DEDICATION.
Thumbing through that Webster’s New World Dictionary might not have Illinois girls high school basketball defined as “Dorothy Gaters.”
But how else could a description read?
Six state titles, a virtual reserved seat waiting for her in the Elite Eight, appearance (almost life-like) as a demanding coach in a shoe company’s national ad campaign–these are just some of the things that define this woman from Marshall.
There’s one other thing. Back on Dec. 2, Gaters became the first person to reach 600 girls basketball victories in the state.
What did Gaters think about that?
“It says I’ve been around a long, long time,” she stated at the time.
As usual, her team lasted long into the season. Just not long enough to suit Gaters, whose Commandos lost in the Class AA semifinals to eventual champion Loyola for the second consecutive season. Marshall took third place and finished the season 31-1.
Gaters has 628 victories heading into the 1998-99 season, and four starters–including All-Stater Kourtney Walton–return.
For this impressive achievement, the 1997-98 Preps Plus yearbook is dedicated to Gaters.
And a note to those who are counting: Look for victory No. 700 sometime in December 2000.
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Alan Sutton.
IN MEMORIAM
Ron Rio loved kids. Ron Rio loved football. Combine the two and you realize why the 62-year-old North Sider put his heart and soul into coaching Lane Tech’s football team.
More than anything, Rio wanted to restore the pride and dignity of one of the Public League’s most storied programs. After a four-year stretch in which the Indians went 23-19, Rio came back to Lane last season. During his first tenure as head coach (1975-77), his teams had gone 31-3. In his first year back, Lane’s varsity, sophomore and freshman teams all advanced to the Public League title game.
But this would prove to be a star-crossed reunion. During one weekend in early September, Rio’s twin brother, Bob, suffered a heart attack in Scottsdale, Ariz., and one of his players, Nick Pancatto, collapsed during a game and went into a coma. Bob Rio died several days later. Pancatto made a nice recovery, eventually returning to school.
Ron Rio was counting the days for the upcoming season. “I bleed green and gold (Lane’s colors),” he said. “I’m having so much fun giving my time back to the kids. In the ’90s, kids need to know there’s someone who cares about them.”
His brother Rich, Lane’s athletic director, had been instrumental in Ron’s return to the coaching ranks. On Feb. 20 in Rich’s office, Ron suffered a heart attack and died.
“It’s been a rough year for our family,” Rich Rio said. “Ron was so excited about coaching football again.”
There was only one thing a brother could do.
Rich Rio is Lane’s new football coach.
Bob Sakamoto.