Holy Cross Secondary School (St. Catharines)
Encyclopedia
Holy Cross is a Catholic
Secondary School
in St. Catharines, Ontario
. The school is administered by the Niagara Catholic District School Board
.
, Kerwin Campus. In September 1985, re-christened as Holy Cross Secondary School, the facility now offered grade twelve classes as well, while grades seven and eight had been eliminated. In 1993, due to overcrowding, Holy Cross relocated to the former Grantham High School building, which was shut down by the District School Board of Niagara
that same year due to declining enrollment. The former Holy Cross building would become St. Francis Catholic Secondary School.
program, a team which has become one of the most dominant high school lacrosse teams in Canada
. They have had just two losses in Niagara region play since 1996. Current NLL
player Mike Accursi
coaches the team along with physical education teacher Dave Walker. The team was been ranked #1 in Canada for three years straight on Laxpower (2007-2009), and were ranked #124 in North America
as of June 6, 2009.
Championships:
Many Holy Cross lacrosse players have or are currently playing junior
, college
, or professional lacrosse.
Current NLL
/MLL
/college
players include:
program.
Notable rowers:
Both rowers represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, Australia
. Williams won the bronze medal in the Women's 8
.
Swimmer Nick Majtenyi (Class of 2008) has placed at OFSAA two years. He won two bronze medals, one in the 200 meter freestyle, and one in the 100 meter freestyle.
Nick will be going to the University of Connecticut
in the fall of 2008 to compete on the swim team.
Notable Hockey Players:
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Secondary School
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
. The school is administered by the Niagara Catholic District School Board
Niagara Catholic District School Board
The Niagara Catholic District School Board is a school board in the public separate school system of Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Niagara...
.
History
Holy Cross was founded in 1985. Originally known as P.K. Kerwin (named after an area lawyer who had donated the property the school was constructed on), it was built at 541 Lake Street, as a senior elementary school, serving only grades seven and eight. Grades nine and ten were later added, but in 1984, grade 11 classes were offered under the name of Denis Morris Catholic High SchoolDenis Morris Catholic High School
Denis Morris Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic Secondary School in St. Catharines, Ontario. The school is administered by the Niagara Catholic District School Board.-Notable alumni:*Linda Evangelista - Supermodel...
, Kerwin Campus. In September 1985, re-christened as Holy Cross Secondary School, the facility now offered grade twelve classes as well, while grades seven and eight had been eliminated. In 1993, due to overcrowding, Holy Cross relocated to the former Grantham High School building, which was shut down by the District School Board of Niagara
District School Board of Niagara
District School Board of Niagara is a school board in the public school system of Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Niagara. Its head office is in St. Catharines. The DSBN operates schools in each of the twelve municipalities in the region. It employs close to 2,500 instructional...
that same year due to declining enrollment. The former Holy Cross building would become St. Francis Catholic Secondary School.
Lacrosse
Holy Cross has a very successful lacrosseLacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
program, a team which has become one of the most dominant high school lacrosse teams in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They have had just two losses in Niagara region play since 1996. Current NLL
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
player Mike Accursi
Mike Accursi
Mike Accursi is a lacrosse player for the Rochester Knighthawks in the National Lacrosse League. He is also a teacher and lacrosse coach at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in St...
coaches the team along with physical education teacher Dave Walker. The team was been ranked #1 in Canada for three years straight on Laxpower (2007-2009), and were ranked #124 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
as of June 6, 2009.
Championships:
- Twelve Niagara Region AAA/AAAA championships: 1997-2001, 2003, 2005-2009.
- Three OFSAAOntario Federation of School Athletic AssociationsThe Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations is an organization of student-athletes, teacher-coaches, student-coaches, teachers, principals, and sport administrators in Ontario, Canada...
championships: - 1997 - Fourth
- 1998 - Silver
- 1999 - Gold
- 2000 - Silver
- 2001 - Gold
- 2002 - Bronze
- 2003 - Bronze
- 2005 - Gold
- 2006 - Silver
- 2007 - Bronze
- 2008 - Bronze
- 2009 - Silver
- 2010 - Silver (A/AA division)
Many Holy Cross lacrosse players have or are currently playing junior
Ontario Lacrosse Association
Ontario Lacrosse Association is a sanctioned sports body in Ontario, Canada. Empowered by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, the OLA controls and regulates Minor level, Junior level and Senior level Lacrosse...
, college
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
, or professional lacrosse.
Current NLL
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
/MLL
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
/college
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
players include:
- Sean GreenhalghSean GreenhalghSean Greenhalgh is a lacrosse player for the Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League. Sean is a cousin to Charlie Mulgrew, a Scottish footballer, who plays for Celtic FC.-Junior career:...
, Buffalo BanditsBuffalo BanditsThe Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998....
. Graduate of Cornell UniversityCornell Big Red men's lacrosseThe Cornell Big Red Men's Lacrosse team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Cornell competes as a member of the Ivy League, of which they have won 23 conference championships. The Big Red have appeared in the NCAA tournament 22...
. Class of 2000. - Matt VincMatt VincMatt Vinc , is a lacrosse goaltender in the National Lacrosse League, currently playing for the Rochester Knighthawks, the Six Nations Chiefs of the MSL, and the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse....
, Rochester KnighthawksRochester KnighthawksThe Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
/Hamilton Nationals. Graduate of Canisius CollegeCanisius CollegeCanisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
. Class of 2000. - Jon Sullivan, Minnesota SwarmMinnesota SwarmMinnesota Swarm is a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. The team plays on Treasure Island Field at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota....
