Posted: Thu, 14 May 2009 07:28 AM - 6,481 Readers

By: KDH News

Some schools are just better than others.

Harvard academically is better than Arizona State. On the flip side, the Sun Devils can whip the Crimson at almost any sport.

These days, high schools are no different than colleges. Some are just flat out better than others.

Austin Westlake was the first in Central Texas to establish its dominance. In 2008, Westlake was ranked 52nd on Newsweek Magazine's Top 1000 Schools list.

The football team has been to six state championship games in the last 20 years and won it all in 1996, when the Chaparrals were led by Drew Brees.

As dominant as they have been in 5A, Lake Travis has been in 4A, winning back-to-back state football championships thanks to the arm of future Longhorn, Garrett Gilbert.

The Cavaliers are equally strong in almost every sport. They were ranked No.1 in boys basketball this past season and picked up a couple state tennis titles this week. Heck, Lake Travis even won the cheerleading championship this year.

Now, a 2A team is aspiring to dominate its competition in the same manner. In case no one else has noticed, Salado is picking up steam as the team to beat in any sport in its classification.

The football team made the 2A state semifinals in 2007 and made the playoffs again in 2008.

But, it is just not the gridiron where they are making a name for themselves.

The Salado volleyball team made the regional finals and won an astounding 37 matches this past season. The baseball and softball teams both reached the playoffs.

The softball team had not been there in 10 years, but I have a feeling that it won't be another 10 before they go again. In fact, it won't even be one more year.

The Lady Eagles only had four seniors on the team. So, expect them to make even more noise next season. The baseball team is only a year removed from a state title.

This season, they may not match that feat, but everyone knows not to underestimate them. They will make noise in the playoffs, the only question is how far will they go.

None of these is even the most dominant program at the school.

That title belongs to golf.

Ryan O'Rear has led the Eagles to two straight 2A titles, and along the way he has also picked up three more all by himself. O'Rear won the state individual medalist title for the third consecutive year as well. The team is not a one-man show, though. The Eagles had five seniors on the team and beat the next closest team, Sonora, by 27 strokes on Tuesday.

The girls did not do too badly either, taking home a bronze medal at the state competition. Oh yeah, they also won a state title not too long ago ?– 2006.

What Salado is doing is simple domination. You may ask, 'why are they so good?'

The truth is nothing complicated. They are simply better.