Last dance: Latta trio going for two state titles
ADA, Okla. (BVM) 鈥� Seniors around the country are preparing for their final seasons of high school athletics. Latta High School students Jaylee Willis, Triniti Cotanny and Taryn Batterton, are just three of those athletes that will be experiencing their last go-round.
All three of them have grown up together and whether it is playing softball or basketball together or just hanging out on the weekend, all three of them have a bond that will last ages.聽
鈥淚 went to a [seperate] school as both of them [growing up], so I played travel ball with them growing up,鈥� Batterton said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e always been my best friends, and we have [great] chemistry. We鈥檙e always together.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a sisterhood,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚 really enjoy [playing] with them. They鈥檙e my best friends.鈥�
Growing up and playing sports together can help develop chemistry, but it can also develop expectations for the team and players like these three.聽
鈥淚n softball, we were always the ones that we鈥檙e told we鈥檙e going to have to step up,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e always been the 鈥榗hosen鈥� group for high school.鈥�
The three finally delivered on those expectations last season. The group of three captured their first state title.聽
How it started: How it鈥檚 Going:
2016 2020
Latta 5 Dale 3. Latta 5 Dale 3— Latta Athletics (@LattaHSPanthers)
鈥淚t felt like we reached the top of the mountain,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚t was awesome. It鈥檚 the best feeling ever, honestly, and we鈥檙e looking to do it again this year.鈥�
Now, with a state title in softball, the three have set their sights on winning another one in softball and winning a state title in basketball. It would be the first time a Latta High team could repeat since baseball had a threepeat from 2003-05 and it would be Latta鈥檚 first girl鈥檚 state basketball championship .
came out on top!!
— taryn batterton (@tarynbatt14)
鈥淲e just have to have faith,鈥� Cotanny said. 鈥淭here [are] so many people that talk down on us. We鈥檙e the underdogs in almost [every sport]. We just have to believe we can do it because I know we can.鈥�
Along with having their sights set on two state titles, the three have begun to think about athletics and academics after high school.聽
In fact, Jaylee and Triniti will be playing together at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO).聽
鈥淚 chose [to go to USAO] because it鈥檚 a small school and I鈥檓 already used to going to a small school, and I couldn鈥檛 imagine myself going to a bigger school like OU (University of Oklahoma),鈥� Cotanny said. 鈥淚 know I could connect with a whole bunch of people there 鈥� It鈥檚 awesome [to play alongside Jaylee]. [Her and I] have been friends for a very long time. That helps out on the court, and we work so well together 鈥� 鈥淸I鈥檓] playing softball [with Jaylee], but I鈥檓 trying to [join] the basketball [team] too.鈥澛�
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to [continue] to play with [Triniti],鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been playing with her my whole life. We have a really great friendship and were both really good together on the field and on the court.鈥�
https://twitter.com/JayleeWillis11/status/1414727685767581699
I am super excited and blessed to announce that I have committed to play softball at USAO!! I鈥檓 so grateful for this opportunity, and can鈥檛 wait to be drover! 馃挌
— triniti cotanny (@cotanny15)
Batterton may be joining her teammates at USAO, but she is continuing to mull her offers that she has received.聽
鈥淚 have a few offers for both [sports],鈥� Batterton said. 鈥淎nd then I have few offers for just softball. It鈥檚 been weighing on my mind on which one I want to play. I鈥檓 not sure which [sport] I want to play, but I definitely do plan to play in college.鈥�
Wherever the road leads her, she is bound to have a successful tenure. But if she were to team up with Jaylee and Triniti at USAO, it could be a special trio.
missing this…
— taryn batterton (@tarynbatt14)
Not only have the three had each other to lean on while they compete for state titles, but they鈥檝e had incredible support systems behind them.聽
鈥淢y parents have been there through everything in my sports career,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淸They鈥檝e put in so much time] and have been extremely supportive. They鈥檝e been my No. 1 supporters through it all.鈥�
鈥淸I鈥檝e been playing] for Coach Rogers for almost six years now,鈥� Cotanny said. 鈥淪he has taught me so much. How to be a young lady, how to act right [and] how to treat other people right. She鈥檚 amazing. I know I can talk to her about anything. Same [goes for] Coach Plunk, he taught us never to never give up and always hustle, he鈥檚 amazing [too].鈥�
鈥淗aving Coach Plunk and Coach Rogers as coaches in high school has really helped me develop [as a player and a person],鈥� Batterton said. 鈥淸They help] make us grow better as people, not just athletes.鈥�
It truly has been a special four years for the players and the coaches, especially for this trio. They鈥檒l look to go out on top, but no matter what they accomplish they should be remembered as three of the best athletes to come through Latta High School.
鈥淲inning state in softball and basketball, that鈥檚 a huge goal,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity.鈥�
