Junior Olympic Shot Put Champion Eyes Crespi School Record

He may only be a freshman, but Amir Patterson has huge goals to make his mark on Crespi High athletics. 

He's top prospect not only in football, but also in track and field.

"He was very well put together with a lot of athleticism, explosiveness, and quickness," said Brian Banducci, who coaches Crespi's frosh football team.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder was a terrific defensive end in football, but the goals are more lofty in track because Patterson is an age-group national champion in the shot put.

His winning throw in the shot put event at the Junior Olympics this past summer in Sacramento was 54 feet. He's also among the best in the discus and javelin.

"I was going to run track, but I had asthma and I was big so I tried the shot put," said Patterson. "I want to do 52 feet as a freshman, 62 feet as a sophomore, 68 feet as a junior and 75 feet as a senior."

If he reaches those goals he will eventually break the school record with a 12 pound shot of 67-6, set by Randy Cross in 1972.

Jess Garner, who is in his seventh year as the head track coach for the Celts, knows what he has in the 175-pound star.

"He's one of the best throwers we've ever had as a freshman, and he's got some pretty big shoes to fill," Garner said.

Those shoes belong to two-time Southern Section champion Brandon Greenberg, who concluded his career at Crespi last year with a best of 61-4 ½.

"His attention to studies and setting his foundation to be a good student and good citizen makes him someone that everyone in the freshman class looks up to.  He was one of our team captains on the football team," Banducci said. "He is a very humble young man.  He's just one of the guys and lets his actions speak for him."

Being an exceptional student athlete and budding two-sport star also means more work, and Patterson has no problem putting in the necessary time to become better.

"He's a special kid who will go out and do things on his own.  He's got very high expectations and knows what it's going to take to reach those goals," Garner said.

Being a football player and shot putter requires strength, and Patterson definitely has that.  As a freshman he's already power cleaning 185 pounds, bench pressing 200, squatting 230 and dead lifting 335. 

"He's one of the top three strongest freshman I've ever had," Garner said.

Playing two sports that require strength, power and speed certainly has advantages for Patterson.

"The pushing of people in football and understanding of leverage will make him much better at both sports, and the quickness he got from football makes him quicker in the circle," Garner said.

There are many issues high school coaches face with athletes, and one of the biggest is personal trainers and coaches.  Many times coaches get conflicting messages from kids and their coaches.  Coach Garner and throws coach Tim Selby, who is in his fifth year, have been lucky because Patterson's personal coach Mike Mayer and the Crespi staff work very well together. 

"Amir's personal coach is very supportive and understands that coach Selby is one of the most respected throws coaches around," Garner said.  "We're all supportive of each other."