Spring Sports Return: What To Watch In Upcoming Triad Seasons
By Anthony Jones
For the first time since 2019, Triad High School is about to see a true spring sports season.
One overarching storyline to watch during the return to normal is if Triad will be able to continue their dominance on their somewhat recently installed field. They are currently 59-5 on the artificial surface, in large part thanks to an active 28 game winning streak.
The two team’s set to hit the turf in the near future, girls soccer and baseball, hold 13-0 and 17-3 marks on it so far, respectively. These squads have also been key contributors to the school’s 27-0 standing against Mississippi Valley Conference opponents so far on their turf playing surfaces.
Another undefeated record to keep an eye on as the seasons change is Triad’s girls soccer who is coming off a 24-0-1 state championship campaign. The team has not lost a game since the state semifinals in 2019.
Their undefeated streak will face several big challenges, as they take on both of the IHSA’s other state champions from last season, O’Fallon and Althoff. Before they arrive to those battles, they will have to take down an Edwardsville squad that only lost once last season outside of eventual state champions and a Peoria Notre Dame team that advanced to Super-Sectionals last year.
Triad’s other defender of their turf this fall, the baseball Knights, are also coming off of a strong postseason run. They finished 26-11 last year and lost 8-7 in their IHSA Sectional.
With a 9-1 record last season, the team also finished with sole possession of the conference title. Their lone loss in the MVC came during their visit to Highland, which will be played on May 2 this season.
Another noteworthy match on their schedule is their May 12 showdown with Mt.Vernon at Busch Stadium. The Knights played the Rams twice last season and won both, including a postseason battle.
Also set to return to the diamond soon is Triad’s softball squad. One of the highest profile contests on their schedule is May 2 when they host Highland for the first time since the Bulldogs claimed an IHSA crown last season.
The Lady Knights also will host a two day invitational starting five days later.
They won’t be the only Triad team hosting an invite this spring because both the girls and boys track team will host one on April 8 and April 29, respectively. Both squads will also host the March 25 Distance Carnival.
The boys track team will also be hosting their IHSA Sectional this spring, allowing them to defend their three consecutive titles on their own track.
Also hosting an IHSA Sectional this upcoming season will be Triad’s boys tennis. The two day event will be held on May 20 and 21.
If the Knights win the meet, it will be their fifth consecutive Sectional and would tie them for longest Sectional streak in school history. The current record holder is girls tennis, who still actively hold their streak.
All Triad spring teams will also have a high bar set come postseason this year. During their last season, which was held in the summer, they won 4 of a possible 6 IHSA Sectionals. They also had another sectional semifinalist.
