NSCAA ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Carroll College incoming freshman men's soccer player Nick Lowrimore was named to the NSCAA Winter-Spring Soccer All-American First Team, the association announced earlier this month.
A total of 50 players receive NSCAA All-American recognition with 32 female student-athletes and 18 male student-athletes representing schools from across the country
Lowrimore was named the 4A MVP after a stellar senior season in which he helped lead Alta High School to a state title. He tallied nine goals and seven assists on the year.
As the season came to a close and he began making preparations to make his way to Carroll, he got a call from Alta head coach Lee Mitchell, telling him to check his email.
"I didn't know what he was talking about, so I did what he asked me to do," Lowrimore said. "When I saw the email, I was extremely surprised and grateful. Being an All-American had never even crossed my mind, so I wasn't expecting it."
The email listed the group, mainly from soccer powerhouse states like California and Texas but among the list was the midfielder from Utah with a letter of intent for a small NAIA in Montana.
Alta has one of the strongest soccer traditions in the state of Utah and Lowrimore didn't take that advantage for granted, especially during his underclassman years.
"It helped me a lot to able to play with players that are older and better than me," Lowrimore said. "Being on a state championship-winning team my sophomore year helped me progress as a player even more. You also have the reputation as an Alta player where you're expected to succeed."
A program doesn't succeed without a great coach, but Lowrimore knows that Mitchell had as big of a personal impact on him as he did with his play on the field.
"Coach Mitchell has definitely had the biggest impact on me as a player and a person," Lowrimore said. "Over the four years of playing for him, the main thing he has brought out me is confidence. He truly cares about you and trusts you, which allows you to trust yourself and play to the best of your ability."
As for his new coach, Carroll veteran mentor
Doug Mello is excited about his award and the experience that he will bring to the pitch at Nelson Stadium.
"To be named one of 18 NSCAA All Americans is a compliment to all of Nick's hard work and dedication in the beautiful game," Carroll head coach
Doug Mello said. "Add this to Nick being the 4A Utah Player of the Year and you get a highly talented student athlete who I am proud to have join the Saints fold. Nick will make an immediate impact with his talent level and winning tradition at every level. He had a number of college choices and choose Carroll because of our academic tradition and budding soccer program. Our fans are in for a treat with the high-powered recruiting class and seasoned veterans gracing the pitch for 2017."
The 2016-17 NSCAA High School All-Americans will be formally recognized during the NSCAA All-American Luncheon in conjunction with the 2018 NSCAA Convention from Jan. 17-21, 2018 in Philadelphia. Luncheon registration details will be released in the fall.
The Saints open the season on Aug. 16 in a home match against the University of Lethbridge.