April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ND-BG, CCHS, SPA CATHOLIC
Three high schools score big with 'Holy Trinity' football team
Like a Hail Mary pass, move saves sports program
"We're brothers now," said Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School sophomore Samuel Lock. Samuel is a member of the Holy Trinity football team, a combined team from ND-BG in Schenectady, Saratoga Central ("Spa") Catholic High School and Catholic Central High School in Troy.
Back in 2013, the administrations at ND-BG and Spa Catholic saw that their numbers were lacking on the football field. They merged to help their football programs succeed, calling themselves the "Sainted Knights," a name that combined both schools' mascots.
That merger worked so well that, for this past season, the Sainted Knights became the Holy Trinity, embracing Catholic Central as part of their merged team.
The schools made a five-year commitment to the team.
"It's a way for smaller schools to get their kids a chance to play football," said head coach John Barber. "They wanted the kids to have a chance to play."
"It worked out perfectly," said recent ND-BG grad Brendan Malloney. "There was a lot of team bonding. It was nice, because we didn't see each other in school, so practice was like a reunion."
"We practice at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons," said Coach Barber. "They have their own fieldhouse," with a practice field and game field.
The student-athletes from the other two schools have to travel every day to practice. Some come from more than an hour away. "[During] the bus rides to practice every day, we became even closer as a team," said CCHS senior Matthew Scarlett. "We always joked and laughed together."
For Coach Barber, the biggest concern going into the season was acceptance. "I was surprised [at] how it came together," he said. "The kids were all game. It's a good group of kids; they connect with everybody. It carried over to success on the football field."
"We bonded in that first week of practice," said Anthony Coppola, a senior at Spa Catholic. "I think bonding together on the football field is totally different than in school. When you're out on the field, they're your brothers. We all need to have each other's back."
That sense of brotherhood is something many of the students felt, both on and off the field.
"I think the first sign was during the opening-year liturgy of the four high schools," said Pat Moran, the athletic director for ND-BG. "When we were leaving, the kids were waving at each other."
"I think all the Catholic High kids hang out with the other kids more than we hang out with each other," said CCHS alum Justin Rohrwasser.
Playing on the Holy Trinity team helped Justin learn how "to work with other people. I was never much of a talker at all. It helped me talk more, to push me even harder to lead by example," he said.
Justin will be attending the University of Rhode Island in the fall to study kinesiology (human movement) and play football on a partial academic and partial athletic scholarship.
Brendan also received a partial athletic scholarship after his time on the merged football team. He'll attend Pace University in New York City in the fall. "It's funny, because I always thought I would go somewhere for basketball," he remarked.
Coach Barber believes that, by combining the schools, people are able to see "how much kids still need athletics in their schools. I think it plays a big role. Seeing that every day reinforces that for me. I try to treat each kid as they're my own son, and they knew that right off."
The coach also tries to instill some basic morals into his athletes: "good work ethic, trust in each other, respect for each other." He wants his athletes "to know how strong they are and what they can accomplish with hard work."
"We just followed what coach said," said Samuel. "We knew he was a great coach."
Coach Barber came to the team after coaching football under Coach Joe King at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.
The communities of the three high schools have come together to support the young men, as well.
"Once the student body figured out what was going on, they hopped on" board with enthusiasm, Brendan told The Evangelist. "Our first game, we had more people than I'd ever played in front of, ever, which was incredible."
"The parents all [provide] great support; they mix well together," said Coach Barber. "The support is tremendous."
The Holy Trinity team members do have other interests: Anthony plays baseball and does community service; Brendan plays basketball; Samuel volunteers at a food bank and Matthew Scarlett has been a member of student council and his school's retreat team.
"I don't want to be recognized as more of an athlete [than a student]," said Brendan. "I want to be recognized as an academic achiever. I want to be successful in school and then on the playing field to show you can do both."
The student-athletes share one common goal when they step out on the field: to win. "Last year, we didn't make the playoffs," said Anthony. "This year, everyone has to step up."
"We're just going to go out, play hard and be successful," said Matthew.
"We're one family reaching for one goal of success," said Coach Barber. "Yes, we're different schools -- but we're one team."[[In-content Ad]]
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