Matt Horn driving Lowe’s senior poll

By David Thackham
thackhamd@mytjnow.com

Matt Horn, senior biology major, is leading the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award poll. Photo courtesy of Winthrop AthleticsWith a Rhodes Scholar application in the works, a 3.925 GPA to maintain and a Bible study session to prepare for, Winthrop midfielder Matt Horn still found time last week to get excited about the Eagles’ rivalry encounter against Coastal Carolina. 

The Chanticleers came to Eagle Field ranked 13th in the country with a nine-game winning streak, but the senior was unperturbed.

“Gotta break that streak now,” the senior said with a smile.

The 2010 Big South Conference Scholar and conference chair for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee is in the running for yet another accolade to add to the laundry list of awards accrued through his four years. 

Horn was recently chosen as a top ten finalist for the Lowe’s men’s soccer Senior CLASS Award, a yearly national honor given to the outstanding senior NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year.

“People in the athletic department gave me the heads-up in early August,” Horn said of the award. “I try to keep up with how it’s going everyday.”

As of press time, Horn leads the fan voting with 20.4% of the votes. Fan balloting counts for 1/3 of the total decision, while the remaining 2/3 is determined by NCAA Division I coaches and media. Despite all the hype surrounding him, Horn isn’t likely to fall into hubris.

“It’s an honor just to be considered,” the two-year captain said with a relaxed air. 

“All the other [nine] guys are awesome people. It’s really a humbling experience.”

The CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) award is decided based on qualities that “define a complete student-athlete,” such as community, classroom, character and competition, accordding to the Senior Class Award website. Although Horn’s contributions as a defender are rarely illustrated in assists and goals, he’s proven himself a star contributor to his community and team.

“It’s difficult, being a defender,” he said. “If just one shot in 90 minutes goes in, you might have been having a great game and there it goes. But my favorite attribute is the community service.”

Horn says he’s travelled to the South American nation of Peru to help with a benefit project called Samaritan’s Feet, which aims to give 10 million pairs of shoes to children in need. 

“It’s always fun, sports give you a great platform to do what’s right,” said Horn. “It’s a great responsibility to be a student athlete, and it’s always fun to help because we have many opportunities.”

Alternative spring breaks to help the disadvantaged in New York City and New Orleans, coupled with Horn’s commitment to Samaritan’s Feet have helped Winthrop to winning the Kallander Cup for two consecutive years. The Kallander Cup is awarded to the Big South school that has made the biggest impact in community service.

“I presented the idea to the national SAAC in Indianapolis that we should do a national service project with Samaritan’s Feet, I wanted to start the trend,” he said.

Horn, a biology major, is sincere when he talks about the effort involved with student-athletes working in the SAAC.

“It’s an amazing thing,” he said, “to see the student athletes can make a difference in the NCAA. Each conference is represented, and we give a voice for all of us athletes. You don’t usually see the people behind the scenes.”

Horn, with an assist on the season and three shutouts to his name, is preparing for the season, but has his eye on the future.

“It’s all about helping people have better lives [with my major]. I’m applying to medical school right now, to a lot of places on the east coast.”

A Lowe’s CLASS award might just put him over the top to take his talents to Oxford, however. Horn says he travelled to England in the 8th grade and saw the English men’s national soccer team and Manchester United play.

“It would be great to go back there,” he said.

Horn has been predicted to be drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the second round of the Major League Soccer Draft. The prediction comes from draftsite.com’s latest 2012 MLS Mock Draft.

Fans of Horn can vote for the senior defender at “http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/mens_soccer_2011/.” He typically plays at right back, has played in over 50 games with the Eagles and has started 15 games for Winthrop.