Angelo Ciccolella became the first Athletic Director at St. Anthony’s High School. In April 1955, the school’s Booster Club met with Angelo Ciccolella, chairman, presiding. He reported that baseball uniforms and equipment had been purchased for the St. Anthony grade school that entered the Parochial League, composed of teams mostly from the vicinity around Steubenville, OH.

The baseball team was coached by Frank Marion and scheduled to begin the season against St. Anthony of Steubenville at the Follansbee American Legion north-end field. For away games, the school received help from many Boosters including the Nazionale and Taibi Beer Distributers, who provided transportation with their beer trucks. The Blue Goose Bus also transported kids to the Hooverson Heights St. Francis Center were they practiced on a nearby field.

Equipment for the volleyball and table tennis teams were also purchased for school students. Applications for a football and basketball coach were under consideration.

St. Anthony High School began a regular football schedule as an OVAC Single A Division team in 1957. The first head coach was Tony Paesano, who played his college ball at Duquesne University.  The assistant coach was George Taibi.  Anthony Anastasio was manager.  The majority of the players were of Italian descent from the lower end of town.  Their fathers were an earlier generation who played for the Follansbee Blue & White. As their mascot. St. Anthony chose to call themselves the “Steelmen,” an appropriate team symbol for a catholic school located in a town known for its steel mill . The major rivals for the “Steelmen” were Weirton Madonna and Avella High School in Pennsylvania. For home games, St. Anthony shared Cross Creek Memorial Stadium with the Follansbee High. Follansbee played their home games on Friday and St. Anthony on Saturday evenings.

 

Photo - St. Anthony Yearbook

First Football team of St. Anthony, the photo also references their early schedule.

 

 

 

St. Anthony won the Class A, W.Va. Catholic High School Basketball Tournament in 1961.

 

 

 

 

 

St. Anthony Pep Rally

 

 

 

 

1958 OVAC Class A champions

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Gaudio and team mates  in 33-0 victory over Bishop Donahue in 1961.

 

 

 

 

Mike Ciccollella was on the SA 1961 OVAC championship team. He was inducted into the University of Dayton Sports Hall of Fame and drafted by the New York Giants as a linebacker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Anthony “Bull” Casinelli, (St. Anthony 1958) David began his career as a tackle under coach Tony Paesano at St. Anthony.  Highly recruited by Memphis State, he was moved to the fullback position and led the Tigers to a 1963 undefeated season. He ranked first nationally as a leader in rushing yardage and was tied for points scored.  During his college career (1960-63), he established school records with 2,796 total yards from scrimmage and 36 career touchdowns.  David’s number 30 was retired at Memphis State.  He was inducted into the Memphis State “M Club Hall of Fame.”  In January 1964, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steelmen Are 1957 OVAC Class A Champs.