There are athletes.

Then there are multi-sport athletes.

Then there are multi-sport athletes who stay that way throughout their high school careers, regardless of what’s going on with their lives in another sport.

Butler’s boys basketball team has three guys in that third category: CJ Singleton, Charlie Kreinbucher and Colin Patterson.

Singleton is a member of the Golden Tornado’s vaunted boys indoor track and field team. He is ranked second in the state in the mile and two-mile run and is top-ranked in the 800 meters. He also runs the anchor leg of Butler’s distance medley relay, ranked third in the country.

Singleton is headed to Notre Dame to run cross country and track.

He has also been on the varsity basketball team. He sees very little time as he is not one of the top players off the bench.

It would be easy for Singleton to give up basketball this season to concentrate on his running. But he suits up for every game, including Friday night games on weekends he has to get to Edinboro or Youngstown for an indoor meet the next day.

That’s selflessness. It’s being a supportive teammate and respecting every sport you play.

Kreinbucher’s collegiaste future is in football. He is headed to Bucknell to play tight end. He’s also been a regular center on the basketball team for four years.

Kreinbucher suffered a hand injury last season. He easily could have used that as a reason to give up hoops, heal up and get ready for his senior year of football. To the contrary, he returned to the Tornado basketball lineup with a bandaged hand and rebounded with basically one hand for the rest of the season.

A physical, grinding type of center, Kreinbucher is involved in contact throughout every basketball game he plays. Risky business, to be sure, but that guy was not about to give up his last chance to play basketball with his buddies.

Patterson is a three-sport athlete, playing baseball, golf and basketball. He is headed to Indiana (Pa.) university to continue his baseball career. Basketball is probably the third sport on his list.

Not only did he stick with hoops, he worked himself into the starting lineup his senior year. He’s hit some critical 3-point shots in games and gets his share of rebounds.

Like Singleton and Kreinbucher, he gets it.

They want to enioy their high school athletic careers to the fullest, regardless of their roles or the minutes they play.

These guys aren’t just athletes. They’re all about prife. They’re all about being part of a team. They’re all about Butler.

Follow this trio the next four years.

They’re putting together quite a recipe for success.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle