Central Catholic Marianist High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Central Catholic Marianist High School
picture=
motto = Pride, Excellence, Tradition
established = 1852
city = San Antonio
state = Texas
country = USA
campus = Urban
type = private all-male secondary
affiliations = Catholic Church and Society of Mary (Marianists)
president = Rev. Dr. Joseph Tarrillion, S.M.
principal = Deacon W. Patrick Cunningham
chaplain = Rev. Donald Cowie, S.M.
founder = Society of Mary (Marianists)
students = approx. 500
grades = 9-12
accreditation = Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Texas Catholic Conference Education Department
mascot = Buttons
colors = Navy Blue and White
newspaper = The Pep, Twenty Eleven
yearbook = The Fang
website = [http://www.cchs-satx.org/ www.cchs-satx.org]

Central Catholic Marianist High School, is a Catholic, all-male, non-boarding college preparatory school located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio

History

The school began as St. Mary's Institute on March 25,1852 in rented rooms above a livery stable on Military Plaza. [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/SS/ics1.html] The original faculty consisted of Brother Anthony Edel (Founder, First Superior, and First Principal) from Ohio, three Marianist Brothers from Bordeaux, France (Nicholas Koenig, Jean-Baptiste Laignounse, and Xavier Mauclerc), and Timothy O'Neil, a layman from San Antonio.

The school moved to a new 2-story building at 112 College Street March 1, 1853. In 1891, the school was re-named St. Mary's College, reflecting its expansion to include boarders and primary and middle school grades. In 1923, the school added boarding students from St. Louis College and was re-named St. Mary's Academy. [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/MM/ixm1.html] The site is now a hotel entryway, recognized by [http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/shell-county.htm Texas Historical Marker #3819] as the location of Old St. Mary's College, or "The Old Academy."

In 1932, the school relocated to a new 3-story brick building on convert|2.2|acre|ha at 1403 N. St. Mary's Street and was re-named once more to Central Catholic High School. The third floor was not occupied until 1953. Grade school classes were dropped in 1955. A Dr Pepper bottling plant occupied the northeast corner of the site until 1956. On December 6, 1982, the school was incorporated in the State of Texas as Central Catholic Marianist High School. The school now occupies over convert|10|acre|ha after purchase of surrounding properties.

Central Catholic is one of the oldest high schools in San Antonio, and it counts many prominent business and political leaders among its alumni. It was the first all boy's school in San Antonio and remains one of the largest all-male schools in Texas. [http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/shell-county.htm Texas Historical Marker #788] on the school's front lawn describes the school's history and denotes it as a Texas landmark.

Mascot

Central Catholic "Buttons", named for the rattle segments of a rattlesnake. A rattlesnake ("The Rattlers") is the mascot of St. Mary's University in San Antonio, also a Marianist institution.

Athletics

The school boasts a storied athletic tradition and is home to an active student body. At all games the students of Central Catholic stand and cheer together in "Section R". "Section R" was founded in the fall of 1987 by Julio Villareal ('88), Orlando Sanchez ('88), and Carlos Sanchez ('89, no relation) to cheer on the struggling basketball team. To the chagrin ofCentral faculty and opposing teams this tradition continues today.

Central competes in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). For the 2008-2010 alignment, Central is in Division I District 2 for Winter Soccer and 11 Man Football and 5A District 2 in Baseball, Swimming, Track and Field, Golf, Tennis, and Basketball. Central competes in Cross Country in the TAPPS 5A division. [http://www.tapps.net/index.htm]

Central has won 6 TAPPS state championships: Cross Country (2007), Football (2001), Golf (2003),Soccer (2007, 2008), and Track (2001).

From 1935-1995, Central Catholic competed in the Texas Catholic Interscholastic League, winning 25 state championships: Basketball, 15 (1937, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1982, 1984, 1991); Baseball, 6 (1954, 1958, 1959, 1976, 1980, 1984); Football, 2 (1970, 1990); Soccer, 1 (1987); and Track, 1 (1982).

In the 2005-06 school year, Central Catholic was home to District and/or Regional champs in seven sports: Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, Track, Swimming, Tennis, and Lacrosse.

Cross CountryDuring the 2006 season, the school's Cross-Country team took the runner-up award at the TAPPS state meet ahead of all South, East, North and Central Texas teams, but losing to El Paso Cathedral by two points. The team won the TAPPS State Title in 2007 by 27 points. [http://www.tapps.net/athletics/results_of_contests/pdfs/2007-2008/TAPPS%206A%20Boys.pdf]

SoccerThe school's soccer team won the state championship after defeating Austin St. Michaels by a score of 5-1 in the 2006-2007 season. The championship finished up an undefeated season of 22-0-0. The team also won the state championship again the following season (2007-2008) by defeating Houston St. Thomas by a score of 4-0 in the finals, completing a 22-1-1 season. This season marked the fourth consecutive trip to at least the State Semi-Finals and included a victory over Austin Lanier in the East Central tourney during the 2007-2008 season, establishing a new state record for consecutive victories at 32 [ [http://cchs-satx.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4754424e32d22 Central Catholic High School - Soccer Team Takes State ] ] . [ [http://cchs-satx.org/vnews/display.v/ART/47fe2bbf7b12a Central Catholic High School - 2007-2008 ] ]

