Wrestling and football were Exhibits A and B, and there's no doubt that for a while the Class AA state wrestling tourney was pretty much a Catholic League round-robin with Mount Carmel, Providence and St. Rita taking turns at the top ...

But times have changed ... Sandburg's current seniors apparently never got the memo about public schoolls not being able to compete at the same level as the private powers, because the Eagles haven't lost to an Illinois opponent since Providence knocked them off in the 2004 sectionals ...

So that's three seasons and counting that Sandburg has taken on and beaten all comers ... proof that public schools can win state if they have the right ingredients: solid coaching, a productive feeder program, committed athletes, adequate facilities and administrative support ...