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Big Red, Crusaders gear up for the third annual Watt/Nese Holiday Classic

SKY HIGH — Steubenville’s James Roundtree shoots over Wheeling Park’s Alex Vargo on Friday. (Photo by Joe Catullo)

STEUBENVILLE — The third annual Chuck Watt/John Nese Holiday Classic will be staged at Steubenville starting Wednesday.

Teams from Big Red, Steubenville Catholic Central and six other schools are set to compete in the event, which was launched to honor the accomplishments of two local coaching legends.

“It’s a great way to honor coach Watt and coach Nese for all they did for the basketball programs at Big Red and Catholic Central,” said Mike Haney, head boys basketball coach at Big Red and the Classic director. “In addition, we are able to honor them for all the people they coached and all the lives they touched during their years in coaching and education.

“Really, when you think of high school basketball in this area, you think of those two coaches. We think it’s going to be another quality classic with some outstanding teams. And once again this year, we have received tremendous assistance from the business community.”

Watt, a 1945 graduate of Steubenville High School, was a mainstay of Big Red athletics. He made his mark both as a head basketball and baseball coach.

In basketball, Watt assisted Ang Vacarro before taking over in 1967 and beginning a 23-year stint as the Big Red court boss. During that time, he compiled a stellar record of 350-149, a winning percentage of 70.1.

Big Red won eight OVAC championships under Watt (1971, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’86 and ’90), and he was named the District 5 Coach of the Year in each of those seasons, while being named OVAC Coach of the Year in both 1971 and 1990. His teams won 12 sectional titles, including seven straight from 1983-1990, and captured four district championships (1970, ’71, ’85 and ’90).

Watt was inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1994. He also succeeded Vaccaro as the school’s head baseball coach, serving that role from 1965-75 and compiling a 192-87-4 mark. His Big Red teams won two OVAC championships (1968 and 1973), three sectional titles (1968, ’72 and ’75) and one district crown (1972).

Watt’s stellar coaching career actually began during his senior season at the College of Steubenville when he took over at midseason and guided a team that started out 3-5 to a 14-8 record. The Barons that year earned recognition as the “most improved team in the country” as determined by the Dick Dunkel National Rating System.

Nese graduated from East Pittsburgh High School 1956 and joined the College of Steubenville basketball team that same year. He was co-captain in his senior year. The 1957-1958 Baron team went 24-1 and was named the No. 1 small college team in the country. He began his coaching career at Follansbee St. Anthony High School and captured a West Virginia Catholic League Class B championship.

When he moved to Catholic Central, Nese guided both the basketball and baseball programs. His CCHS basketball teams won three sectional and three district titles in 10 years. Meanwhile, his baseball clubs captured seven sectional, five district and a regional championships. In 1973, Nese was elected co-coach of the U.S. All-Stars for the annual Dapper Dan Round Ball Classic in Pittsburgh.

Nese was inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1981. He also joined the East Boros Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 1986. A long time baseball/softball umpire, Neese entered the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame in 1988.

Nese, who had a 54-year career in education and athletics, died in July. He attended the first two classics, presenting plaques to the most valuable players of each varsity game.

“John always watched the games and helped select the MVPs and gave away the trophies,” Haney said. “We’ve been in contact with his family, and Nese family members will be in attendance to help carry on that tradition. I think that says something about what this classic meant to John.”

The schedule for the classic is as followed:

Wednesday

12:30 p.m.: Catholic Central girls junior varsity vs. Bridgeport, Crimson Center

2 p.m.: Catholic Central girls varsity vs. Bridgeport, Crimson Center

2 p.m.: Big Red girls junior varsity vs. Harrison Central, Stern Gymnasium

3:30 p.m.: Big Red girls varsity vs. Harrison Central, Crimson Center

3:30 p.m.: Catholic Central boys varsity vs. Lisbon, Stern Gymnasium

5 p.m.: Catholic Central boys varsity vs. Lisbon, Crimson Center

5 p.m.: Big Red boys junior varsity vs. Martins Ferry, Stern Gymnasium

7 p.m.: Big Red boys varsity vs. Martins Ferry, Crimson Center

Thursday

4 p.m.: Big Red girls junior varsity vs. East Liverpool, Crimson Center

5:30 p.m.: Big Red girls varsity vs. East Liverpool, Crimson Center

5:30 p.m.: Big Red boys junior varsity vs. Cambridge, Stern Gymnasium

7 p.m.: Big Red boys varsity vs. Cambridge, Crimson Center

“When I was a student at Central, I played against Watt’s teams, so I remember what a great job he did coaching,” Haney said. “Then, when I came to Big Red to coach, he would be around and attend practices. I really enjoyed talking to him; he definitely had a wealth of knowledge.

“I knew coach Nese all my life. He was a guidance counselor at Central. He was a great guy, an outstanding educator and a great coach. When he got away from coaching high school, he began working with younger kids and really helped turn some programs around. They’re both Hall of Fame coaches for a reason.”

Notes:

¯ As Haney said, numerous area businesses have stepped forward to help sponsor the event including Naples Spaghetti House, Joseph V. Clause, D.D.S., The Spot Bar, Appliance Depot, Fort Steuben Maintenance, Gus’s Goodies, Steve’s Fish and Chips and Mosti Funeral Home Inc.

¯ Souvenir shirts and commemorative shirts will be on sale during both days of the classic.

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