From community college transfer to no-hitter, Will Lowery thrives at Wayne State

DETROIT - Will Lowery knew early on that something special was unfolding.

By the third or fourth inning, the Wayne State right-hander hadn't allowed a baserunner, and the thought started to creep in.

"It was kind of in my head a little bit," he said. "My slider was really good that day and that was kind of the big thing."

What followed was one of the most dominant pitching performances in recent Warriors' history.

Through 34 games, Will Lowery has logged a team-high 47 innings and is 6-1 with a 3.45 ERA, holding opponents to a .201 batting average.

Lowery tossed a nine-inning no-hitter - just the second by a Warrior in the last 22 years - leading Wayne State to a 10-1 win at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on March 20. He threw a career-high 119 pitches, allowing just one unearned run while striking out 10.

The performance earned him Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honors, followed by National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America National Pitcher of the Week recognition.

Even as his pitch count climbed and his velocity dipped late in the game, Lowery kept his approach simple.

"Just keep throwing strikes," he reminded himself.

That steady mindset has carried into his first season at Wayne State, where the redshirt junior has quickly found success on the mound and in the classroom.

Lowery's path to Midtown didn't follow a traditional route. After high school, he developed at the community college level, including time at Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC), where he sharpened his skills and prepared for the next level.

By the time he arrived at Wayne State, Lowery, who graduated from Grosse Ile High School in 2022, was ready to take advantage of the opportunity. The combination of athletics, academics, and the city vibe made the decision clear.

"Being in the city of Detroit is really cool. I really like living here," he said. "The staff is awesome and there's a level of professionalism that I like, and I've really enjoyed working with the coaches and being around the guys."

The transition was largely seamless, allowing Lowery to stay on track academically while adjusting to a more rigorous curriculum. His experience reflects Wayne State's broader commitment to creating clear and efficient transfer pathways for students coming from community colleges across Michigan.

Wayne State has developed formal Transfer Pathways with eight Michigan community colleges, with some partner institutions offering up to 18 unique academic pathways, according to Michael Quattro, Wayne State's director of educational outreach and transfer initiatives. The pathways align coursework between institutions and ensure that credits apply directly toward a student's chosen major, helping reduce time to degree.

"These pathways are designed as student-centered roadmaps that help community college students transition smoothly and efficiently toward a bachelor's degree," Quattro said.

Will Lowery is grateful for the opportunities provided through Wayne State's transfer pathway. He is on track to graduate next spring and hopes to pursue a career working with athletes, ideally in baseball, focused on performance and strength and conditioning.

Wayne State continues to expand its Transfer Pathway efforts. While formal pathways with Kalamazoo Valley Community College are still in development, Quattro said the university recently established a K2W partnership to support KVCC students, including a community college transfer housing scholarship to help ease the transition.

At the core of the initiative is a focus on removing traditional barriers that can slow transfer students down.

"The pathways guarantee transfer admission and credit applicability upon completion of an associate degree while also allowing broader acceptance of credits earned in applied, technical and vocational programs," Quattro said.

That flexibility is especially important for students pursuing career-focused degrees, including those earning an associate in applied science credentials.

Quattro said the pathways are designed to benefit all students, including student athletes, by making the transfer process more accessible and predictable, while also supporting the state's Sixty by 30 initiative to increase postsecondary attainment.

The impact is already evident. Wayne State welcomed more than 1,370 new transfer students from nearly 220 institutions last fall, making it one of the largest transfer destinations in Michigan. More than 75% of those students came from community colleges, and nearly half are first-generation college students.

For student-athletes like Lowery, those pathways can make all the difference, providing a clear and efficient route to continue both their academic and athletic careers at a four-year university.

Now majoring in exercise and sport science in the College of Education, Lowery has embraced both the academic and athletic demands of his first year at Wayne State. He posted a 3.4 GPA in the fall semester - one of his strongest academic terms - and credits the support system around him for that success.

"It's been great and it's a real curriculum," he said. "It's tough, but there are all kinds of resources. If you put in the time and use those resources, you'll be successful."

Lowery said advisors like Kurt Troutman, director of Student Success in the College of Education, and athletics academic advisor Kim Clexton have helped guide him through the transition, while faculty members such as Dr. Mario Vassallo and Dr. Katherine Sullivan have made an impact in the classroom.

He is on track to graduate next spring and hopes to build a career working with athletes, ideally in baseball, focusing on performance and strength and conditioning.

On the field, Lowery is doing more than just succeeding. But his mindset hasn't changed.

"I'm trying to throw a no-hitter every time," he said. "I'm walking out there expecting to be successful every time."

Now settled into life at Wayne State, Lowery has a clear message for other student-athletes considering the same path: "If you have the opportunity, take it."