By Don Ketchum

The era of the three-sport athlete is on the endangered species list, but with guys out there like Tolleson High’s Brendan Pineda, it won’t go completely extinct.

The senior’s spring endeavor is track and field, to go along with basketball and football. He was the state champion in the shot put and discus last year in the final season of Class 5A Division II individual competition, and figures to be among the top finishers in this year’s Division I event on May 11 and 14 at Mesa Community College.

He hopes to land a college scholarship that will allow him to play basketball and participate in track and field. He was The Arizona Republic’s West Valley Player of the Year in basketball after helping lead the Wolverines deep into the 5A-II state tournament, averaging 16 points and nearly seven rebounds per game.

Tolleson boys track coach Jim Baker remembers seeing Pineda in the seventh grade.

“His progression has been amazing,’’ Baker said. “Two things that make him successful are the fact that he’s an athlete and that he is very coachable. I’ve been lucky to work with him.’’

At the urging of his brother, Jeremy (two years older), Pineda tried the shot put in middle school.

“The first time I touched the shot, I was horrible,’’ Brendan said.  “But he kept on encouraging me. I watched him throw and I wanted to keep following in his footsteps. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at.’’

Baker said Pineda went from 38 feet in the shot put to 49 as a freshman. As a sophomore, he went from 49 to 56 and as a junior went from 56 to 63. He won the 5A-II shot put at 59-0 ½ and the discus at 166-5. He has a best of 180-2 this year, fresh off his performance in the Glendale Invitational on Thursday (April 21).

“I’m known more for the shot put, but I want to prove that I am capable of winning the discus, too,’’ Pineda said.

His biggest challenge will come in the discus from Phoenix Desert Vista’s Riley Pendergast, Sierra Vista Buena’s Jeremy Tuttle (an LSU signee) and Glendale Mountain Ridge’s Brian Thompson. Tuttle also could be a factor in the shot put.

The 6-foot-4 Pineda played tight end on the football team, catching 21 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns. He played at about 225 pounds and started out at the same weight for basketball, but all the running made him drop about 15 pounds.

“I don’t think it really affected me, strength-wise, all that much,’’ Pineda said. “I rely a lot on my technique, anyway. I still go through the same routines to get ready and I am confident in what I can do.’’

He also is confident in the classroom. Pineda carries a 3.9 grade-point average. He expects to be in the top percentage of his class when he graduates. His favorite subject is math and has an interest in psychology. He is considering studying physical education and criminal justice in college.

He is due to participate in the upcoming Tolleson District meet soon before the state meet.