Trojans select Vig, Wilson
Ben Wilson is California's winter sports male selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
Bailey Vig is California's winter sports female selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
COAL CENTER — Basketball has played a big role in the lives of Bailey Vig and Ben Wilson and both have evolved into the top players on their respective teams as seniors.
The two are California Area High School’s winter sports representatives in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
Both players have been a part of a very successful era in their programs. The Trojans went a combined 50-19 in Wilson’s first three years with the team, while the Lady Trojans have gone a remarkable 55-16 since Vig arrived as a freshman.
Vig recently topped the 1,000-point mark for her career when she scored 27 points against Monessen on Dec. 28 at the Lady Trojans Holiday Classic.
“It honestly means so much to me because I’ve had this goal since I was a freshman so I feel like a lot of pressure has been lifted off,” Vig said. “I feel really proud of myself.”
Vig recalled the milestone basket.
“Ina Helmick got a rebound or a steal and got the ball down court and I got a lay-up,” Vig said. “They stopped the game. I was really happy and started tearing up. They brought me a 1,000-point banner and everyone was up and cheering. My whole family was there and I was happy they got to see it.”
Vig, the daughter of Thomas and Natalie Vig, never imagined such a moment would come when she first started in basketball.
“I’ve played basketball since I was in fourth grade,” Vig said. “We had a team our parents put together and would play at the Brownson House. They needed another person and I said I would play.
“I just remember when I first started I was awful. But my dad wanted me to keep going because I actually liked playing. It wasn’t until my freshman year when coach Chris (Minerd) was nice enough to give me a chance and I started scoring a good bit of points. That’s about when I realized that I’m not really that bad.”
While Vig played only basketball, Wilson was engulfed by the rich baseball tradition at California as he grew up.
“I’ve always played basketball, but up until my freshman year baseball had been my main sport,” Wilson said. “I played center field. California’s known for baseball and so many kids want to be a part of that. I’ve got tons of baseball trophies in my room. I loved baseball. I had so much fun playing.
“I remember I wasn’t even going to play basketball, I was just going to stay on the baseball field. Then I had a talk with Coach Pap (Bruno Pappasergi) and that made me want to play basketball, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. So I decided to hang the cleats up my freshman year and stick to basketball.”
Wilson credits former Trojans star Atrayo Matthews for having an impact on his basketball career.
“Tray played a big role in helping me with basketball,” Wilson said. “He lived five minutes from me so in the summer we would play basketball for hours and I just picked up every little thing from him. I think I kind of have a little bit of his game in mine.”
Wilson went through some tough times in 2017.
First, the Trojans suffered a gut-wrenching, first-round loss in the WPIAL playoffs, thanks in large part to several officiating calls that went against them in the final minutes, one that resulted in Wilson fouling out.
“That loss was devastating,” Wilson said.
Second, Pappasergi decided to step down as head coach.
“I was upset when I heard Coach Pap was retiring,” Wilson said. “I wanted nothing more than for him to be my coach my senior year. I felt close to him. We have the same birthday. Our relationship was very strong.”
Things got much worse soon after that as Wilson suffered through a family tragedy when his father, Danny Wilson, committed suicide on May 29 at the age of 50.
“He had brain tumors since I was born and he had recurring seizures,” said Wilson, who got plenty of support in dealing with the life-changing event. “I’ve got a lot of friends that love me and a lot of family that stay strong for me.”
Wilson pays tribute to his dad each game that he plays.
“I have on my shoes ‘Rest with God Dad’ and then I have the suicide prevention number and the date that he died,” Wilson said. “We say a prayer before every time we go out there and I just look up and I know he’s looking down at me. I know he’s up there watching me.”
Last summer, Wilson wound up having one of his greatest offensive games in the Budd Grebb summer league finale.
“I scored 41 points,” he said. “It was awesome. That league was so fun. I was still dealing with losing my dad so that really picked me up.”
Wilson, whose mother is Shelley Wilson and step dad is Donald Terry, is now the most seasoned player on a team that lost four starters from last year.
“I had been with Kass (Taylor) and Jaycee (Conaway) and Johnny (DeFranko) and all the seniors for so long,” Wilson said. “I just had so much fun playing with all of them. I got to take in so much from them. I was grateful for that.
“I knew I had to step up and be a leader this year. There were big shoes to fill. We have a lot of guys seeing a lot more minutes for the first time but we’re getting better every day.”
Wilson may still give baseball one more shot this spring, and wants to make sports a part of his life long after his high school days are over.
“Anything that involves sports I’d like to go for in college,” Wilson said. “I’d honestly like to be a gym teacher and a basketball coach. I just want to be around sports for the rest of my life.”
Vig’s goal is to attend Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus for nursing.
“I want to work with kids more than anything,” Vig said. “My mom’s a nurse and I’m the oldest out of four siblings. I feel like I could be a good pediatric nurse.”
Vig is still contemplating whether to try to play college basketball but for now is focusing on the current season.
“I feel like I’m a leader and that everyone on the team respects me for all my accomplishments and how long I’ve been there,” Vig said. “But I feel more pressure and responsibility now, too, when we don’t do well. I’m definitely hard on myself.”
Vig is involved in Interact and TFIM (The Future Is Mine) at California and is also president of the National Honor Society.
Vig looks back on her basketball career with fondness. Under Minerd, she has been part of two 20-win seasons (including 25-3 her freshman year) and played on teams that won a section title, reached the WPIAL final four and won a PIAA playoff game.
“My freshman team, it was crazy how much talent we had, but my sophomore and junior years we were pretty good, too,” said Vig, who marveled at how fast her four years at California have passed.
“It definitely blew by,” she said. “I feel like I just blinked and I’m a senior already and having to decide about college and my future already. I appreciate all the help I’ve gotten from my family and coaches and everyone who supported me over the years.”