Wake Forest Athletics
Five Questions With Amir Lowery
10/15/2020 4:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Les Johns
Amir Lowery helped lead the Demon Deacons to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances before turning his attention to community-based work.
Wake Forest soccer alum Amir Lowery ('04) was part of two regular season ACC Championship teams as the Deacs advanced to NCAA Tournament play four-straight seasons.
Lowery currently serves as player relations manager for the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA), and is founder and executive director of a nonprofit called Open Goal Project, which aims to help provide soccer playing opportunities to underserved communities in the Washington, D.C. area. He is also running for Congress as D.C.'s Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lowery recently joined Deacon Sports Xtra for a Five Questions feature.
What initially attracted you to Wake Forest?
Lowery: "I grew up in D.C. and played travel ball for clubs in Northern Virginia and Maryland. As I remember it, the ACC was the place to be if you wanted to play collegiate soccer at the highest level. That was the goal for me. As I was considering different recruitment options, Jay Vidovich and Wake Forest stood out as a place athletically and academically as a place I could pursue my goals. It was an easy decision once I got on campus, met the guys and met the staff. I spent a couple days in Winston and felt good about my future. That's what brought me there. It was somewhat of a seamless process, and I was fortunate for that."
What was it like to win two conference championships and make it to the NCAA Tournament all four years while at Wake?
Lowery: "All of us on those teams would have like a little bit more in the form of hardware and championships. But in soccer, it's hard when you get to those knockout stages. The margin of error becomes more slim. We didn't get those final bounces and had some tough injuries, but those were some of the best teams I've ever played for. There was a lot of talent on those Wake Forest rosters. It was a unique era to have been there, and I was fortunate to have been there during that period. I wouldn't have envisioned being undefeated and No. 1 in the country. We had All-Americans and ACC Players of the Year. It was a talented and special group.
"That group that was here between 2001 and 2005 really changed the culture of the program in a positive way. I think each class shifted it more and more positively. One thing I'm proud of is carrying that torch forward and helping to set the bar forward for the next group of Demon Deacons in the Wake Forest soccer program. I am proud of the bonds we built as teammates with each other and with the university, as well as the entire Wake Forest soccer community."
What was it about that group that led to such a successful run?
Lowery: "The staff deserves full credit for the rosters that they assembled. They recruited well internationally. I think that effort they put in to find the right players and right people for the program really translated in an amazing way. It paid dividends for the staff. We see the results statistically, but it really was about the unselfish nature of the people in that group and their willingness to sacrifice for the common goal. The culture shifted because of the staff and us all working on the same accord."
How often do you get back to Winston-Salem and do you stay in touch with the program?
Lowery: "I'm in touch with Bobby [Muuss] and Jay. I was down this past February for [Michael] Parkhurst and [Marcus] Tracy's Hall of Fame induction. That was a nice event. I haven't been back except a handful of times, because of travel and other commitments. I'm still in touch and wish I could do a bit more. I track the team on the internet and stay as engaged as I can be. We have a tight-knit community."
What is your approach to your run for Congress?
Lowery: "I'm taking on running for office and the process differently than the normal person. I think this is the shift we need to make. I don't think it should be about raising money. There are people in our program who could use money for groceries or rent. I'd feel like it's irresponsible to try to collect donations right now and use it for self promotion. I feel like my community work, volunteering and what I stand for should be good enough for serious voters to take a look at my candidacy."
