AMHERST, N.Y. - Senior men's tennis player Gregory Lowe (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) was named the recipient of this year's C.L.A.W. Award tonight at the Daemen College Athletic Department's annual awards banquet, dubbed this year the Daemen ESPY's. The award was announced near the end of the evening and was presented by former women's basketball player Courtney Donovan, the 2013 C.L.A.W. Award recipient.

The C.L.A.W. Award is given annually to the senior student-athlete who best exhibits excellence in the traits of character, leadership, academic achievement and work ethic.  Lowe was selected for the award from a group of four nominees which also included men's soccer player Frank Poppolo (Brampton, Ont./West Virginia Wesleyan College), men's basketball player Ryan Grandits (Kenmore, N.Y./Medaille College) and women's soccer player Meghan Lipinoga (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Canisius College).

Athletically, Lowe has been a contributing member for Daemen's men's tennis team since its inception in the 2012-13 academic year.  He concluded his career as the program's all-time leader in overall singles victories (32), dual-match singles victories (32), total singles matches (77), overall doubles victories (30), dual-match doubles victories (30) and total doubles matches (77).  In addition, Lowe has served as team captain in each of the last three seasons.

With his athletic achievements in tow, Lowe has also left indelible mark on Daemen College away from the field of competition, and on the greater community as a whole.  He's been a past president of Daemen's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, participating in several community service projects with that group.  He's also volunteered several times with the men's tennis team at various Habitat For Humanity sites, and at Daemen's open house and Trustee Scholar's Day events.  

In the classroom, Lowe carries a 3.8 grade-point-average in Daemen's ultra-competitive Physical Therapy program, from which he will graduate in the spring of 2017.

"Gregory has been an invaluable member of the men's tennis team, and of the Daemen community," said Stephen Beatty, head men's tennis coach, who nominated Lowe for the C.L.A.W. Award.  "He has helped us build the tennis program from scratch, and has been a great asset to the growth of the program.  His fierceness on and off the court is contagious, and his leadership abilities are what any coach would ask for out of his or her captain.  It's a fitting end to Gregory's time with Daemen Athletics for him to receive this year's C.L.A.W. Award.  I can't think of a more deserving individual."

In accepting the award tonight, Lowe became the first men's tennis player to be named the C.L.A.W. Award recipient.  Instituted in 2012, previous winners of the award include the afore-mentioned Donovan, men's soccer/track and field athlete Sam Rugg (2015), men's basketball player Mark Coppola (2014), and women's volleyball player Joanna Fretthold (2012).