He doesn’t go anywhere without his shot put and discus - especially this time of year.
“I practice at home, I practice (at school), I practice in my mind,” Crews said.
So when the 6-6, 340 pound Crews felt getting a few throws in Saturday in his family’s backyard, all he had to do was reach in the backseat.
Crews has already achieved one of his goals for this season, qualifying for this weekend’s University Inter-scholastic League State Track and Field Meet in the Class A shot put and discus.
But bringing home a pair of state medals from Mike A. Meyers Stadium in Austin, Crews’ other goal, is the reason he’s brought home those implements every night for more than a year.
“He’s gonna have to show up, go out there and work and let the chips fall where they may,” Bartlett coach Ed Vogelpohl said. “But he’s got a shot at both.”
After missing a state medal in the discus last season by just two places, Crews has a chance to earn hardware in both events.
He won the Region IV discus title with a throw of 151 feet, 2 inches, the second-best regional throw in Class A. His personal best this season is 164.
But Crews and the rest of the field are chasing Strawn’s Johnathon Lindsey, who threw 171 at the Region II meet. Lindsey has also thrown over 180 at least once this season.
That doesn’t stop Crews, one of three Class A throwers to qualify in both events, from still thinking a state title is within his grasp.
“I’m gonna go for it,” Crews said with a slight smile. “I’m gonna go all out. I’m gonna bring my ‘A’ game.”
Crews’ regional-winning throw of 49-7½ in the shot put ranks fourth among state qualifiers. He has a season best of 50-8½.
Though he’s proved he’s one of Class A’s best throwers, both Vogelpohl and Crews readily admit his shot put throw is still a work in progress.
“At this point in time I think we’d say he’s stronger in the discus, just from the fact that he does have years of experience, he does have technique,” Vogelpohl said.
Learning to throw the discus, an event he’s competed in since fourth grade, has been easier for Crews. He said mastering the discus is 90 percent technique and 10 percent strength.
He’s certainly got the strength, but getting the technique down in what he considers the tougher event took time.
“I took me three or four years to figure out how to throw it,” he said. “Every little detail has to be just perfect to be good at it. Even the Olympic guys, they practice all year . . . the discus is hard. It’s all about just getting every little piece to fall just right.”
It all came together last season, when Crews earned his first state berth as a sophomore. But the big stage proved to be too much.
“Last year I was real nervous. It really got to me,” Crews said. “But after being there before, it ain’t gonna be a problem.”
A couple of state medals could certainly prove that.
