NATCHEZ &045; It has not taken long for the new Jack Benson Fieldhouse to reverberate the conventional sounds of most conditioning facilities in America.

As Trinity Episcopal athletes gathered for their Thursday workout schedules, spelled out in black ink on a dry-erase board, a garden-variety collection of hip-hop and popular music blared from a boom box that rested on the lone window sill.

Comparatively, David King has wasted little time in elevating the Saints athletic program to among the best in the Mississippi Private School Association.

With five years in the books as Trinity’s man of many hats, including head football coach and athletic director, King basked in the satisfaction of the Saints earning the coveted MPSA All-Sports award for Class A.

&uot;Obviously we’re extremely proud of all of our athletes,&uot; said Dr. Delecia Carey, Trinity’s head of school. &uot;It’s also a strong statement that size isn’t always the most important thing. Among the single-A schools we’re still one of the smallest.&uot;

Trinity edged Delta Academy 29-26 to capture the Class A award, while AA Brookhaven Academy’s 38 points were good enough to slip past Presbyterian Christian and Simpson Academy, which each had 37 points.

Jackson Prep coasted on the strength of a 53-point margin to win its ninth consecutive AAA distinction.

In class competition only, MPSA bestows fixed values for first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishes in 16 boys and girls sports.

Prep was the only MPSA school to earn at least one point in all 16 sports.

For its runner-up finish in basketball, Trinity’s boys earned seven points, while its track state championship was good enough for 10 points.

&uot;I knew to be the best overall program, you have to have guys that are selflessness,&uot; King said referring to many Saints athletes that play multiple sports. &uot;We won the state championship in track with four of eight runners that didn’t want to really run.&uot;

Along with coaching track and basketball, King also escorted the football team to a state semifinalist finish that netted five points toward the All-Sports award.

Talk about representing, state Rep. Andrew Ketchings, R-Natchez, pitched in by coaching Trinity’s cross country programs to a boys state title and fourth place girls finish.

The results were worthy of six and one points, respectively.

&uot;Four years ago Huntington won it, and every time we’ve been in their gym since I let them see that,&uot; said King, who watched Trinity finish third in 2001 and fourth last year. &uot;It’s big bragging rights for our athletic program. We’re excited about defending it with so many athletes coming back.&uot;

Despite the success, both King and Carey make it known that athletic feats are miniscule compared to achievements in the classroom.

With an academic policy that mandates student-athletes have one grading period to improve a failing grade &045; more stringent than the MPSA’s standards &045; it is apparent the jocks aren’t treated as such.

&uot;It doesn’t matter whether they are playing football or are competing in the classroom, everyone is treated the same,&uot; Carey said. &uot;Every single day from 8 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.) there is only one thing they are there for. I think that’s how we keep everyone focused.&uot;

Long a goal of Carey’s since she found out about you several years ago, the All-Sports award demonstrates an athletic program’s versatility.

Of the 30 Class A teams that qualified for the award, Trinity was the lone soldier in tallying points in five separate events.

&uot;Some schools rally around one sport to push the program,&uot; King said. &uot;I think an award like this shows we try to be successful in all&uot; sports.

Not seen as a hindrance in his sight, King feels privileged to be multifaceted by coaching many sports.

While the athletes ultimately get most of the glory, the Trinity machine has a lot of components that go into it, King said.

&uot;The main ingredients that you have to have are great athletes, administration support and booster club help. (Business administrator) Jackie Ezell gets out there, and finds the extra money to get us to go on trips,&uot; he said. &uot;A must is the supportive parents. And, of course, decent coaching.&uot;