LYNN — Classical’s Aidan Dow is already poised to have a big senior year on the diamond this spring, but his baseball career won’t be ending there. The Rams left-hander signed his letter of commitment to play baseball with St. Anselm College Thursday afternoon.
A three-sport athlete who has helped the Rams to eight state tournament berths in football, basketball and baseball, Dow had plenty of options to weigh before penning his decision at Classical High Thursday with family and friends.
“This past summer I was talking with my AAU coach and he said that a few coaches were showing interest and it really made my day bright,” Dow said. “Since then I have been considering a lot of places. I was talking to Franklin Pierce, some smaller Division 3 schools to play football as well Norwich and Husson, and another school was WPI.”
After a few visits to St. Anselm in Manchester, N.H., the Hawks’ campus seemed like the right fit to continue his education and pitching career.
“When I went up there to the campus I really felt the atmosphere and the environment was a good fit,” Dow said. “When I was with the coach for all three visits it went well.”
The Hawks are a Division 2 program and compete in the Northeast-10 Conference.
“My goal going to St. Anselm is to help them win any type of championship because it’s been awhile since that’s happened, and to get my degree,” Dow said.
Dow, who has a 3.9 GPA and will study business, is a perfect example of what Classical looks for in an athlete on and off the field, said baseball coach Mike Zukowski.
“It’s awesome,” Zukowski said. “I’m very proud of him. He’s worked very hard to get where he is now, on the field and in the classroom. We always stress that with our players, work hard in the classroom and it’ll pay off on the field. He’s done that since he got to Classical.
“He’s 100 percent a great example,” Zukowski said. “The younger kids looking up to a kid like Aidan is great. I can say it to all of them, the characteristics of a captain and a leader and sometimes it goes in one ear out the other. But when they can actually see a tangible example it’s great.”
On the field, Dow is always working to improve his game — which includes an arsenal of a fastball, curveball and change-up while he also is looking to add a slider to the mix this offseason. An athletic left-hander who can also field his position well, it’s no surprise that Dow has a natural pick off move to first base.
“In the offseason I’m always working on little things to perfect my game,” Dow said. “Every year we all have a couple of goals. Every year we want to make the state tournament so that’s my first goal. Team success is more important than any individual statistics so that’s what I’m worried about heading into my senior year.”
“He’s got his head in the book, doing what he’s supposed to do and on top of that he’s in the weight room, hitting and throwing a lot and playing three sports,” Zukowski said. “He’s a true student-athlete.”
Dow was quick to thank Zukowski along with Classical athletic director Bill Devin, and more importantly his parents for their parts in getting him to this point.
“I want to thank (Zukowski) for everything he’s done for me,” Dow said. “He’s been very good to me these last couple years. So has Mr. Devin. I really appreciate it. My parents have done so much for me. Words can’t even describe my feelings towards them. I love them so much and I don’t know where I’d be without them.”
