The national letter of intent Jacob Troutman recently signed with Wingate University brings the Charlotte-area college an accomplished student-athlete and a leader.

The son of Joel and Margaret Troutman of Aberdeen has earned all-conference and all-region honors in cross country and track during his four years at Pinecrest High School. Last fall he was a captain of the cross country team.

“He’s a hard worker not only on the sports field, but in the classroom,” cross country and track coach Jeremy Swofford says of the No. 6 ranked student in the senior class at Pinecrest. “Jacob is a good influence on the young kids and the hard work has paid off. I think he will be a great contributor to his college team.”

Troutman came in fifth in the 2011 and 2012 Southeastern Conference Championship cross country meets. His best finish at the regional level was eighth as a junior. He was the second Patriot to cross the finish line (29th place) at last fall’s state meet.

The Patriots won regional titles his last two years and the conference meet in all four.

In track, Troutman finished second in the 1,600-meter run and fourth in the 800-meter run at last spring’s conference meet. He came in eighth in the 1,600 at the East Regional.

He is going to Wingate to study chemistry. A career in chemical research interests him. He can also see himself teaching chemistry and coaching somewhere along the way.

“I was looking for a small school and liked the tight-knit community,” he says of Wingate. “It was just a feeling when I toured the school, and it was a beautiful campus.”