He’s already proved his mastery of the shot put and discus, earned a bronze medal in the latter at last year’s Class A state meet. So it comes as little surprise that Crews is more than up for the task of adding two more events - the hammer throw and weight throw - to his load next year at NCAA Division I Northwestern State University (La.).

“I got to watch (the hammer and weight throws) a couple of times,” the 6-7, 360-pound Crews said after signing a letter of intent to throw for the Demons. “I always thought it was neat. It’d be a good experience.”

First up for Crews, though, is next weekend’s University Interscholastic League State Track and Field Meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. He’s among the top competitors in the shot put and discus and has a shot to claim hardware in both events.

Crews claimed district and regional titles on his way to a third straight state appearance.

“It’s something that I think he’s starting to enjoy,” Bartlett coach Clint Adams said. “And the more you enjoy something the more you work at it, and I think he’s more comfortable with it.”

Based on his personal-best throws, Crews should fit right in at Northwestern State, which is in Natchitoches and has an enrollment of more than 9,000 students.

Crews’ personal-best effort of 53 feet, 3¾ inches in the shot put would rank as the Demons’ fourth-best outdoor throw this spring and his toss of 169-7 in the discus would be Northwestern State’s fifth-best mark.

Throwing at the collegiate level was always a possibility for Crews, an honorable mention selection at offensive tackle on the Texas Sports Writers Association’s all-state team. But it wasn’t until Crews started hearing interest from coaches that he seriously considered it.

“The college coaches came and were talking to me,” Crews said. “I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll give it a try.'"

rschneider@temple-telegram.com