Greater expectations for Nagata jamboree

With one successful jamboree under their belts, Joe Nagata Memorial Jamboree chairman Tony Fuselier is expecting an even better event this year.
“Overall, we were very pleased with last year’s event,” Fuselier said, “even if it was held on a Thursday night.
“We had tremendous support from alumni and past athletes,” he said.
St. Edmund will be the host school this year for the second-annual event set for the weekend of Aug. 29.
The committee will meet Monday night to discuss the scheduling plans.
The Blue Jays will take on Port Barre, while Eunice High will face DeRidder .
“We grossed around $63,000 last year,” Fuselier said. “We paid out $25,000 to both the Blue Jays and Bobcats’ athletic budgets.
Fuselier said he is shooting for an even better fundraising this summer.
Nagata spent 1963 to 1973 at EHS with a 52-47-6 record with the Bobcats.
Nagata then moved on to St. Eds, where he remained until 1985, compiling an 83-43-1 record.
Nagata finished his career with a 135-90-7 record, including six district titles, four district runners-up, and led the Blue Jays to the Class 1-A runners-up in 1978 and 1979.
Nagata was the district Coach of the Year five times, St. Landry Parish Coach of the Year three times, LHSAA Class 1-A Coach of the Year in 1979, the LHSCA Coach of the year in 1981 and was Eunice’s Citizen of the Year in 1978.
“The jamboree is a great way to honor Coach Joe for what he gave to the Eunice community,” Fuselier said. “He would be happy to see the two schools joining together.
All assistant coaches who spent time with Nagata at either school will be recognized at the jamboree.
The St. Edmund and Eunice High Booster of the Year will also be honored.
“The future is bright for the jamboree,” Fuselier said. “We may add more teams and make it a two-night jamboree somewhere in the future.
“The city of Eunice was the winner for the jamboree,” Fuselier said. “It brought people home, it provided much-needed funds for both athletic groups and it paid tribute to a fine man.”