TEN FINALISTS SELECTED FOR THE 2007 LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD IN NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S LACROSSE
April 25, 2008
(Kansas City, MO) - TEN FINALISTS SELECTED FOR THE 2007 LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD IN NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S LACROSSE; NATIONWIDE VOTING BEGINS APRIL 24
Ten finalists for the 2007 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for Men’s Lacrosse were announced today and those names will appear on the official ballot for the nation’s premier tribute to college seniors.
This marks the first year for the Lacrosse division of the award, which will be presented annually to an NCAA Division I men’s senior lacrosse player who excels both on and off the field. The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award first started with the sport of basketball six years ago and has now been extended to four additional NCAA sports including lacrosse.
The finalists are: Mitch Belisle, Cornell, Nick Bonacci, Dartmouth, Adam Crystal, Drexel, John Dunn, Colgate, Eric Heidenberger, Villanova, Zachary Jungers, Princeton, Tony McDevitt, Duke, Matt McMonagle, Cornell, Greg Rommel, Syracuse, Drew Thompson, Virginia.
These ten finalists will be placed on the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award ballot for a nationwide vote beginning April 24 and concluding May 15. Fan balloting, available on the award’s official website http://www.seniorclassaward.com, will be combined with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award.
The award winner will be announced and presented with his trophy during the Semi-finals of the 2007 NCAA Lacrosse Championships on Saturday, May 26 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Lowe’s All-Senior All-America Team will also be recognized.
“These ten finalists are great representatives of the sport of lacrosse, their respective institutions and themselves personally,” said Bob Gfeller, Lowe’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising. “Lowe’s is pleased to salute these student athletes for their on-field and off-field commitment to excellence and look forward to making the presentation to thousands of lacrosse fans during the NCAA Championships.”
Finalists were selected from a list of 20 candidates based on personal qualities that define a complete student athlete. While the on-the-field performance thus far during the college lacrosse season was a factor in determining the finalists, the criteria also includes a high emphasis on the classroom, character and community service.
The initial idea of a special award for seniors was conceived by CBS sportscaster Dick Enberg, who was inspired in 2001 by the story of Shane Battier, who turned down offers from the NBA to return for his senior season at Duke despite the trend of college basketball players leaving school early. He led the Blue Devils to the national championship and earned his college degree during a sensational senior season.