FootballIn the 2007 Football Season, Head Coach Carlos Enrico, along with assistant coaches L.D. Green, Charles Pena, Michael Gomez, Lou Garza, David Vela, and Coach Schoanert, led the Buttons to Central's first undefeated regular season in over thirty years and a #4 ranking in the city. After a 10-0 regular season and the District Championship, the Buttons were defeated by eventual state champion Houston St. Pius in the State Semifinals, finishing 11-1. Season highlights include victories over 6 public schools and a crushing defeat of rival Holy Cross for the first time in 3 years. The annual game with Holy Cross is known as "The Holy Bowl." [ [http://cchs-satx.org/vnews/display.v/ART/47fe2af850eee Central Catholic High School - 2008 ] ]

Track and FieldThe Central Catholic Track and Field Team has won the District Championship for three consecutive seasons (2006, 2007, and 2008) and the title of State Runner-Up for two consecutive seasons (2007 and 2008). [http://www.tapps.net/athletics/records_and_past_champions/index.htm] In 2007, the squad's 4x100 Meter and 4x800 Meter Relay Teams each set their respective TAPPS state records (42.96 seconds and 1:29.76, respectively). [http://www.tapps.net/athletics/records_and_past_champions/pdfs/Records/TrackRecords2008.pdf] Both teams also set the school records.

LacrosseCentral Catholic also has one of the oldest lacrosse teams in the city of San Antonio, claiming a newly formed division title in 2006. The lacrosse team is headed by long time coach, Jay McCracken, with many alumni as assistants.

U.S. Army JROTC

Central Catholic is one of the few private schools in the city with a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)unit (TMI: The Episcopal School of Texas also has an active AJROTC unit) and also bears the distinction of being the oldest JROTC program in the city, established in 1932. It is also the largest JROTC program in the nation. Students are required to be enlisted for two years in the corps, third and fourth years being optional. Currently, the unit bears the title of honor unit, placing in the top 50% of nationwide AJROTC units. Although Central Catholic is a single-gender school, students from Providence High School, Central Catholic's next door neighbor, may also choose to participate in the program, which was integrated in the 2003-2004 school year. It also has one of only two JROTC units in Texas with its own marching band.

The school is home to the Bordelon Rifles, consisting of two of the top air rifle shooting teams (a precision team and sporter team) in the nation. Shooters on the team consistently place well not only on local levels, but shoot at national and international levels, placing themselves high in rankings for the teams and the shooters themselves. They boast many titles and trophies for their efforts, including the top prize from the American Legion Individual Overall National Championship in 1995, awarded to 1997 graduate Steve Wilson. The teams are named for SSgt. William J. Bordelon, USMC, a Central Catholic graduate who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The medal is now on display in the atrium of the main building.

The Central Catholic JROTC is also home to the Chaminade Guard (affectionately referred to as "The Machine"), the oldest active military exhibition drill team in the United States. The prestigious drill team was organized in 1938 and named after Bl. Fr. William Joseph Chaminade, the founder of the Society of Mary. The junior varsity drill team, the Loyd Rifles, was organized in 1961 as a Junior Varsity team when the Guard became too large of a unit. The team is named after First Lieutenant Frank J. Loyd Jr. (class of 1945), another one of Central Catholic's U.S. military heroes.

chool Song

"With loyal hearts"

"we'll e'er stand by"

"Our alma mater"

"Central High."

"For her we'll fight"

"right to the"

"end,"'

"Her honor"

"we'll defend."

"RAH! "

"RAH!"

"We'll always"

"strive for"

"victory."

"We'll always"

"win her "

"fame,"

"And add them"

"to her"

"glorious name."

"God"

"bless "

"our"

"Central"

"High!"

Notable Graduates

* [http://www.educationisfreedom.com/AboutEIF/aboutus_ceo.asp David W. Biegler] , 1964, former CEO of TXU and ENSERCH Corporations
* William J. Bordelon, 1938, posthumous recipient of Medal of Honor at Battle of Tarawa, 1943
* Henry Cisneros, 1964, "Boy Mayor" of San Antonio 1981-9, HUD Secretary 1993-1997
* [http://www.laredosnews.com/archives/june2005/local_04.htm Solomon Casseb, Jr] , 1932, Senior District Judge of Texas
* Joe Cortez, 1950, Buttons basketball coach 36 years, winningest coach in city history (over 800 wins)
* Ben Dunn, 1982, American comic book artist and founder of Antarctic Press in San Antonio, TX.
* Frank D. Frazier, 1947, astronaut candidate, [http://www.spacefacts.de/english/bio_cand.htm Military Class 4]
* Nicholas Gonzalez, 1994, [http://www.nicholasgonzalez.com/ actor]
* (Joseph) Sonny Melendrez, 1964, [http://sonnyradio.com/bio.htm radio/TV host] [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0577608/ actor, writer, and motivational speaker.]
* Michael Mery, 1975, San Antonio County Court Judge
* Robert Skiles, attended 1962-64, musician, "Beto" of the Austin band [http://www.betoandthefairlanes.com/ Beto and the Fairlanes]
* Whitley Streiber, 1963, author, screenwriter, UFO abductee
* William C. Velásquez, 1962, Chicano movement organizer and founder of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project

References

External links

* [http://www.cchs-satx.org/ Official website]