From the Jamestown News

From the Jamestown News!

Five more Ragsdale student-athletes bound for college


by Ogi Overman


April 21, 2010 - Tommy Norwood was not the only person in attendance at last Thursday's signing ceremony in the Ragsdale media room with a wistful look in his eye. The much-loved football coach was sending four more of his charges onto college, bringing the total to eight - and that's not counting all-purpose star DeSean Anderson, who has signed to play baseball at the University of South Carolina instead. He could be forgiven if he was wondering if a single class with this much talent would pass this way again anytime soon.
Baseball coach Donnie Maness was there too. After bidding adieu to Division I signees Anderson and Ben Fultz (East Carolina) earlier, he was watching shortstop Mike Whited ink his letter of intent to Catawba College.
But there was also a parent in the room, Dave Ritter, who had as much of a vested interest in these youngsters as anyone. Not only was his son Tyler heading off to Hampden-Sydney, but he had coached all these kids in the youth league program and later had set up a blog to document their progress through the ranks and another to help his son gain a scholarship.
Parents, older and younger siblings, head coaches and assistant coaches, administrators, friends and media members all came together for the occasion. Perhaps it marked the end of an era, but surely it represented the passing of some talented young athletes from one level to another.
The afternoon was made even more special by the fact that these young men were in every respect student-athletes who excel as much in the classroom as the athletic fields. Academic scholarships were as much in evidence as athletic.
Tyler Ritter, for instance, earned the Presidential Scholarship to Division III Hampden-Sydney, worth $15,000 a year, plus another $2,000 annual scholarship on top of a $20,000 interest-free loan.
"We looked at a lot of schools," he said. "Academics was the first priority - they're ranked No. 7 in the state of Virginia academically - and the fact that they are Division III meant I may get a better shot at playing pretty quickly."
The 255-pound offensive guard said he will probably major in business with an eye toward the possibility of law school.
Center Elliott Cobb also signed an academic scholarship with a highly regarded Virginia school, Washington & Lee. Norwood cited his progress from a benchwarmer as a freshman to a valuable starter by his senior year as a testament to his work ethic and love for the game.
"Yeah, I probably played 20 downs the whole year as a freshman," he smiled, "but I really had a love for the game and just kept working at it."
Cobb is leaning toward a major in economics, but with W&L's acclaimed schools of commerce, political science and law, will not decide immediately.
One day last season a coach from Campbell University visited Ragsdale, pulling linebacker Billy Stone and wide receiver Luke Sonricker out of weighlifting class for an offer they couldn't refuse. Stone decided fairly quickly to cast his lot with the Camels, with childhood buddy Sonricker following suit a few months later.
"I didn't decide to even try to play in college until I broke my arm in October," said the 6-3 Sonricker. "I was pretty upset; I didn't want to go out like that. I finally decided that Campbell was the right choice."
He is also an all-conference lacrosse player and contributed valuable minutes to the Tigers basketball team this season.
Stone, at 195 and considered pound-for-pound one of the toughest linebackers in the state, was half of the duo with Walt Sparks, another childhood friend since youth league.
"We knew what each other was going to do before he did it," Stone said during the season. "That's one reason we were so effective; we knew who was going to play up and who was going to drop back without even looking at each other."
Campbell only started its program three years ago and is on the upswing. "Academically and athletically they're on the rise," said Stone. "This is a good fit. Right now I'm projected as a linebacker but with my speed I may end up as a safety."
Stone, also the ace of the Ragsdale pitching staff, plans to major in business and minor in sports management.
Last summer Mike Whited was playing for the Hi-Toms American Legion team when a friend of his coach asked to see him hit and take some ground balls. Turns out the friend was the coach at Catawba and, after seeing Whited in action, invited him to come to Salisbury for an official visit. He wound up taking a half and half academic and athletic scholarship.
Being the younger brother of a college catcher at UNC Asheville, Whited said his sights have always been on playing in college.
"As a kid I always figured I'd have the opportunity to play in college," he said. "I was a second baseman until my sophomore year, when Coach Maness asked me to try playing shortstop. I plan to try and win that position at Campbell, but I've got a feeling second base might be my calling there."
Whited plans to major in biology with his eventual goal being pre-med.
As was said earlier, these college-bound seniors are scholar-athletes in every sense of the word.



(top left)Tyler Ritter gives parents David and Marla an embrace. (top right)Parents Kay and Jim Cobb surround son Elliott. (middle left)Billy Stone is flanked by his younger sister Brittany (L) and mom Melanie. Father Gary was out of town on business. (middle right)Luke Sonricker hugs his mom Lisa. Dad Tom was unable to attend. (bottom)The Whited family is (L-R) dad Guy, older brother C.J., Mike, and mom Mora.