By Natalie Fiorilli | The Duquesne Duke
Dedication, focus and collaboration – aspects that go along with being a student athlete. For senior attack Lib Lowry of the Duquesne women’s lacrosse team, they are also the characteristics associated with being a student-teacher.
While in her final semester in the Education School, Lowry is balancing field work as a full-time student teacher along with competing for the Duquesne women’s lacrosse team.
In fact, Lowry’s schedule is so demanding, she actually had to write a petition to Duquesne’s Education School for permission to remain on the lacrosse team while completing her degree.
“I had to show them that I was going to be able to manage my time,” Lowry said. “I had to tell people it was really important to me. I wasn’t going to quit. It really wasn’t in the cards for me.”
The senior hailing from Wayne, Pa, was fifth on the team in scoring in 2015, tallying 11 goals and 11 points.
Lowry also proved to be a leader in the Atlantic 10 Tournament last season, notching three goals in a semifinal loss to Richmond, which helped place her on the A-10 All-Championship Team. As a freshman, she was named the 2013 A-10 Rookie of the Year and was also placed on the A-10 All-Rookie Team.
Coach Mike Scerbo expects Lowry to serve as an offensive leader on the team, while teaching the underclassmen in order to develop the team as a whole.
“She has always been a cerebral player with a high Lacrosse IQ, and we want her to impart that knowledge on the youth of our team,” Scerbo said. “I have always been impressed with Lib’s work ethic. She is extremely dedicated to every aspect of her development on the field and off.”
Despite the hectic schedule, Lowry has been able to find success both on and off the field, being one of two current seniors on the team named to Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association academic honor roll.
Lowry was one of 265 students honored by the IWLCA this past fall for having a GPA at or above a 3.5.
While she did not express the academic challenge of being on the lacrosse team, Lowry emphasized the mental and physical toll of competing as a student-athlete.
“It’s a lot of work,” Lowry said. “There are days when you’re really tired and don’t want to go to practice and you have a lot to do. My favorite part is being on a team and working with others, being committed to not only your sport and improving yourself, but also [improving] your teammates. I feel like it kind of gives me more of a purpose.”
With graduation and the A-10 Tournament approaching in May, Lowry would like to see the Dukes secure the A-10 title on Rooney Field before she returns to her hometown to begin focusing on her future career. The senior is currently deciding between pursuing a Master’s Degree or beginning her career immediately upon graduation.
Nonetheless Lowry should be able to handle anything after managing such an active schedule as a student-athlete. Her work-ethic and commitment to the team will surely be missed according to senior midfielder Meredith Micho.
“She was told last semester that she would not be able to fit in student teaching hours and play lacrosse but she has proven everyone wrong. When Lib sets her mind to something she does everything she can to achieve it. She is very hard-working.”
