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By Andy States
SMAC Content Manager

Over the past four years, North Point went from a brand-new school to a state power in track and field.

Senior Tristan Benton has been one of the key reasons the Eagles have soared to the heights they have with a boys 2A state championship in last year's outdoor season as well as this past winter in the indoor campaign. Benton, known primarily for his exploits in the jumps, was recently rewarded for his stellar high school career when he signed last week to compete collegiately at the University of Maryland.

"Being close is going to be awesome," said Benton, who also excels in music, of staying close to home for college. "I can't put it into words how cool this is, but being close is really going to be a plus, and being close at an awesome school, as well.

"The biggest factor was just the coaching staff and everybody at Maryland -- the athletes, the administration. Everybody was awesome. That was the big thing."

Benton has been at the state forefront in the long jump, triple jump and high jump during his career, and has also contributed as a member of the sprint relay teams.

"Tristan is a great kid all-around. He is a very well-rounded athlete," North Point coach Kevin Reisinger sad. "He does multi-events for the track and field teams, both indoor and outdoor. His academics are above average. He has a lot of misical interests, a lot of interests outside of track. He's a very well-rounded student athlete."

Reisinger also noted that Benton is the program's first college signee in its brief history -- this year marks North Point's first graduating class -- and has laid the foundation and set an example for the underclassmen on the way up.

"I think we've done a good job," Benton said regarding how the senior class has established the North Point track program. "The coaches have been so instrumental, so vital to the success more than we have. We go out there and do it, but without them we couldn't go out there and perform the way we have.

"I'm very proud of what we've done. I think we've done an awesome job and hopefully will continue to do a good job for the [outdoor] season."

Dupree headed to State College

Track teammate Andre Dupree, an Eagles' stalwart in the throws, recently decided to to go to Penn State as a preferred walk-on on the football team.

Dupree, who made his mark primariy at linebacker and running back while helping lead the Eagles to their first-ever SMAC championship this past fall, had other options in the Division II and III ranks, but felt the decision was an easy one after visting Happy Valley.

"After going up there, I just wanted to go there after seeing it," Dupree said. "The atmosphere, it's a real high-intense football game. I know it's going to be really challenging. I like challenges."

Dupree will enroll for the summer session and begin to work out with the team, where he is slotted to play fullback. The North Point senior also noted he will have the opportunity to play with friends such as Westlake's Devon Smith and Lackey's Malcolm Willis, both of whom committed to play for the Nittany Lions.

This past fall, in just the second varsity campaign for North Point, the Eagles earned a share of the SMAC championship and the first playoff appearance in program history.

"I fell it was a really good experience and I feel like we're the foundation for the rest of the people under us," Dupree said. "It was kind of hard for us at first because a lot of schools didnt' know about us. But I feel we did a great job in setting the foundation for the lower classes. It's a great feeling to know that we're the first graduation class to get North Point on the map."

astates@digitalsports.com