I went to the College of the Holy Cross, and looking back, I truly loved the experience. Coming from Oratory, I appreciated the smaller environment and the sense of community that defined the school. Holy Cross was a place where people got to know each other quickly, and I was fortunate to be surrounded by a great group of guys right from the start. My dorm and hallway placement turned out to be a blessing, as many of the guys I met there remain close friends today. We still keep a group chat, play in a fantasy football league, and go to each other’s weddings. I even met my wife at Holy Cross, which made the experience all the more meaningful.
Some of my favorite memories include going to the basketball games, watching the football team, and supporting my wife on the softball field–even if the team wasn’t great. I enjoyed my academics and did well in my classes, but I wish I had taken more advantage of what Holy Cross offered on the academic side. There were countless lectures, events, and opportunities for students that I often passed up in favor of playing pickup basketball or joining a stickball league. My experience leaned heavily toward the social side of college, but ultimately, I wouldn’t trade it. When I went back to campus recently for a wedding, it was exciting to walk around with my kids and see how much the school had grown and changed.
When I was applying to colleges, I considered several schools, including Fordham, Loyola Maryland, Notre Dame, Stonehill, and Scranton. Notre Dame was the largest school on my list and the furthest from home, but my parents preferred that I stay within driving distance. Holy Cross stood out as the right fit: close enough to feel close to home, yet far enough away to be independent. I was fortunate to be accepted everywhere I applied, including Notre Dame, but Holy Cross simply felt like the place I belonged.
My love of cross-country started back at Oratory, where I ran sophomore through senior year in both cross-country and track. We were a small but close-knit team, and we found a lot of success, winning prep and conference championships and finishing runner-up in Non-Public B two years in a row. The camaraderie and competitiveness made the experience rewarding, and I’ve always loved how unique the sport is. Unlike basketball or baseball, cross-country isn’t widely understood, and there’s something special about its tight-knit culture. People often don’t realize how much strategy and science are involved; it’s not just telling kids to “go run.”
As a coach now, I’m excited about this season. The team is young but talented, with two of the arguably best freshmen in the region. I expect us to be competitive and to win. Several athletes have made impressive progress: Connor Bassolino has developed tremendously as both a runner and a leader and James Nolan has been a great, steady leader: Alexander Kieschke, Cathal Hislop, Aiden Lontai, among others have worked their way into key team roles.
Teaching and coaching at Oratory has been deeply rewarding. My favorite memories as a student were the simple ones, like leaving early on day 6 schedules as a senior to head down to Summit with my friends and play football in any weather. Now, my favorite moments as a teacher come from building connections with students and athletes. Education runs in my family, so teaching was always familiar to me. At first, I thought about law, but in college, I discovered a love for sociology and history. My wife also pursued teaching, and eventually, I earned my education degree. Though I had other opportunities, Oratory was the place that spoke to me most.
Sports remain an important part of my life as well. One of my favorite memories as a fan came in 1999, when I attended David Cone’s perfect game on Yogi Berra Day. I not only witnessed history but also met Yogi Berra and even rode the ferry with him and other fans afterward.
To the senior class preparing for college, my advice is simple: Wherever you go, it will be the right place. Throw yourself into the experience–meet people, join clubs, go to games, attend lectures, and make the most of every opportunity. Don’t just think about building a resume; focus on building relationships and memories. College is too valuable, especially with the cost, to waste time. Looking back, I can say that my years at Holy Cross were some of the best of my life, and if I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.
