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The History of Holy Cross High School River Grove (population 10,668) is located in far northeastern Illinois in upper western Cook County. River Grove is a near northwestern suburb of Chicago. The town was incorporated in 1888. The main roads leading to River Grove are Illinois Routes 64 and 171. The Soo Line Railroad runs through River Grove while the Des Plaines River flows through the west side of town. The town's official website can be viewed at http://www.villageofrivergrove.org . The Chicago area is a hotbed of parochial school activity. Private, religious based grammar schools and high schools are a part of nearly every neighborhood. As the town of Chicago expanded westward, the suburbs who were near it began to expand as well. The rising population brought with it the need for new high schools to accomodate the new residents. Holy Cross Catholic High School was one of these schools. Holy Cross High School for boys was established on the north side of River Grove in 1961. Along with it a sister school, Mother Guerin High School for girls, was established. The schools sat side by side on 80th Avenue just south of Belmont Avenue for over 40 years. As the River Grove and surrounding near northwest suburbs leveled off in population growth, so did the enrollment at Holy Cross High School. The enrollment decreased steadily through the early 2000s. It was decided that in 2004 an incoming freshman class had to reach a certain level to remain open. This number never materialized and talks were finalized with Mother Guerin High School for a consolidation effort. Through this effort Guerin Preparatory High School was born. The main high school was held in the original Mother Guerin High School building. Holy Cross High School facilities, including the gym, football, and baseball fields, were still used for the Guerin Prep HS sports program. The Holy Cross High School building still stands and is used in an educational capacity. Holy Cross High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1961 Year closed: 2004 Consolidated to: Guerin Preparatory High School Holy Cross HS team nickname: the "Crusaders" Team colors: Red & Grey School Fight Song: "Crusaders Fight for Holy Cross" Submitted by Patrick Devitt Ba, Ba, Ba, Ba, Ba, Ba, Ba, Ba, Ba Crusaders fight for Holy Cross, Crusaders win for Holy Cross, Though the score may be against you, To your team you will be true, So cheer your men from Holy Cross, Cheer your team through win or loss, For the Red the Grey we cheer hooray, Crusaders fight for Holy Cross! ATHLETICS The Holy Cross High School Crusaders competed in many different sports during their existence. Holy Cross High School offered Soccer, Football, Golf, Cross-Country, Basketball, Wrestling, Hockey, Tennis, Baseball, and Track. Several of these sports enjoyed success on a state competition level (www.ihsa.org). In many cases we are missing some of the better records, coach's names, and great athletes which were a part of the Holy Cross High School history. BASEBALL The Holy Cross High School diamond-men had several seasons of oputstanding success. The baseball program won a total of SIX Regional titles, two Sectional titles, and made two trips to the IHSA State Finals. The resoults of these great seasons are listed below. Unfortunately we are still searching for the records and coach's names of many of these and other great HCHS teams. 1964-65 21 - 4 Elite 8 Finalist Coach Frank Mariani Regional Champions Sectional Champions Elite 8 Finalists Lost to Waterloo HS 5 - 0
1974-75 Regional Champions
1977-78 23 - 13 Elite 8 Finalists Coach Donald Halverson Regional Champions Sectional Champions Elite 8 Finalists Lost to Chicago Kennedy 5 - 3 1982-83 Regional Champions 2001-02 Coach Dan Eberle 2002-03 Regional Champions Coach Dan Eberle Holy Cross 5, Willowbrook 1 Holy Cross 4, Elmwood Park 0 Sectional First Round Glenbard West 6, Holy Cross 2
