Gatewood School’s athletic programs continued their tradition of excellence during the 2025-26 school year, producing state championships, deep postseason runs, and strong finishes across multiple sports.
“I thought we had a really good year athletically,” Gatewood Athletic Director Troy Burner said. “The girls and boys had success for different reasons.”
The Lady Gators reached the Elite Eight in softball, advanced to the Final Four in basketball and soccer, and finished third in the state in track and field.
“The girls had a senior class that was really good, really competitive, and really athletic,” Burner said.
On the boys’ side, Gatewood continued its dominance in baseball, capturing its fourth consecutive state championship. The school also won a state title in clay target shooting and posted strong results in several other sports throughout the year.
For a school the size of Gatewood, success often depends on student-athletes competing in multiple sports. The challenge is especially evident during the spring season, when athletes frequently split time among several disciplines. Burner credited the coaching staff for working together to make that possible.
“Spring is the toughest time. You have girls playing soccer, running track, maybe playing tennis, and even golf,” he said. “Our coaches do a really good job of trying to look out for the other programs.”
That cooperation helps prevent athletes from becoming overworked while allowing Gatewood to field competitive teams across multiple sports.
“It’s important for a school our size for kids to play multiple sports,” Burner said. “We have boys and girls that might not be great at one sport, but they’re really good at a lot of sports, and that’s what we need to compete.”
While the athletic department will see a few changes heading into the new school year, continuity remains one of its strengths.
Perhaps the biggest change is the retirement of longtime boys basketball coach Don Keiser following the season. Assistant coach Scott Dennard has been promoted to lead the varsity program.
Burner also noted changes within the wrestling and volleyball programs. Tyler Van Dusen has stepped back from his varsity wrestling duties after assuming the role of assistant athletic director, with Connor Richards taking over the wrestling program. In volleyball, Hannah Getty has moved into the varsity head coaching position, while Kristy Hicks has transitioned to the middle school program.
Despite those adjustments, Burner said the coaching staff remains largely intact.
“Really not a lot of changes coaching-wise,” he said. “We’re pretty solid.”
Burner also praised football and track coach Jeff Ratliff for the impact he has on student-athletes beyond competition.
“Coach Ratliff is probably a better person than he is a coach, as hard as that is to believe,” Burner said. “He believes in kids, he raises strong kids, and he empowers them through a Christian faith.”
Although the football team endured what some might consider a down season in 2025, Burner pointed out that several close losses could have dramatically changed the narrative.
“We were within a score of winning in three or four of those games,” he said.
Ratliff’s work with the track and field programs was equally impressive. The Lady Gators finished third in the state despite entering the season with lower expectations, while the boys finished as state runner-up.
Burner noted Gatewood competes in one of the toughest track regions in the state, making those accomplishments even more significant.
“Our girls got third and weren’t expected to finish any higher than seventh,” he said. “The boys finished runner-up behind a Brentwood squad that’s loaded with athletes right now.”
As preparations begin for the 2026-27 school year, Burner said he’s optimistic about what lies ahead despite the graduation of several key contributors.
“You always worry going into the next year because of what you lost,” Burner said. “Well, other schools lost kids, too. It’s really how you replace what you lost.”
He believes Gatewood’s future remains bright.
A strong junior class will anchor the boys’ programs, while several talented middle school athletes are expected to make an immediate impact as freshmen. On the girls’ side, replacing a standout senior class will be a challenge, but Burner believes the program is equipped to handle it.
Most of all, he looks forward to seeing Gatewood student-athletes compete again.
“Anytime I can see kids compete, whatever sport it is, I like to see it,” Burner said. “We’re a faith-based school, but academically and athletically we challenge them, and we compete every year.”