Triple Threat-2018-2019 Summary

May 29, 2019 Reports-Triple Threat-Annual Summary

In an effort to continue the national emphasis and the KHSAA’s own efforts to de-emphasize sports specialization in the athletic culture, the Commissioner’s office launched the “Triple Threat Award” program in May of 2018 to recognize those students who participate in high school athletics year round.

The award, which is given to student-athletes who participate in a KHSAA sport or sport-activity on the varsity level during each season of the academic year (fall/winter/spring), was presented to a total of 1,878 student-athletes for 2018-19. A closer look at the breakdown of honorees for the 2018-19 academic year revealed that:

• 269 of the 280 member schools have at least one honoree, up from 266 in the program’s first year;
• Eleven schools feature at least 16 honorees;
• Villa Madonna has the most of the member school honorees with 23, followed by Prestonsburg with 22, Belfry, Johnson Central and Metcalfe County with 18 each, Pikeville and Scott High with 17, and Frankfort, Kentucky Country Day, Phelps and St. Patrick with 16 apiece;
• By class, 509 seniors, 482 juniors, 453 sophomores, 363 freshmen, 53 eighth graders and 18 seventh graders were honored;
• By gender, 843 females and 1,035 males qualified for the award;
• By sport, basketball had 1,132 honorees (647 boys and 485 girls), Track and Field had 1,077 (594 boys and 483 girls), Cross Country has 527 (258 boys and 269 girls), football had 522 and soccer 452 (189 boys and 263 girls).

Further details on the breakdown of award recipients can be found at: https://khsaa.org/news-stats-pubs/news-and-information/triple-threat-award/

The KHSAA staff and Board of Control are proud to issue these awards and look forward to continuing the program in the future to emphasize the values of participation and the now-documented likely negative aspects of sports specialization.