2003-04 Regional Champions Coach Bob Stevens Holy Cross 7, Elmwood Park 1 Holy Cross 12, Leyden 7 Sectional First Round Hinsdale South 6, Holy Cross 4 (School's Final Season) BASKETBALL The Crusader basetball program did not come away with any IHSA hardware. However the teams were always in the thick of conference title races and contended for many Regional titles, coming up a little short each year. One of Holy Cross' alumnus', Dennis McGuire (mid-1970s), played his college basketball at DePaul University including a spot on the Blue Demons Final Four squad which starred Mark Aguire! The following are some of the late-great seasons that HCHS enjoyed: 2001-02 23 - 6 (Best Overall Season in School History!) Coach Dan McCarthy Regional Results Holy Cross 55, Maine West 41 Notre Dame 46, Holy Cross 44
2002-03 20 - 8 Coach Dan McCarthy Regional Results Holy Cross 61, Leyden 43 Evanston 51, Holy Cross 48 (Evanston finished 4th in State)
2003-04 School's Final Season Coach Dan McCarthy Season Record 6-21 Regional Finals Holy Cross 80, Ridgewood 44 St.Joseph 63, Holy Cross 40 (St.Joseph lost in Super-Sectionals)
FOOTBALL The most well-covered sport on the IHSA website for Holy Cross, the grid iron program had some nice seasons to show for itself. Included were two undefeated regular seasons and six trips to IHSA State Playoffs. Garrett Wolfe, current star running back for Northern Illinois University, is a product of the Holy Cross Cruasader football program. He put up remarkable numbers during the 2000 season. He scored 39 touchdowns, rushed for 2,259 yards and scored 234 of his team's points in the season. The 39 touchdowns ranks 12th in Illinois H.S. Football history. An amazing feat occured on November 22, 1994 against Lisle Benet Academy. Quarterback Brian Dolan made a huge pass to Joe Gorowski for a total of 99 yards for a touchdown. Gorowski would also set a school record that year with 13 punts returned. 1963-64 Coach Ron Giusti 1964-65 4 - 4 Coach Ron Giusti 1965-66 7 - 2 Coach Frank Mariani 1966-67 5 - 4 Coach Frank Mariani 1967-68 4 - 4 - 1 Coach Frank Mariani 1968-69 6 - 3 Coach Frank Mariani 1969-70 6 - 2 Coach Frank Mariani 1970-71 5 - 4 Coach Frank Mariani 1971-72 9 - 0 Undefeated Season Coach Frank Mariani 1972-73 8 - 1 Coach Frank Mariani 1973-74 9 - 0 - 1 Undefeated Season Coach Frank Mariani 1974-75 8 - 1 Coach Bob Koleno 1975-76 7 - 2 Coach Bob Koleno 1976-77 7 - 2 Coach Bob Koleno 1977-78 7 - 4 Qualified for IHSA Class 5A Playoffs Coach Bob Koleno Elite 8 Finalist Beat Fremd 7 - 0 Lost to Deerfield 29 - 0 Deerfield eventual State runner-up 1978-79 Coach Bob Koleno 1979-80 6 - 4 Coach Tim Feigh 1980-83 Coach Tim Feigh 1983-86 Coach Tim Franken 1986-89 Coach Pat Arthurs 1994-98 Coach Virg Gerin 1998-99 8 - 4 IHSA Class 4A Playoff Qualifier CoachJoseph DiCanio Lost to Canton 27 - 0 1999-00 8 - 5 IHSA Class 4A Playoff Qualifier Coach Joseph DiCanio Lost to Rochelle 29 - 25 2000-01 11 - 2 IHSA Class 4A Playoff Qualifier Coach Joseph DiCanio Elite 8 Finalist!! Beat Ridgewood 34 - 8 Beat Jerseyville 35 - 21 Lost to Pontiac 37 - 14 2001-02 7 - 6 IHSA Class 5A Playoff Qualifier Coach Joe DiCanio Lost to Riversidfe-Brookfield 42 - 0 2002-03 Coach Joe Dicanio 2003-04 7 - 4 IHSA Class 5A Playoff Qualifier Coach Joe Dicanio Lost to Rock Island Alleman 21 - 13
- Many of the records in the latter years reflect the final record after Holy Cross had competed in the Catholic League Playoffs in which it was entered after losing in the iHSA playoffs.
One male athlete brought some IHSA hardwarte back from the State Meet. Mike Durkin made consecutive trips to the state meet in the early 1970s.
1969-70 Mike Durkin 1 Mile Run 2ND Place
1970-71 Mike Durkin 1 Mile Run 2ND Place
WRESTLING Two Holy Cross High School grapplers won medals at the IHSA State Meet. Their excellent accomplishments are listed below. 1970-71 Jim Hynes 167 Lbs Weight Class 4TH Place 1976-77 John McGuiness 167 Lbs. Weight Class 2ND PLace Special Thank You... ...to Patrick Devitt for a great deal of the information on this page.
Records and Alumni information
- Alumni can contact Guerin College Preparatory for transcripts or other records. The registrar's office can be contacted at 708-453-6233, Ext. 27.
Defunct schools | Roman Catholic schools | Holy Cross secondary schools | 1961 establishments | 2004 disestablishments | Educational institutions established in the 1960s
"Holy Cross High School (River Grove)"