Don Leslie has always taken care of his body.

Now he’s taken care of his wallet.

Leslie, 82, a Saxonburg resident and retired Butler school teacher, topped the field of 1,197 entrants in winning the Butler Eagle’s March Madness Contest this year. He picked up the $500 first prize that goes with it.

“I’ve been playing that thing since (the Eagle) came out with it,” Leslie said. “I’d never come close to the top before. I think I finished in the first round once.

“To win the thing, you have to go with an underdog.”

Leslie, second-place winner Albert Gohn and third-place winner Doug Jackman of Butler, all had Villanova defeating North Carolina in the championship game. All three also picked Oklahoma to reach the Final Four.

None picked Syracuse to get there. Leslie and Jackman had Michigan State while Gohn had Utah.

“I figured Villanova hadn’t won the championship in 31 years,” Leslie said. “Go for it.”

A former baseball player in the Army, St. Vincent College and Butler County leagues, Leslie coached youth baseball in the Saxonburg and East Butler area for 20 years. He golfs three times a week at Oakview, frequents the YMCA three days a week and fishes at Lake Arthur.

“I keep busy. I exercise quite a bit,” he said. “If you don’t use it, you lose it. I believe in that saying.”

Gohn, 50, has worked as a machinist and has only played the Eagle’s March Madness Contest for the past four years.

“I did the paper’s football contest the last few weeks, came close a few times, then really got involved,” Gohn said. “I appreciate them running this. It’s a lot of fun.”

Gohn admitted he picked Villanova to win the title game “because I hate North Carolina. I couldn’t believe I put them in the Final Four.

“I couldn’t pick them to win it, so I took Villanova. You have to be lucky to win something like this. I’ve never gotten past the second row before.”

Jackman, 52, works as a production manager. He has done the March Madness Contest for years, recalling friendly family competition with his three sons.

“They’ve since dropped off playing it,” Jackman said. “When I sent one of my sons a picture of the final results with my name highlighted, his response was ‘Oh, I guess you finally quit picking Pitt.’

“I’m a big Pitt fan. That’s who I follow.”

As for his $100 third prize, Jackman said he won’t be spending the money.

“The Mrs. has already claimed it,” he said, laughing.

Leslie plans to use his money to get to work.

“I’ve got a lot of projects around the house that need to get done,” he said. “I’ve been putting them off, but not anymore.”

Gohn has no immediate plans for his $250.

“Villanova blew a 10-point lead with 5:30 to go,” Gohn said. “When that kid made that (3-point) shot at the end, I stood up in disbelief. I’m glad it ended the game. I couldn’t have taken much more.

“I figured I had an outside chance to finish among the top 10, just for pride’s sake. I definitely wasn’t expecting this.”

Leslie was just happy the final shot found the net.

“When that North Carolina kid double-pumped and tied the game (with four seconds left), I thought that was it, no way Villanova was winning in overtime,” he said.

“Then nobody guarded the (Kris) Jenkins kid on that last shot. Unbelievable. What a play.”