Bulldogs' Bite Was Felt Across Virginia
Heading into her senior season at King's Fork last year, LaTonia Gatling knew she had something to prove - to her school, her teammates, and herself.
Despite making the All-District softball team as a freshman, Gatling had spent a good part of last season on the bench. Despite being a member of the Southeastern District champion basketball team as a junior, Gatling hadn't gotten on the courts much.
Her final year didn't get off to the best of starts; despite being voted Most Valuable Player by her team, she didn't make All-District in volleyball. That's when Gatling knew she was running out of chances to leave her mark on Lady Bulldog sports history.
She almost didn't go back out for basketball; her friends had to talk her in to picking it over track. But by the time she put the basketball outfit on one more time, Gatling would be glad she did.
Meanwhile, Keith Ricks was gearing up for his final foray into King's Fork track. Only having been at the school for two years (he transferred from Surry after his sophomore year), Ricks didn't have many chances left himself.
"I had just developed over the summer, and came out great this year," Ricks said. "I wanted to put King's Fork on the map and put together some great performances."
He did so at the preliminaries in the Group AAA State Indoor Championships in Fairfax, as his time of 6.37 in the 55-meter dash was the fastest in the state, and the seventh-fastest in state history. But during the final meet, Ricks felt something go in his leg.
He'd pulled a hamstring, leaving him fourth in the state, at least three places below where he'd hoped to finish. That gave him some extra incentive to finish out big as the spring outdoor season came around.
But first, Gating was making her own mark - she roared to the All-District team on a squad that brought King's Fork its second district title.
"It was better this year, because I was more of a part of it," said the point guard. "Last year, I was more of a sub. It was really nice. (The title) was well-deserved, because we worked so hard."
Ricks hopes to show his hard recovery work at the district events May 17 at Chesapeake's Grassfield High, but he got off to a tough start, taking second to Nansemond River's James Taylor in the 100-dash preliminaries.
"I wanted to get back in and make sure I had it all the way up," he said. "I ended up doing pretty well."
He certainly did; he roared past the competition to take the 100-dash title, and got second in the 200-dash. A week later at regional competition, his fortunes were reversed, as he took the 200 and got second in the 100.
Then came the state games on May 31 at Newport News' Todd Stadium
"I was excited," he said. "There was a lot of hype going around. I still had a few kinks going."
That showed; he took second in the 100, as his time of 10.85 was edged by .4 by Western Branch's Torry Womack. The pair followed suit in the 200, as Womack's 21.59 was .01 faster than Ricks.
Over on the softball field, Gatling was helping the squad make its own history, charging to the district tournament (only the top four teams in the district go to the tournament) for the first time since the school opened, and snaring a new spot on the All-District team. Gatling hit .500 until the last few games of the season.
"I just kept my head up and stayed positive," she said. It worked on and off the field; she won a scholarship to Fayetteville State, which tied for the best record in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association last season. Gatling said she'd like to study art and criminal justice, and pursue a career as an FBI agent.
Meanwhile, Ricks won a full scholarship to Virginia Tech. Although Lady Hokie Queen Harrison won a spot on the U.S. Olympic team's 400-hurdles squad this past season, the Hokie men haven't made much of a mark on the Atlantic Coast Conference - something Ricks, who's undecided on his major, would like to change.
"I expect to do big things there," he said. "The girls are ranked with one of the top times in the world, and we're going to try to do the same thing with the men's team."
