Setting new standards: AJ Epenesa caps remarkable junior season with state title
Almost every elite athlete has it. That mechanism buried deep inside which pushes him or her to the next level of excellence. They have the desire that no matter what they have achieved in the past they have to achieve more in the future. That is a must.
AJ Epenesa is one of those elite athletes.
Regarded as one of the top high school football players, and perhaps the top high school defensive end in the nation by several national scouting services, Epenesa is headed to the University of Iowa in August of 2017 where he will play college football for the Hawkeyes.
But as for right now, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Epenesa has other things on his mind. Namely “to be in the best shape possible” when Edwardsville High School opens practice for the 2016 season in four weeks.
“I’m just having fun working out and getting ready for football season,” Epenesa said. “My goal is to have the bet season I can have. This is my senior year and I want to get prepared because I feel like people are going to have a target on me.
“I feel like I’m ready for what I’m going to see because of what I’ve been through in basketball and track. I have to realize that each week it’s going to be my last time playing against O’Fallon. It’s going to be my last time going up against Belleville East and Belleville West. It’s going to be my last time playing against East St. Louis. I want to be able to do my best each week.”
Earning all-state recognition in three sports — football, basketball along with track and field— as a junior, Epenesa will attempt to repeat the feat during the 2016-17 high school season. Epenesa put an end to some speculation this week that he would not compete in all three sports when he confirmed that he will compete in all three sports as senior.
Epenesa also became one the best in the nation in track and field this spring. His throw of 206 feet, 5 inches at the Winston Brown Invitational was the nation’s best at the time and his winning throw of 205 feet, 11 inches at the Class 3A state track meet is a new state record. Also continuing to show improvement in the shot put all season, Epenesa’s school record throw of 60 feet, 4 1/2 inches placed him second in state and helped the Tigers place second behind Southwestern Conference rival East St. Louis in the battle for the team thinclad title at state.
An early indication
Beaten on the last throw in the discus competition in the 2015 Class 3A state finals by Ricky Nelson, of Belleville West, Epenesa was in top form from the start of the season. With the help of Edwardsville High School assistant and throws coach Matt Martin, Epenesa broke meet records in the discus in every major invitational in which he competed.
But with throws over 190 feet already to his credit earlier in the season, Epenesa gained notice as one of the best in the nation with his monster toss of 206 feet, 5 inches at the Winston Brown Invitational.
“Did the throw of 206-5 surprise me? Yes... kind of,” Epenesa said, laughing. “I knew it would come up sooner or later this season. I’m glad it was sooner. I told you guys (media) that anything less than winning the state championship in the discus would be disappointing. I went after it and I feel I got stronger and bettered myself in every meet I competed.
“I didn’t scratch out of any meet and that was one of my goals. I broke the discus record in every meet and I felt like I was improving all the time which in important. I’m proud of myself and I know my parents and coaches are proud too.”
Taking a shot to the next level
While Epenesa’s rise as one the nation’s best in the discus isn’t unexpected, his development as a potential state champion in the shot put next year might be to some.
After throws in the low to mid 50’s earlier in the season, Epenesa broke the school mark set by former Nebraska football standout Vincent Valentine in early May then continued to add to his mark as the season wore.
“I was doing about as well as I thought I was going to do until I started spinning on my throws. I was maintaining at about 53 to 54 feet before that,” Epenesa said. “Coach (Matt) Martin suggested we try spinning and the next day we went out and did if for the first time.
“As you can see, the results improved and I kept throwing better as the season went on. I really owe a lot to coach Martin who keeps working with me in both football and track and field, helping me become the best all-around athlete that I can be.”
Looking forward to 2017 track season
With Epenesa back for his senior season and no doubt a heavy favorite to win both the discus and shot put titles along with perhaps a second national-caliber athlete in senior Travis Anderson returning in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles, Edwardsville may go into next season as the odds-on favorite to win the Class 3A state team title.
Anderson won the state crown in the 110 meter hurdles and placed in the top three in the 300 hurdles this past May.
“With Travis and myself coming back next year we should have a good team. Plus we’ve got some other top athletes in the jumps, sprints and a good group of fast athletes in the relays. But there are a lot of good teams in the state,” Epenesa said. “My goals? Of course they are to win both events and help the team do well.
“I want to keep progressing in both the shot put and discus and that means continuing to work hard every day. I threw 206 feet this year, I would think maybe 220 feet in the discus might be a realistic number.”
This story was originally published July 9, 2016 at 8:59 PM with the headline "Setting new standards: AJ Epenesa caps remarkable junior season with state title."