'Harlingen High School", also abbreviated as HHS, is a public high school located in Harlingen, Texas (USA). It is part of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District and was the first of three HCISD high schools established. HHS was the sole high school from its establishment in 1913 to 1993 when the school split and Harlingen High School South was formed. In 2015, the school was rated "Improvement Required" by the Texas Education Agency.
Athletics
Harlingen is known for its successful football program. The Harlingen Cardinals compete in the following sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
Football
With 576 victories, the Harlingen Cardinals are the most successful high school football program in the Rio Grande Valley's 100 year high school football history with Harlingen participating in all but the first three of the 100 years. Harlingen also possesses a Valley record 32 Texas state football playoff appearances as well as the most district championships in the valley. The team also has the second most wins of any program south of San Antonio. In 1976 the Cardinals completed their first 10-0 season in school history.
Harlingen is coached by Manny Gomez, a defensive star from that 1989 playoff team, and is currently riding a nine-year active playoff appearance streak and are poised to extend that streak to ten consecutive years. The Cardinals have been named the number 1 football team all time in Valley Freedom Newspaper's Gridiron Gold series countdown of the top 14 schools in the Valley's 100 year football history.
In the playoffs, Harlingen became the first team in Valley football history to win 3 playoff games and reach the 4th round where they lost at home to Converse Judson.
One of the Cardinal's best seasons to date has come in 1989 under the leadership of legendary coach Jesse Longhofer. After losing the season opener, the Cardinals rallied to an eight-game win streak to finish the season 8-1 (one game was canceled). Another came in 2011 when Harlingen finished the regular season 10-0 beating a former state champion Abiline in the process. They would go on to the Regional Final and finish with a 13-1 record overall.
Battle of the Arroyo
One of the most anticipated high school football games is the Battle of the Arroyo between the Harlingen North Cardinals and rivals, San Benito High School Greyhounds. San Benito is Harlingen's neighboring community. The game between each school has been played 85 times with bragging rights and many times (prior to the recent district realignment) playoff spots on the line. 2016 marked the 86th "Battle" with North winning 29-27. HHSN leads the series 58-23-5 and 2-0 in playoffs.
Bird Bowl
In 1993 Harlingen High School North split up into 2 schools, HHSN and Harlingen High School South. Because HHSS selected the hawk as their mascot, the rivalry was dubbed the "Bird Bowl". Although the rivalry is only 20 years old, the game is every bit as intense as the Battle of the Arroyo, more so now that the city of Harlingen is no longer in the same athletic district as San Benito. Early on, the Cardinals dominated the Hawks year in and year out, but now in recent years, the Hawks have turned into a tough competitor and are capable of providing Harlingen fans with a great game. The Cardinals lead the series 20-4 and because both schools share J. Lewis Boggus Stadium, the "home" team designation is alternated every season. The Cardinals won Bird Bowl XXIV with a score of 23-16 marking the 9th consecutive season that the Bird Bowl trophy has remained on Cardinal territory.
Professional players
In Harlingen's history, the Cardinals have had 6 players go on to play professional football in both the NFL and CFL, including one NFL Super Bowl champion.
- Johnnie Jackson (won Super Bowl XXIV as a corner for the San Francisco 49ers)
- Sammy Garza
- Leo Araguz
- Jimmy Lawrence
- Harry Holt (graduated from Sunnyside High in Arizona)
Notable alumni
- Thomas Haden Church (Class of 1979)
- Johnnie Jackson (Super Bowl winning cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers)
Big Red Cardinal Band
The Harlingen High School Big Red Cardinal Band is under the direction of Ronnie Rios, and is a Texas recognized band program that features the marching band, five concert bands, four jazz ensembles, a mariachi band, colorguard and chamber ensembles. The "Big Red" Cardinal Marching Band has won numerous "grand champion" awards throughout the Rio Grande Valley. It is the only 6A marching band in South Texas to participate in the Texas UIL State Marching Contest ten consecutive times. All four concert bands have been awarded consistent "Sweepstakes" for their performances at the UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest. The Harlingen High School North Honors Band has been recognized consistently as a participant in the Texas Honor Band finals competition, placing as high as ninth in Texas. In 2007, the Honors Band performed in Indianapolis, Indiana at the prestigious Bands of America National Concert Band Festival and was recognized by the National Wind Band Honors for outstanding performance of New Music. All three jazz ensembles have placed in various jazz festivals and contests throughout Texas. In 2003, the Honors Jazz Ensemble performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In the 2011-2012 school year, The Harlingen High School Big Red Cardinal Band had also been named the Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary High School Band of the year in Texas.
See also
- Harlingen High School South
References
External links
- Official Homepage
- Administration Page
