Triton Central finished 10-3 in 2022 and captured its fourth-straight sectional championship. The Tigers’ season ended with a 35-28 regional championship game loss to Evansville Mater Dei, who went on to win the Class 2A state championship.
In the IFCA preseason poll released Monday, Evansville Mater Dei is ranked No. 1 in Class 2A with Triton Central, who received one first-place vote, Fort Wayne Luers, Lafayette Central Catholic and Andrean rounding out the top five.
Eastbrook is No. 6 with Linton-Stockton, Indianapolis Scecina, Brownstown Central and LaVille completing the top 10.
Scecina, Brownstown Central and Triton Central are in the same postseason sectional.
Also receiving votes in the Class 2A poll were Rochester, Heritage Christian, Lapel, North Posey, Bluffton, Eastern (Greentown), Lewis Cass and Tipton.
Triton Central will host Milan Friday at Mendenhall Field for a preseason scrimmage. The Tigers travel to Cascade for their season opener on Aug. 18. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. for the Indiana Crossroads Conference contest.
Class A
Defending Class A state champion Indianapolis Lutheran is ranked No. 1 in the Class A preseason poll. The Saints have won 30 straight games.
Adams Central is No. 2 in the poll ahead of North Decatur, North Judson, Sheridan, Carroll (Flora), South Putnam, Providence, Park Tudor, Covenant Christian and South Adams. Also receiving votes were Tri, Tecumseh, Triton, and Monroe Central.
Lutheran will host Triton Central on Sept. 1. The Saints topped the Tigers in a wild 2022 contest in Fairland, 54-41.
Class 3A
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard holds the top spot in Class 3A ahead of Lawrenceburg, West Lafayette, Gibson Southern, Southridge, Guerin Catholic, Hanover Central, Tri-West, Western Boone and Norwell.
Also receiving votes were Yorktown, Danville, Oak Hill, Mishawaka Marian, Monrovia, Knox, South Dearborn, Vincennes Lincoln and Delta.
Triton Central will host Monrovia on Sept. 8.
Both Yorktown and Delta are part of the Hoosier Heritage Conference with Shelbyville. The Golden Bears will host Delta on Sept. 1 at McKeand Stadium and host Yorktown on Sept. 22.
Class 4A
East Central, the 2022 state champion, is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A with New Palestine at No. 2.
Roncalli is No. 3 followed by Evansville Reitz, New Prairie, Kokomo, Northwood, Evansville Memorial, Mooresville and Brebeuf Jesuit. Also receiving votes were Columbia City, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon, Leo, Hobart, Martinsville, Northridge, Northview and Fort Wayne Wayne.
New Palestine, Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon also are part of the Hoosier Heritage Conference. Shelbyville will host Mt. Vernon on Oct. 6 and travel to Greenfield-Central on Sept. 15 and New Palestine on Sept. 29.
The Golden Bears’ postseason sectional includes East Central and Martinsville.
Shelbyville travels south to Madison Friday for a three-team preseason jamboree that will include Salem. The Golden Bears open the season on Aug. 18 at Greensburg at 7 p.m.
Class 5A
Valparaiso is the preseason No. 1 in Class 5A.
The Vikings are followed in the poll by Fort Wayne Snider, Whiteland, Merrillville, Bloomington South, Fort Wayne North, Mishawaka, Castle, Decatur Central and Harrison (West Lafayette).
Also receiving votes were Fort Wayne Dwenger, Concord, Plainfield, Bloomington North, Chesterton, Franklin and Michigan City.
Class 6A
Center Grove has won three consecutive state titles and played in four straight state championship games. The Trojans run for four state titles in a row will begin with them ranked No. 1 in Class 6A.
Indianapolis Cathedral and Ben Davis are tied for No. 2 ahead of Hamilton Southeastern, Carroll (Allen), Warren Central, Westfield, Carmel, Brownsburg and Fishers. Also receiving votes were Penn, Crown Point, Homestead, Lafayette Jefferson, Lawrence Central, Elkhart, Franklin Central and Lawrence North.
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