The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-12-18

Rags to Riches Is
Barons' Cage Story
BY LOU FABRO
Times Sports Editor

The College of Steubenvile has come a long way
in the basketball world despite some pretty tough OBJ
stacles,
1T WAS IN 1o46-the year the college was found
ed-that the school fielded its first cage team with
no heralded players, no gymnasium and only a part
time coach.
That makeshift squad played its games on a grade
school floor against four varsity teams, four fresh
men CUNTS and six teams competing in an industrial
league. The record for the year was 90.
With this type of competition and recording such
an inauSpicious record, SteubenVllle hardly made the
basketball map"
In the following years, the Steubenville Barons
scheduled only collegiate competition but failed to re-
cord a winning season.
RI BARONS posted a 800 record in the 194748
season and a 2-15 mark the following season. Steuben-
vile started upward in the 1949-50 season when it
had its first full-time coach. Record for the year was
five wins and Is losses.
SteubenVlle recorded $3.50 records the next three
seasons, chaking up 16 wins and losing 40 games.
The Barons finally clicked in the 1953-54 season
when they won IA games. AS a result, the squad won
national recognition as the Most Improved College
Team in the United States"
Three seasons later-in 957-Steubenville won
the United Press trophy as the mo, | Small College
Team in America The BaronS that season posted a
244 record which included Il consecutive triumphs.
This string was snapped by Xavier of Cincinnati.
The past five seasons have been a truly golden
era for SteubenVille.
DURING HIS PERIOD, the Barons won 81 con-
secutive home court victorieS-a streak that was snap
ped by St. Francis last winter. Actually, the home
court is an adopted one since it belongs to Steuben-
vile High School.
Also established was a school record Of IS con-
secutive wins-anofher streak broken last season.
Record for the five seasons was: l13 wins and only 26
losses.
Another chapter in Steubenville's rags to riches
saga will be completed next year when the Barons
will have a basketball gym they can really call "home."
The field house, currently under construction, will
seat 5000 fans. This compares with the 200 seating
capacity Of the high school gym,
STEUBENVlLLES b a s k G b al future appears
bright. Only one letterman was lost from last years
team which posted an 1877 record. Only three players
from the present team will be lost through graduation.
Such a situation warns the heart of William Cady,
who is serving in his second year as coach and athletic
director, Cady is a graduate Of st. Xavier High School
in Cincinnati and Xavier University.
The College Of SteubenVille commands some in
terest among fans In the Diocese of Columbus since
the city of Steubenvllle-Where the school is located
once was part Of the Columbus Diocese.
SteubenVille is listed as a small college since its
current enrolment of men and women stands at $50.
Its nicknane-fhe Barons-has some historical
significance. 1t keeps alive the memory of Baron
Frederick William Won SteUben, the Prussian soldier
who helped win the American Revolution for the
eolonists.
An aide to Frederick the Great O. ..oysia when
the Revolution broke out, Won Steuban renowned his
title and lands and Joined George Washington at Val
ley Forge. There he wrote the manual Of arms, drilled
into an army.
WHEN THE NORTHWEST Territory was opened
up after the Revolution, a fertilization was built along
the Ohio River and named Ft. Steuben, commemorate.
ing the Prussian drillmaSter Later. this became
Steubenville.