Published: April 29, 2008 10:09 am         

Tri-State the place for Panthers’ Kent Biller

An opportunity to continue competing in both football and track at the collegiate level led NorthWood High School senior Kent Biller to Tri-State University in Angola.

“I wanted to compete in both sports,” Biller said. “Indiana Tech was the only other school I really considered and that was just for track.”

Biller was an all-state football player who rushed for 1,695 yards for a 7-5 NorthWood squad last fall. He was the team’s leading scorer with 102 points (17 touchdowns).

“He was a three-year letterwinner in football,” NorthWood coach Rich Dodson said. “He chose a college where he could fit in both sports.”

During his sophomore track season, Biller finished third in the 100 (11.27) and second in the 200-meter (22.96) at the Goshen sectional. He placed fifth in the 200 (22.93) in the Fort Wayne Wayne regional.

The Tri-State football team posted a 2-8 (2-5 in the Michigan Indiana Athletic Association) record last fall for coach Matt Land.

“Tri-State is building a new football complex for all the players,” Biller said.

“I know the tempo of the game will increase in college. I’m sure they will put me on a weight program. My goal is to get bigger without losing my speed. The coach has talked to me about playing running back or wingback. It doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m on the field.”

The Tri-State men’s track and field team is coached by Doyle Houser.

“There is talk about Tri-State building a new indoor track, but I’m not sure when that will be,” Biller said. “In college I’ll be running against people of the same ability. The tempo will just be faster.”

Biller plans to study business in college.

“Their business school is getting known,” he said. “Tri-State has always been known as an engineering school, but all of their programs are coming around.”

Kent is the son of Jeff and Doris Biller of Wakarusa. He has an older sister Ashley.

There’s another reason he chose Tri-State.

“I love to be outdoors,” he said. “There are a lot of lakes in the area where I can fish.”