For the first time in school history, Triad will welcome its first athletic Hall of Fame class, thanks to community member submissions. Inside the Hall of Fame are memorabilia of the school’s past, including a cheerleading outfit from Wayne Woodstock High School worn by Doris Mattox Murray in her sophomore year of 1953-54. Murray later graduated from Triad in 1956 after Cable, Woodstock and North Lewisburg consolidated. More about the Hall of Fame may be found on page A11. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
Student-athletes attending Triad High School have a lot to be thankful for, thanks to new updated facilities showing off the school’s pride.
Walking into the doors of Cardinal country, improvements have been made to benefit the sporting atmosphere.
Prior to Logan Dunn taking the athletic director’s job, the school’s facilities were out of shape, prompting him to take matters into his own hands; with the help of others around him.
Voters in the district passed a tax levy in 2019, giving the athletic department legs to develop different projects.
“The levy was for a new football complex at the stadium,” Dunn said. “With that levy… we wanted to design a facility that was something the community, our student-athletes and our staff is proud of.”
Approximately 57% of district voters were in favor of the levy, including 63% in Union County. The two-part levy consisted of a 1.75 mill bond issue, which will last 20-30 years depending on costs — and a 0.25 mill continuous permanent improvement levy.
The money raised brought about many additions for home fans and teams, along with those visiting the complex.
One addition was the creation of a community center where local residents can rent out for various events.
With that came new locker rooms for both home and visiting teams.
Concessions were also a point of emphasis.
The newly-revamped concession stands include TV monitors showing menu items as well as a live stream of the game. It is also a funding source for the department.
“Concessions are run through the athletic department which helps generate funds,” said Dunn. “Before, it was run through the booster club.
“That extra revenue allows us to finance upgrades and purchase uniforms.”
Funds raised by the concessions also go into the school’s uniform rotation. Dunn said that every team gets a new uniform every four years.
“It’s the things we put in place that allows us to make those upgrades,” he said.
When Dunn first stepped into his current role, the school’s weight room was shared by many sports including softball, baseball and wrestling. Previously, students in those sports had to share the space inside the high school.
“Weightlifting was not a top priority at all,” he said, adding there is now more space for athletes to train.
The new weight room, located inside the football complex, has plenty for student-athletes to utilize. With more than six squat racks, Triad’s athletes have already started to use the new space.
“Starting that culture is something we can believe in, not only for one sport but for all of our student-athletes and coaches,” Dunn said.
Along with the addition of a new weight room, Triad now has a space dedicated to its most notable athletes, coaches and community members. Before, the school had no Hall of Fame section.
“I think it makes us unique in how we can showcase not only the past, but also our future athletes,” he said.
Pieces from the school’s sports past are displayed by way of old varsity jackets, cheerleading uniforms and trophies. The district will welcome its first-ever Hall of Fame class this year.
The district is currently accepting applications for induction.
Another addition to the football stadium was the installation of an eight-lane track, giving Triad the ability to host meets.
“We had an athlete last year who was a phenomenal track runner who broke three school records,” Dunn said. He noted the school had to “ship” athletes to different facilities in order to practice.
Now, the school will get the chance to host its own track events for athletes such as Cayla Eaton. She is a sophomore who currently holds school records in the 200-meter dash, high jump and 300-meter hurdles.
“[The track] is something we can take pride in,” Dunn said.
Triad has also unveiled a new hardwood gymnasium floor. From a safety perspective, the floor became unsuitable, as it had not updated been since 2002.
The boys and girls locker rooms were also updated with inspirational signage giving the athletes even more pride in what they produce.
On both the visiting and away bleachers, TV monitors were installed in order to highlight what athletes do in real time. When an athlete makes a highlight play, Dunn can program a set of images that shows audiences who made the play in that moment.
It’s the same for the school’s football scoreboard.
The new updates did not happen without a goal in mind. Dunn said he wants athletes to take pride in the school.
“I think that starts with having brand new facilities,” he said. “I truly believe our facilities do that.”
Various scoreboard sponsors also help provide revenue for upgrades
“That’s allowed us to really put upgrades into our facilities that the levy did not fund,” Dunn explained.
The school held a brick fund raiser which provided enough funds to build a space dedicated to a victory bell.
In the new age of sporting events, Triad also has the ability to do online, credit card and cash ticket sales.
“My goal was to have Triad be one of the schools that is always a forward thinker,” Dunn said. “Schools were either doing all cash, or all online… no one was doing all three [at the schools] I went to.”
There is also an on-line ordering system for concessions, which lessens the number of people waiting in line for food and beverages.
When student-athletes leave Triad, Dunn wants them to have a sense of accomplishment, along with pride for a school that is dedicated to its athletics.
“I want a student-athlete who understands hard work… who’s going to be great leader,” he said.
While giving athletes the attention they deserve, Dunn also wants visitors to be “blown away” by how much a small, rural school has to offer.
The reconstruction of Triad’s weight room is a complete makeover from its original state. Now located near the football field, Triad athletic director Logan Dunn hopes the improvements will lead to athletes to take more pride in what they produce on the field and on the court. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)