOA. For his accomplishments and his contributions over his long and successful career, Bernie's peers have afforded him numerous accolades. Holy Cross High School has placed him in both its football and wrestling Halls of Fame and the IWCOA inducted Bernie in to its Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2006 he was honored as a Grand Marshal for the IHSA individual State Tournament and in 2010 the IWCOA presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.