Finding balance between youthful exuberance, veteran leadership will define QND’s spring success

QUINCY — A mix of young talent and veteran leadership will shape the success of Quincy Notre Dame’s collection of teams this spring.

Baseball

A young, speedy QND baseball team will take the field for the first time at the QHS Slam on Saturday against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Quincy High School at QU Stadium. The Raiders will likely feature three freshmen — Rowan Stegeman at third base, Kaden Marth at shortstop and Eli Johnson at first base — in the lineup from the start.

Three All-West Central Conference performers return in right-handed pitcher Abram Wiewel, center fielder Gavin Doellman and catcher/middle infielder Oliver Triplett. Nick Spears tore his ACL during football season, so Triplett will handle the bulk of the catching duties. Wiewel, a John Wood Community College commit, will anchor the pitching staff. 

Following the QHS Slam, the Raiders will hit the road on March 25 to take on regional opponent Pleasant Plains then return home to face Hersey, the only team to beat QND during the 2023 regular season, the next day. QND and QHS will play a home-and-home on May 6 and 16, with the Raiders hosting the May 6 game.

Girls soccer

Coming off a Class 1A regional championship, the QND girls soccer team has the depth and firepower to make a similar postseason run in 2025. Senior Makayla Patton, who scored 33 goals last season and is 27 away from 100 in her career, leads the Raiders’ attack. Her co-captains are midfielder Sage Stratton, who was an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-sectional honoree last season, and wing Liesel Vincent.

Junior Addie Flesch, who had 16 goals in 2024, adds depth to the Raiders’ offense. Meredith Eversman, Sierra Thomas and Bayley Weisenberger anchor the Raiders’ back line in front of freshman goalkeeper Tessa Porter. Fellow freshmen Kyleigh Thomas, Emma McDowell, Ellie Lavery and Campbell George are candidates for significant minutes.

The Raiders begin their quest for another regional crown and more on Saturday when they travel to Missouri’s state capital to take on Jefferson City Helias. QND will play two Friday night games — on April 11 and May 9 — against Quincy High School, the second of which will be Pink Night at Advance Physical Therapy Field. The Raiders also will play a home-and-home with cross-river rival Hannibal on April 8 and 17.

QND will participate in the Chatham-Glenwood Tournament on May 2 and 3 and welcome Williamsville, who finished second in Class 1A last season, and Peoria Notre Dame, the third-place finisher in Class 2A, to the Gem City on April 1 and 25, respectively.

Boys tennis

The QND boys tennis team returns five of its top six players from last season, including its top two in seniors Daniel Dyer and Alex Strong.

QND’s No. 1 and 2 singles players, who also combined to make the Raiders’ top doubles team, reached the second day of the Class 1A state tournament last year.

Nos. 3 through 7 could fluctuate throughout the season. Junior Cael Willer will likely be the Raiders’ No. 3 player to start the season, but seniors David Ehrhardt and Aiden Smith along with sophomores Peter Damm and Issac Steinkamp will be competing for any one of those five spots.

The Raiders begin their season with a road dual with Alton Marquette on March 24. QND will do battle with crosstown rival Quincy High School on April 28 and May 13, which is the regular season finale. The Raiders also will have a pair of duals with Hannibal and will take part in the Hannibal Tournament on April 19 and will take part in the JD Sinnock Invitational in Springfield on April 25 and 26 as well as the Belleville East Tournament on May 2 and 3.