Greg Klazura has started 30 straight games at left back for the Fighting Irish.

Greg Klazura Named A Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Finalist

Oct. 6, 2011

Click here to vote for Greg

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame defender Greg Klazura is one of 10 finalists up for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the men’s soccer division. To be eligible for the prestigious honor, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 candidates announced in August. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to determine the winner. Fans are encouraged to vote on either the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award website or the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Facebook fan page through November 14. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winner.

Klazura (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) returned to the Irish for a fifth season after turning down a chance to take part in the 2011 Major League Soccer draft combine. Klazura, one of three captains for the Fighting Irish this season, has started the last 30 matches at left back. In addition to being a defensive presence for the Irish, he has tallied five points on one goal and three assists during his career.

This season, Klazura has two assists and has helped the Irish to a 5-2-3 record and a No. 11 national ranking. He was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26 after helping the Irish defeat No. 3 Louisville, 1-0. Klazura also was selected to the Soccer America national team of the week for his efforts against the Cardinals.

Klazura graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in preprofessional studies (pre-med). He finished his undergraduate career with a 3.583 cumulative grade-point average. He currently is taking courses that emphasize service and or medicine to boost his resume for medical school. Klazura was named to the 2010 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-Region first team. He also is a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star (2009 & 2010).

Klazura is heavily involved in the South Bend/Michiana community and his home community in Illinois. He currently volunteers at Sr. Maura Brannick Health Clinic, a clinic for low-income patients in St. Joseph County (Ind.). Klazura also traveled to Alabama this past summer to help the people that were affected by the tornados that swept through the state last spring.

For more information on all the finalists, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

2011 Men’s Soccer Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Finalists
Perez Agaba, Forward, IUPUI
Tony Cascio, Midfielder, Connecticut
Andrew Fontein, Goalkeeper, UC Irvine
Adam Glick, Goalkeeper, Florida Gulf Coast
Brian Holt, Goalkeeper, Creighton
Matt Horn, Defender/Midfielder, Winthrop
Greg Klazura, Defender, Notre Dame
Colin Rolfe, Forward, Louisville
Bobby Smith, Defender, Bradley
Adam Still, Defender, SMU

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