/Hamilton Nationals. Class of 2000. - Billy Dee SmithBilly Dee SmithBilly Dee Smith is a professional lacrosse player who plays for the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League and formerly of the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse...
, Buffalo BanditsBuffalo BanditsThe Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998....
. (Graduate of Governor Simcoe Secondary SchoolGovernor Simcoe Secondary SchoolGovernor Simcoe Secondary School named after John Graves Simcoe, is a public high school in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is a three-floored school with a theatre attachment. It has an enrollment of about 1100 students....
, attended Holy Cross in Grade 12b (OACOntario Academic CreditThe Ontario Academic Credit or OAC was part of the curriculum codified by the Ontario Ministry of Education in Ontario Schools: Intermediate and Senior and its revisions. In common parlance, the term is used to describe the fifth high school year that used to exist in the province of...
).) - Craig ConnCraig ConnCraig Conn is a Canadian lacrosse player who plays for the Washington Stealth in the National Lacrosse League.-High school career:...
, Washington StealthWashington StealthThe Washington Stealth are a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America. Based in Everett , the Stealth began play in the 2010 NLL season, with home games played at the 8,513-seat Comcast Arena at Everett.The team was previously known as the...
. Class of 2001. - Brad Favero, Minnesota SwarmMinnesota SwarmMinnesota Swarm is a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. The team plays on Treasure Island Field at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota....
. Class of 2002. - Corey SmallCorey SmallCorey Small is a Canadian lacrosse player who plays for the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and formerly the Hamilton Nationals in Major League Lacrosse.-High school career:...
, Edmonton RushEdmonton RushThe Edmonton Rush is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that started playing in the 2006 NLL season.The NLL announced that Edmonton, Alberta, Canada would receive an NLL franchise on May 5, 2005. They play their home games at Rexall Place...
/Hamilton Nationals. Graduate of University of AlbanyAlbany Great Danes Men's LacrosseThe Albany Great Danes men's lacrosse team represents the University at Albany in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. Albany currently competes in the America East Conference and plays its home games on John Fallon Field. The team reached the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament in...
. Class of 2005. - Michael Howe, Graduate of Cornell UniversityCornell Big Red men's lacrosseThe Cornell Big Red Men's Lacrosse team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Cornell competes as a member of the Ivy League, of which they have won 23 conference championships. The Big Red have appeared in the NCAA tournament 22...
. Class of 2005. - Andrew Potter, free agent. Class of 2006.
- Joel McCready, Rochester KnighthawksRochester KnighthawksThe Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
. Class of 2006. - Steve Priolo, Buffalo BanditsBuffalo BanditsThe Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998....
. Class of 2007. - Geoff McNulty, Calgary RoughnecksCalgary RoughnecksThe Calgary Roughnecks are a professional box lacrosse team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Western Division of the National Lacrosse League and play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The team name is derived from the roughnecks who work drilling rigs in...
. Class of 2007. - Zac Reid, Mercyhurst CollegeMercyhurst CollegeMercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
. (Graduate of Lakeshore Catholic Secondary SchoolLakeshore Catholic High SchoolLakeshore Catholic High School is a high school located in Port Colborne, just north of the eastern edge of Lake Erie, in Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Niagara Catholic District School Board, and competes with students from communities in Fort Erie, Wainfleet, Dunnville and Port Colborne. The...
, attended Holy Cross in Grade 12b.) - Joel Matthews, University of Detroit MercyDetroit TitansThe Detroit Titans are the NCAA Division I team of the University of Detroit Mercy . The school competes in the Horizon League.-Basketball :On April 12, 2008, UDM announced the hiring of Ray McCallum as Men's Basketball Coach...
. Class of 2009. - Jordan Houtby, University of Detroit MercyDetroit TitansThe Detroit Titans are the NCAA Division I team of the University of Detroit Mercy . The school competes in the Horizon League.-Basketball :On April 12, 2008, UDM announced the hiring of Ray McCallum as Men's Basketball Coach...
. Class of 2009. - Matt Eckert, Mercyhurst CollegeMercyhurst CollegeMercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
. Class of 2009. - Spencer Halliwell-Allen, Genesee CollegeGenesee CollegeGenesee College was a college founded in 1832 as the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary by the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was located in Lima, NY and eventually relocated to Syracuse, NY, becoming Syracuse University.-Genesee Wesleyan Seminary:...
. Class of 2009.
Rowing
Holy Cross has also had a successful rowingRowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
program.
Notable rowers:
- Buffy-Lynne WilliamsBuffy-Lynne WilliamsBuffy-Lynne Williams is a Canadian rower. She was born in St. Catharines, Ontario....
(Class of 1995) - Matthew Swick (Class of 1996)
Both rowers represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Williams won the bronze medal in the Women's 8
Rowing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Rowing events at the 2000 Summer Olympics:The event is probably most noted for Steve Redgrave's winning his fifth Olympic gold medal in as many games in the British men's coxless four. However, there were a number of other dramatic races. Both the men's and women's single...
.
Swimming
Holy Cross has a few swimmers that have performed very well.Swimmer Nick Majtenyi (Class of 2008) has placed at OFSAA two years. He won two bronze medals, one in the 200 meter freestyle, and one in the 100 meter freestyle.
Nick will be going to the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in the fall of 2008 to compete on the swim team.
Hockey
The Holy Cross hockey team has had various success in Southern Ontario play in recent years. They won the SOSSA championship three years in a row (2000-2002), and again in 2008 (now in the A-AA division.)Notable Hockey Players:
- Rob DavisonRob DavisonRob Davison is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for HC Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Extraliga.-Playing career:...
- Currently playing for the New Jersey DevilsNew Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.