yes the academies are the same thing. Families "adopt" these athletes from rough backgrounds and put them in the schools. Happens to be those families have very close ties financially to the athletic programs at those schools (sometimes the coaches)

I also have not said anything negative about the kids. They are not better because they went to Aquinas, they are better because they worked hard. The whole point of how they all are on the same team is what is questionable.

Also, wrestling alum may be correct about the great bend area, but the three big public districts (Shawnee Mission, Olathe and Blue Valley)area are all better academic institutions than Aquinas. Aquinas offers the religious side that is not allowed in public education. So saying they went there for academics is not an argument.

Anyway, this post was originally to say congrats to the kids for their individual accomplishments, but once again they should have won because they were given an advantage the most other schools were not.