Matt Reith, an Oak Harbor High School distance runner, signed a letter of intent to attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke next fall.

Reith made an official visit to the school during spring break and said the “team was super cool” and the coaches were “awesome.”

He said his military family moved nine times in his lifetime and relocated to Oak Harbor from North Carolina in 2007. Since leaving North Carolina, he has been interested in returning, so he filled out athletic questionnaires for a number of schools in the state.

UNCP showed the most interest and offered him a partial scholarship to run cross country and track.

Reith said, “It is really nice to go somewhere that wanted me.”

He added that his parents find is a “bit worrisome” that he is moving to the other side of the country, but “they are excited for me and are totally supportive of where I want to go.”

Reith was a first-team Wesco 3A and state qualifier in cross country last fall, and finished fourth in the 3,200 and sixth in the 1,600 in district track last spring.

UNCP is a Division II school of about 6,000 students.