Rhett Lowder Named ACC’s Anthony J. McKevlin Award Winner
7/6/2023 2:59:00 PM | Baseball
Lowder becomes the sixth Demon Deacon to earn the prestigious conference award and the first since Tim Duncan in 1997.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Wake Forest baseball's Rhett Lowder has been named the recipient of the 2022-23 Anthony J. McKevlin Award, which is presented annually to the ACC's top male athlete, as announced by the league office on Thursday.
Lowder joins exclusive Demon Deacon company to be selected for the award, as Tim Duncan (1997), Randolph Childress (1995), Brian Piccolo (1965), Len Chappell (1962) and Dickie Hemric (1955) are the other Wake Forest recipients. In addition to being the first player in program history to receive this honor, he is also just the sixth baseball player in conference history to be selected in the 70-year history of the award.
"It truly is an honor to be named the ACC Male Athlete of the Year," Lowder said. "I want to thank the coaching staff at Wake Forest for giving me the opportunity to represent this great program, university and conference. It is a dream come true to be on the same list as such great athletes."
"Coaching Rhett Lowder has truly been an honor," said head coach Tom Walter. "Whether it be in the classroom, on the baseball diamond or in his social life, Rhett exudes excellence. The impact he has made on our program and his teammates is immeasurable. He exemplifies our Wake Forest motto, Pro Humanitate, and is the consummate Deac. I could not be more proud."
The Albemarle, N.C., native put together a record-breaking campaign during a 2023 season in which Wake Forest was ranked No. 1 nationally and earned the team's second trip to the Men's College World Series.
Lowder became the second pitcher in league history to win back-to-back ACC Pitcher of the Year awards, setting new program records in wins (15) and strikeouts (143) while tossing the fourth-most innings (120.1) by a Demon Deacon ever.
His 15 victories were the most in the country during the 2023 season and he also ranked in the top-10 nationally in ERA (1.87; 4th), strikeouts (4th) and WHIP (.95; 8th).
In conference play, Lowder blanked four opponents (Miami, Louisville, Boston College and Florida State) while earning ACC Pitcher of the Week three times after those performances. Dating back to his 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year season, Lowder allowed three earned runs or less in 33 of his last 35 starts and has gone at least six innings in 32 starts.
One of a program record 12 Demon Deacons to be placed on the 2023 All-ACC Academic Team, Lowder was also selected as the ACC's Scholar Athlete of the Year in June. The economics major, who holds a 3.6 career GPA, became the third Demon Deacon in program history to earn the academic honor as he was also named a first-team Academic All-American.
Wake Forest Recipients of the Anthony J. McKevlin Award
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Rhett Lowder, Baseball (2023)
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Tim Duncan, Men's Basketball (1997)
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Randolph Childress, Men's Basketball (1995)
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Brian Piccolo, Football (1965)
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Len Chappell, Men's Basketball (1962)
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Dickie Hemric, Men's Basketball (1955)
Lowder's 2023 Honors
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2023 Anthony J. McKevlin Award Winner
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2023 ACC Pitcher of the Year
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2023 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
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2023 Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American
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2023 ABCA First Team All-American
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2023 NCBWA First Team All-American
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2023 National Pitcher of the Year Finalist
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2023 First Team All-ACC
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2023 All-ACC Academic Team
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2023 Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
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2023 NCBWA District 4 Player of the Year
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2023 First Team CSC Academic All-American
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2023 Winston-Salem Regional All-Tournament Team
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2023 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist
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2023 ACC All-Tournament Team
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2023 ACC Pitcher of the Week (May 8)
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2023 ACC Pitcher of the Week (April 17)
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2023 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
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2023 ACC Pitcher of the Week (March 27)
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2023 Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week (March 27)
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2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
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2023 Perfect Game First Team Preseason All-American
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2023 Collegiate Baseball First Team Preseason All-American
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2023 Baseball America First Team Preseason All-American
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2023 D1Baseball First Team Preseason All-American
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2023 NCBWA First Team Preseason All-American
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2023 D1Baseball Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year
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2023 Perfect Game Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year
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2023 Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC
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