SAN ANTONIO – Located about a mile from St. Mary’s University on San Felipe Avenue, Holy Cross High School long has taken pride in fostering a culture that binds students, teachers, administrators and alumni like family.
Nowhere on campus is that sense of unity more prevalent than on the football field, where the Knights relish the opportunity to represent their close-knit school with a zeal grounded in their unabashed love for the game.
“It’s a great feeling,” senior center Joe Pena said this week after a workout. “It really is pretty much like family. Everyone’s supporting you. Nobody tells you that you can’t do something. Everyone’s always behind you, encouraging you, always telling you to work hard. That’s really what drives us around here, our support and family that is our community.”
Pena anchors an offensive line that has played a key role in Holy Cross’ 4-0 start this season. The Knights routed Lanier 33-0 in their opener and have defeated Blanco (47-6), Boerne (28-26) and Hondo (48-28) in their last three games.
Holy Cross, No. 7 in the KENS 5 Sub-6A area rankings, plays Saint Mary’s Hall (3-1) in its TAPPS Division II/ District 3 opener at 7 p.m. Saturday at Harlandale Memorial Stadium.
“Most of all, I like their effort on both sides of the ball,” Holy Cross coach Mike Harrison said of his players. “Kids are playing hard, very aggressive. Defensively, we swarm the ball, get a lot of hats to it. That’s huge. When you’re undersized like us, we want to be aggressive and try to gang tackle as much as we can.
“Offensively, the line has been coming along. They’ve done some really good stuff. Our offense is driving the ball and is able to get big plays, and they’re also sustaining drives and protecting the ball really well. We’ve still got things to work on, but we’ll get there. “
Holy Cross has won or shared four district titles in the past five seasons and has gone 53-19 under Harrison, who was the Knights’ defensive coordinator for four seasons before succeeding Arnold Martinez as head coach in 2010.
Now in his seventh season as head coach, Harrison also has been Holy Cross’ athletic director since 2006. He was head coach at Antonian (1999-2000) and Southside (2001-05) before going to Holy Cross.
Harrison, 53, never had coached at a school for more than five seasons before he found a home with the Knights.
“Family, to me, is what defines this place,” Harrison said. “In my heart of hearts, that’s what makes this place special. I’ve been a lot of places and done a lot of things and have had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity, but I will tell you that my greatest moments as far as coaching goes have probably been here at Holy Cross just because it’s a family.”
Harrison, who grew up in the East Texas town of Livingston, is in his 29th year as a high school coach. He started his career at Milano in 1988 and also coached at Willis, Grovetown, Union Hill, Hemphill and Houston Christian before getting hired at Antonian in 1999.
“I’ve been blessed to coach in two championship games, one at Grovetown and one at Houston Christian, and I’ve been blessed to coach in some great environments,” Harrison said. “But the part that gets to me the most at this place is that we’re going to try to do what’s right for the kid. I do believe this school has a deep desire to help young people. To me, that’s the greatest thing you can do for any kiddo.”
Opened in 1957, Holy Cross High School has an enrollment of 280 (170 boys) in grades 9-12. The campus has a total enrollment of 387 for grades 6-12.
Strapped for funds, Holy Cross almost closed in 1968, the same year that another Catholic high school, LaSalle, passed into history. But alumni and parents put together a campaign to keep Holy Cross open, and even enlisted the help of Grammy-winning singer Vicki Carr to help raise funds.
“When the Brothers of Holy Cross learned that the school was going to close in 1968, Vicki Carr was performing at the HemisFair,” principal Henry Galindo said, referring to the World's Fair in San Antonio. “A Holy Cross alum called the Brothers and said, ‘I’m working as a bellboy at a hotel downtown.’ He knew what room Vicki Carr was staying in. A few dads went to visit her and she visited the school that year, and developed a relationship with Holy Cross that’s lasted to this day. She’s still a donor.”
Carr put on 10 benefit concerts in San Antonio through the years for Holy Cross, becoming as synonymous with the school as Brother Stanley Culotta, Holy Cross’ former longtime president.
“She never took a penny,” said Galindo, who was a member of LaSalle’s last graduating class in 1968. “She’s amazing. Whenever we call on her, she’ll come out and do what she can.”
Holy Cross honored Carr, known as the “Angel of Holy Cross,” with a lifetime achievement award at its annual President’s Blue and Gold Gala last Saturday.
Holy Cross is the only Catholic high school located in westside San Antonio.
“Our parents sacrifice a lot to send their children to Holy Cross,” principal Henry Galindo said. “Sometimes they have an extra job. Sometimes the kids work in the summer to help with the tuition costs. About 75 percent of our kids qualify for financial aid.
“Those are some of the things that are very special about Holy Cross. Not only do the parents send their kids to Holy Cross, they become part of the Holy Cross family and the Holy Cross tradition on the westside of San Antonio.”
Located in the Edgewood ISD, historically one of the poorest districts in the state, Holy Cross always has been seen as an underdog.
“I think our kids understand that we’re not the biggest Catholic school in San Antonio, and we’re not the one that has the most resources, but they do their talking on the field with their play,” Galindo said. “They leave it all on the grass.
“We tell them, ‘Leave all of your effort, leave all of your ability and all of your passion in everything that you do, whether it’s on the football field or in the classroom.’ They take pride in that underdog role.”
Most of all, the Knights draw their strength from each other.
“It’s more of a privilege to play with the Holy Cross Knights,” senior outside linebacker Tex Gonzalez said. “I consider us as family. We take it so personal because we’re basically family. Everyone is so close together and that’s why we do so well on the field, because we try to take care of each other.”
