We never played Mt Michael. We played Skutt, Roncalli, Pius, and Gross though. I have no issues with private/parochial schools at all. As I've stated before, I don't think they recruit anymore than any other school out there does (public schools included). I believe 100% that the program recruits for itself. If I was a middle school boy in Fremont, North Platte, or Kearney I would want to go to Bergan, St Pats, or KCHS because those teams traditionally have better success in football. That isn't a knock on Fremont Public, North Platte Public, or Kearney Public.....facts are facts. KCHS had a 3 year run where they went to the semi's or further each year. St Pats almost always goes further than North Platte High, same with Bergan and Fremont.
The biggest advantage that parochial schools have on public schools is that the parochial school draws from a population that is significantly bigger than the population that the schools they are competing against are drawing from. There are a few exceptions where the parochial school is competing at the same level as the main public school in town is competing at....meaning they are drawing from the same population. This is true with Prep (Omaha), Marian (Omaha), Mt Michael (Elkhorn), St Francis (Humphrey), Neumann (Wahoo), Pope John (Elgin) and their might be a few more. The bulk of the parochial
schools are competing in a class that is significantly lower than what they would be competing at if they were a public school simply due to the population they draw from. A few examples:
Norfolk Catholic draws from Norfolk's population of 24,000+, meanwhile their biggest rival (Pierce) draws from 1,700+
North Platte St Pats draws from North Platte's population of 24,000+, meanwhile Hersehey is the nearest C2 school and they draw from a population of 650+
Hastings St Cecilia draws from Hastings' population of 25,000+, meanwhile Sutton is one of their biggest rivals in football and they are pulling from 1,500+.
Archbishop Bergan draws from Fremont's population of 26,000+, meanwhile Yutan (a team in their district) draws from 1,100+.
I'm not saying that parochial schools are at fault or are doing anything against the rules....but to deny there is not an advantage present is plain ignorant.