As a young boy, Bernie VanLerberg learned to pitch horseshoes in his backyard with his dad. Not knowing of organized horseshoe pitching, Bernie accidentally came across the courts in Bonner Springs and upon meeting fellow Kansas Horseshoe Association member Bob Outt, his interest in furthering his horseshoe career was heightened. Bernie joined the NHPA in 1992 and embarked on a career that led him into induction into the Kansas Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame as a player-promoter in 2004. Making his first appearance in a Kansas State Tournament in 1992, Bernie captured the Class C title and quickly moved up to the Championship Class in 1993. He has appeared in the Championship Class every year since then except for 1998 when he was injured. Bernie has improved his game over the years to become first a contender, and then claiming the Kansas State Men's Championship in 2000 and 2004, as well as second place finishes in 2001 and 2002 and third place in 1999 and 2003. Bernie also has made his mark as a promoter of the game of horseshoe pitching. He has served as tournament director of many sanctioned tournaments in Bonner Springs, as well as helped start a sanctioned league at Bonner Springs. Bernie also volunteered to take over the office of Kansas Secretary-Treasurer upon the resignation of the previous secretary in 2000 and served five years in this position with the help of his wife, Jan VanLerberg. He also served as the Regional Director of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association for these five years. Bernie and Jan were awarded the 2004 Kansas Achievement Award for their work over the past years as Secretary Treasurer, including efforts in getting the courts in various Kansas communities up to date and sanctioned by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association. For his record as described, Bernie VanLerberg was inducted into the Kansas Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame as a Player-Promoter in 2004. Following is a record of Bernie's pitching record in Kansas State Tournaments.
