Tony Lowery (American football) facts for kids

Tony Lowery was born on July 13, 1969. He is a former professional football quarterback. He played for two seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). His teams were the Cleveland Thunderbolts and the Las Vegas Sting. Before turning professional, he played college football at the University of Wisconsin.

Early Life and High School Sports

Tony Lowery grew up in Groveport, Ohio. He went to Groveport Madison High School. While there, he was a talented athlete. He earned special honors in both basketball and football. This means he was one of the best players in the state for both sports.

College Football Career

Choosing Wisconsin

After high school, Tony had a big decision to make. He received scholarships for both football and basketball. He chose to accept a football scholarship from the University of Wisconsin. He could have played basketball at Ohio University, but he picked football.

Playing as a Freshman

In 1987, his first year at Wisconsin, Tony played well. He completed 42 of his 89 passes. He threw for 572 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 279 yards and scored one touchdown. Because of his great performance, he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. This is a big award for a first-year player.

Challenges and Return to Football

In 1988, Tony continued to play. He completed 67 passes for 712 yards. However, he had some problems with his knees that season. In March 1989, he decided to leave the football team. He wanted to try playing college basketball instead. But he did not end up playing basketball anywhere. So, in 1990, he returned to the Wisconsin football team.

Later College Years

When he came back in 1990, Tony completed 159 passes for 1,757 yards. He threw five touchdowns that year. In 1991, his senior year, he completed 87 passes for 965 yards. He also threw six touchdowns and scored two rushing touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

Cleveland Thunderbolts (1994)

Tony Lowery started his professional career in the Arena Football League (AFL). In 1994, he played seven games for the Cleveland Thunderbolts. He completed 69 passes for 811 yards. He also threw 17 touchdowns and ran for one touchdown.

Las Vegas Sting (1995)

In 1995, Tony played for the Las Vegas Sting. He appeared in all 12 games for the team that season. He completed 10 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for one touchdown. After the 1995 season, Tony Lowery finished his professional football career.