AP study results: Ohio has had many sports dynasties

There have been 77 high schools that have won three state titles in a row.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- When it comes to Ohio high schools, some state champions just don't know when to quit.
An Associated Press analysis of Ohio High School Athletic Association records shows that dynasties -- defined as at least three consecutive state championships -- aren't nearly so rare as one might think.
Seventy-seven schools have posted a "three-peat," although the numbers taper off considerably beyond that. Only nine schools have won at least six championships in a row.
The two at the top
There isn't much debate about the two greatest dynasties in Ohio.
Cincinnati St. Xavier's boys swimming teams have won 26 team titles including 12 in a row from 1970-81, another six consecutive trophies from 1990-95 and the most recent five big-school titles.
The wrestling program at Lakewood St. Edward has captured 20 team championships, including 10 in a row from 1978-87. The Eagles have won the last eight big-school wrestling titles.
St. Edward coach Greg Urbas wasn't sure at first how many titles he had won as head coach. He said he never thinks in terms of how many he has, but rather about what he has to do to get the next one.
"They last maybe a week," Urbas said. "Then you've got to get ready for the off-season. It just never ends. It's the next kid's turn to step up."
Streaks
Caldwell strung together eight boys cross country titles from 1985-92, and Cleveland Heights Beaumont won every girls state track crown from 1986-92. Besides St. Xavier, others taking six in a row were: Canton McKinley in boys swimming (1956-61); Cleveland East Tech in boys track and field (1939-44); and Cincinnati St. Ursula in girls volleyball (1993-98).
Perhaps the most acclaimed dynasties in Ohio prep sports -- Cincinnati Moeller and Cleveland St. Ignatius in football -- pale in comparison to other longer streaks. Moeller won a meager three playoff titles (1975-77), while St. Ignatius took five championships in a row (1991-95).
Why have some schools dominated?
Talent goes long way
One good class can fuel a program's run of two, three or even four consecutive titles.
One example is Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, which had won just one state championship in boys basketball before a freshman named LeBron James led the Fighting Irish to the title in 2000. James -- tabbed "The Chosen One" in a Sports Illustrated cover story before he had finished his junior year of high school -- led the Irish to three state titles in his four seasons. The other year, they lost in the title game.
But it takes a deep feeder system, a coach with a vision, cutting-edge facilities and a stream of star athletes to reach the rarefied air of a dynasty.
Sometimes, winning begets winning, with great players gravitating to the most successful programs because they have a better chance of earning college scholarships and winning titles.
Feeder programs
Urbas credits powerful CYO and YMCA wrestling programs for providing youngsters in Cleveland with athletes who are experienced even before they begin high school.
He doesn't shirk from another advantage St. Edward has.
"We don't have boundaries so the athletes are not coming from one school district," Urbas said. "But tuition next year is around $8,000."
Caldwell is the lone public school with a streak longer than six titles in a row. Coach Dugan Hill, who also ran on a Caldwell state champion team in 1973, used to believe that the Catholic schools had a decided advantage.
"A lot of times those of us at public schools say those schools recruit and if we could recruit we'd be better and dah dah dah dah dah. I don't know that that's true," he said. "If I'm a girl who's a good half-miler in the Cleveland area, why would I not want to go to Beaumont as opposed to going to a Cleveland city school? I'm not going to say they don't recruit, but I will say they don't have to recruit as much as public schools think they do."
The coaching factor
Most of the dynasties revolve around one head coach -- or a direct link from one coach to another -- for the duration of their run.
That's what makes St. Xavier's dominance all the more remarkable. The Bombers have been led to championships by current coach Jim Brower (11 titles), Dennis White (7), Jim Loomis (3), David Coffman (2), Michael Arat (2) and Mark Sullivan (1).
Contrast that with St. Edward, which has had just two coaches over the last 26 years: Howard Ferguson (11 titles from 1978 to 1989), and Urbas (9 from 1992 through the current season), who took over after 11 years as freshman coach when Ferguson died.
Middletown basketball
Middletown won boys basketball championships in 1944, '46, '47, '52, '53, '56 and '57. Jerry Lucas, arguably the most dominant Ohio schoolboy star ever, went 76-1 during his career as a Middie. But the common denominator of those title runs was Paul Walker, who remains the state's all-time leader in basketball coaching victories.
Caldwell won eight consecutive state titles in boys cross country from 1985 to 1992 -- the last six with Hill as the head coach.
When Hill thinks back on his school's string of successes, he is awed by the thought.
"Coaches dream of winning one," he said. "Do I feel honored, privileged, lucky? Absolutely."