The problem is travelling. For example, in northern Iowa you have Mason City Newman, Fort Dodge St. Edmonds, Algona Bishop Garrigan, Remsen St. Mary's, Granville-Spalding Catholic, Sioux City Bishop Heelan, St. Lake St. Mary's, etc. These schools are so spread out it would be next to impossible to put them into a single conference, and I think you'd have that problem all over the state.
Private Schools in the State Tournament
- Thread starter htownclone
- Start date
Anyone that lives in the DM area knows there is just as much, if not more, recruiting that goes on at public schools as there is at the privates. I know of cases of parents treating the HS's like you would a college with questions of "what can you offer my son/daughter?" playing time, etc.
I think feasibly you could have a large and small school class for private schools. That would basically put 3A and 4A privates together and 1A and 2A together. I don't know exactly the numbers they would have though for each class. Obviously schedules can still be filled with private and public schools playing in the regular season. They would just play against other private schools in postseason play.
I just feel like if the same rules don't apply to both private schools and public schools, how can they possibly play against each other at state?
I just feel like if the same rules don't apply to both private schools and public schools, how can they possibly play against each other at state?
Sadly realized that as I was typing it and thought, "Surely nobody will read it that way."
I did laugh when I read it too. Nothing wrong with putting privates together every now and again. :biggrin:
Regardless of school, kids that come from homes/families that are financially stable and excelling are likely going to be exposed to more opportunities to hone whatever skills they have...athletically, musically, academically.
WDM Valley is dominant. It's a public school that comes from a very good tax base. Waukee is a growing giant, and their tax base is excellent. SE Polk has a growing tax base with the far eastern metro expansion...and will get better with Bass Pro and that expansion.
Ankeny is growing in the north.
Follow the money.
That may be the case in the CIML, but in the MAC (Davenport Metro), over the last 10 years you can basically backtrack and see, for football standings at least, it tends to work out this way:
1 - 2: Bettendorf & Davenport Assumption
3 - 6: Muscatine, North Scott, Pleasant Valley, and Burlington
7 - 10: Clinton, Davenport North, Davenport West, Davenport Central
This will vary a little bit as in the late '90s you would substitute Davenport West for Muscatine, and throughout those years someone from the 5-6 range might be substituted for the 7-10 range, but for the most part this holds true. And I'm certain during that time neither Bettendorf nor Davenport Assumption finished worse than 3rd. Sure, there's something to be said about whining when it isn't warranted. But there's something else to be said when year in and year out the MAC trophy is going to read either Bettendorf or Assumption...
How abou talking about getting rid of the rules that public schools have that supposedly hold them back? Instead it seems like people want to impose more rules to "level" the playing field (which really means - bring the private schools down a level or two or get rid of the competition all together).
I say let them compete and quit moaning about how unfair it is. Nothing great that has ever been done is a result of diminished competition. Why can't we indict our precious public schools when they fail to perform at a high level?
I say let them compete and quit moaning about how unfair it is. Nothing great that has ever been done is a result of diminished competition. Why can't we indict our precious public schools when they fail to perform at a high level?
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In Arizona we have open enrollment in the public schools, so talented athletes go to the public schools with the best programs. In fact there are parents who have moved from out of state into the Scottsdale Horizon school district just so their son can play on Horizon's baseball team. So this idea of recruiting at the HS level happens at the public schools as well, especially in bigger metropolitan areas.
I know the draw of private schools in Iowa school's is pretty strong in athletics. Talking to other high-school kids in the last couple years, some of them very good athletes, I found that most of them had gotten calls from a private school in the area. I'm not saying this goes on everywhere, but if a private school sees someone they like they might hint at a private school and what it can offer students. During tourney time this shows up and people wonder why there are so many private schools in the bracket.
Do you have a pulse? Harlan is up there just as much as Heelan is, it's just that people hate Heelan because it's a Catholic school.
Like when Heelan beat Xavier in the state baseball championship two years ago?
Since moving to 3A after the 2005 football season Heelan has won:
State baseball (beat harlan in playoffs) 2006
runner up in boys basketball (beat harlan in playoffs)2006-2007
State Volleyball 2007
runner up in football (beat harlan in playoffs)2007
State Girls Basketball 2007-2008
I'll concede Xavier and Assumption are as good as Heelan. See a common thread?
Separate tournaments sounds good to me. Public school championships and real ones.
Believe it or not, some of these private schools, because they are private, do not have the money to throw around at prospective players or coaches for that matter. Its enough of a struggle to pay teachers and keep tuition reasonable, and you'd be surprised at how little a private school coach might get paid.
Harlan doesn't dominate 3A??? Are you kidding me? They have been, without a doubt, the most successful team over probably the past 10 years or so. They have qualified for state 7 out of the last 11 years in basketball. Football has won, what? 11 state Championships?
Harlan this year had nowhere near the talent of some other 3A schools but they have so much experience from repeatedly being there year in and year out. They surprised a lot of people this year playing with Wahlert as well as they did and beating everyone else to get there.
Did you seriously join this thread? When jerkoffs use CF to try and marginalize private schools I'm gonna speak up.
So you are sticking to your guns saying Harlan doesn't dominate 3A?
And no reason to get your panties in a bunch and call names...
