By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

“You Can Count On Me, Like 1,2, 3

“I’ll Be There And I Know When I Need It

“I Can Count On You Like 4.3.2

“You’ll Be There Cause That’s What Friends Are Supposed To Do.”

Bruno Mars may have sung it, but it could easily be Connor Lowe’s theme song when it comes to the Ironton Fighting Tigers’ track team.

That kind of dependency is what Ironton coach Greg Cronacher has come to expect from Lowe and what the Shawnee State Bears will get after signing the senior track standout to a letter-of-intent on Tuesday.

Cronacher said Lowe is the type of athlete any coach would love to have on his team and he thinks the senior multi-sport performer will do well at the next level.

“I think he’ll do great. He trains the way you ask him to and he puts in the time. He’s always there and ready to go,” said  Cronacher. “That’s him in a nutshell.”

“He tries his best when he’s there and you can’t ask any more than that. He will do something else if you ask him to and I think that’s something that Shawnee State will like about him.”

Lowe entertained offers from Otterbein and Kentucky Christian University among others, but after weighing all his options he believed Shawnee State was the right choice.

“I really chose Shawnee because I felt I could make a difference there. I want to go somewhere that I can make a difference,” he said.

Lowe has played both football and run track. He was a defensive back and wide receiver in football and had a key interception in a game against Chesapeake. He likes both sports but he has begun to lean more on track.

Lowe began running track in the seventh grade, but he hasn’t participated in track “as long as I’ve played football” he said.

So, why track as the sport of choice?

“I’ve grown to like it more,” said Lowe. “I liked football my whole life, but there was just something about track, especially long jumping. I just like track more,” said Lowe.

Besides long jumping, Lowe runs sprints as well. Lowe said he’s uncertain about what he’ll do at the next level.

“I don’t know if they want me to do sprints, but I’m willing to do anything. If they want me to do sprints, then I’ll do it. As far as I know, it’s just the long jump,” said Rowe.

With one more season looming ahead. Lowe said his goals are to beat his personal best records.

“I didn’t make the state last year but I want to make it this year,” said Lowe whose best distance on the season is 20-feet, 7-inches.

One thing that will help Lowe improve at the college level will be the extra time he’ll have working on his craft.

Lowe said lifting weights and doing various exercises that he did for football should be helpful in track.

“We haven’t had any indoor meets but our first I think is Jan. 6 so I have to prepare for that,” said Lowe.

“The haven’t had a track team very long so I’d like to set some records,”

Lowe plans to major in physical therapy.