Private schools excelled this season, taking home seven of eight class titles in the IHSA football championships, which just concluded.
Parents, families, and football enthusiasts from all throughout the state voiced their indignation at this dominance.
The ability of private schools to recruit was a clear protest. The fact that private schools reportedly competed against larger institutions in the regular season to make the battle for smaller schools less intense in the playoffs was another source of embarrassment.
The idea of dividing the classes into public and private levels for the postseason was finally revived.
Indeed, private schools dominated this fall, winning seven out of eight class titles. The only close final match was Loyola Academy’s 29–27 victory against Joliet Catholic.
However, a brief look back until 2023 shows that Illinois public schools won five of the eight state football championships. In 2022, private schools won six out of eight football titles, surpassing public schools. However, public schools took home six of the eight trophies in both 2020 and 2021.
Undoubtedly, some schools are enduring forces. Four of the previous five 7a titles have been won by Chicago Mount Carmel. Three of the previous five 6A titles have been won by East St. Louis; the other two were taken by another Cary-Grove public school. Three of the previous five 3A titles have been won by Byron High. Lena-Winslow, a public school powerhouse in 1A, has lost in the title game the past two years despite winning three of the previous five. Once to the mighty Belleville-Althoff team this year, and once to Camp Point Central in 2023 (also open to the public).
Although high school athletes are not meant to be recruited in Illinois, you are free to attend any school in any district. As a student-athlete, is it recruiting if you want to play football for a private school that has a stronger program? It can, of course, work the opposite way. A student or athlete could wish to participate in a public high school program if it has reached a high degree of success.
Whether they are private or public, boosters are boosters. Winning gives a program more funding. Private schools are not subject to property taxes, which are collected for public schools. I’m not sure if anyone believes that Illinois property taxes should be increased in order to provide public school athletes a sense of equality with their private counterparts.
It’s wonderful to have competition. Warming up swings with a weight on your bat to improve bat speed at the plate is the same as playing a weighted schedule to make competition appear easier when the postseason starts.
Illinois’s private schools enjoyed a successful football season. Public schools typically win the prizes, and it doesn’t happen every year. Give the winners a round of applause and resolve to improve the following season. The history can be viewed here.
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