PIEDMONT - A Union Local High School student died Monday at Piedmont Lake.
Trent Carpenter, 16, died of an apparent drowning in western Belmont County on Monday afternoon. The Bethesda resident was the son of Frank C. Carpenter Jr. and Amy M. Yarger Carpenter.
"Trent was just a really, really nice kid," said Union Local head football coach and athletic director Mark Cisar.
Cisar learned of Carpenter's death late Monday, but he had known something was wrong when Carpenter did not attend a conditioning session that morning.
"We were going through attendance and several kids weren't there because of vacation, Fourth of July trips or whatever, but a lot of the kids had said they expected Trent to be there," Cisar said. "Hearing this news is just a major shock."
Reports indicate Carpenter had been swimming at Piedmont early Monday when he went missing. After a day-long search, his body was recovered at about 4 p.m.
"I just send condolences on behalf of our entire team to the family," Cisar said. "Hopefully some of his teammates will step up and be there for the family in this tough time."
Carpenter made the decision to come out for football this season just because he wanted to give it a try.
"He'd been coming to all of the workouts, helmet fitting, had picked out his number and was really excited," Cisar said. "He thought it would be a good thing to play. He just wanted to be a part of the team. He was working his butt off."
Cisar planned to address his players about the situation.
"We've got optional workouts the next few days, so I may not see all of the kids but I will definitely be talking about this with the kids," Cisar said. "This is something that we have to talk about."
In addition to attending Union Local, Carpenter was a member of Hillcrest Bible Church and Future Farmers of America. He is survived by his parents, three sisters, three brothers and additional family.
Visitation is set for 4-9 p.m. Friday and 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Kelly Kemp Braido & Patron Funeral Home, 322 N. Main St., Bethesda. Pastor Jack Palmer will officiate the funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Bible Church, 401 S. Main St., Bethesda, with interment to follow at Ebenezer Cemetery in Bethesda.
