CHICAGO — Utah Valley men’s soccer signee Lewis Knecht was named the Utah Boys Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year, the organization announced in a press release on Thursday.

The award, which honors the top high school athletes for their successes on the field, in the classroom, and in the community, adds to the long list of honors Knecht has received in his high school career. Earlier this week, Knecht was also named the UHSAA Male Athlete of the Year — the top athlete in the state regardless of sport — and Utah’s Mr. Soccer for the second year in a row.

Knecht becomes the sixth Wolverine to be named Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, joining Lucas Cawley, Thomas Loomis, Aidan Dayton, Carter Johnson, and Trevor Walk.

Knecht, a member of the 2025 signing class that will be joining the Wolverines this fall, led American Fork HS to its second straight state championship last month, the team’s fourth in school history.

Knecht built upon a stellar junior campaign — during which he also won the Mr. Soccer award by scoring 20 goals and assisting on 17 more — by scoring 24 goals and adding 12 assists as a senior in 2025. 

Knecht and the Wolverines will play the inaugural season at UCCU Stadium this fall.

Coach Mike Deegan was thrilled so many alums attended the NCAA regional and super regional wins that sent the Big Red to their first Division III College World Series.

“This was a program victory,” said Deegan, who has guided the Big Red to seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. “This is part of being really good for a long time, and a lot of guys got to share in the moment.”

The Big Red, who won one game in the double-elimination World Series, finished the season with a 41-7 record. They broke a school record with 20 consecutive victories.

Deegan lauded the work of a deep pitching staff led by senior Nick Falter, a who went 12-0 with a 2.52 earned run average. Falter was named second-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3baseball.com.

Junior Erik Sundgren, an ABCA first-team All-American, paced the offense with a team-high 17 home runs and 81 runs batted in. Senior Eric Colaco was an ABCA third teamer and sophomore Sam Larson was a D3baseball.com third-team selection.

The new video display provides female students with hands-on experience in sports media and event production, fields that have traditionally been male-dominated. The school is investing in this opportunity for its female students with a large expansion of a new broadcast room as well. Students can take their event production to a broadcast stage.

The Daktronics 14-foot-high by 25-foot-wide, 10-millimeter resolution video display with a multisport fixed-digit scoreboard was installed in August 2024, just in time for the field hockey and soccer seasons. AHS athletes and fans are already embracing the enhanced capabilities it brings to their athletic events.

“The video board has made our games so exciting because after we score, they will show photos or videos, and when we are announcing the lineup, they show our media day photos, which helps build excitement when something fun happens,” says AHS student Sophie Rousseau, a Junior field hockey player.

Students Gain Hands-On Experience

As an all-female school, AHS is dedicated to providing opportunities for young women to pursue careers in sports and related fields. The new video display has not only enhanced game-day experiences but also provided educational opportunities that are particularly impactful for students.

The school has started a sports media club to work with its video LED technology, with 30 students signing up immediately to learn about event production and live video feed integration.

This club will integrate into a class during the school day in the upcoming Fall 2025 school year, during the time known as ‘Rockets Taking Initiative’ (RTI) time. RTI time provides students with real-world experience during the school day.

AHS Athletic Director Lisa Pinkston says the technology has changed how students engage with events. “This generation loves technology,” she explains. “They love seeing themselves on video. The sound system is unbelievable, and integrating a live video feed has elevated our events, making them feel like performances on a bigger stage. It’s great for the kids and the community.”

Parents of students are also benefiting from the new display. Mom and fan April Laframboise comments, “The new video board truly takes Assumption athletics to the next level. The game-day experience is interactive and exciting, and the girls love it! As a spectator, it feels more like a college game day. Videos, player highlights, sponsors – it’s really impressive and even further elevates the AHS athletic program.”

Technology Opens Pathways to Media Careers

The technology also allows AHS to showcase various outdoor sports such as flag football, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and track, as well as youth sports. Athletes and fans can all benefit by viewing stats, results and action on the big screen.

Pinkston emphasizes, “As an all-girls school, we’re providing opportunities for girls to pursue career interests and creating entertaining, memorable game-day experiences for the community.”

By broadening their game-day production, AHS aims to secure more sponsors to support these initiatives. Pinkston also highlights the enrichment sessions offered at AHS, including mental performance training, leadership training and study skills sessions. These sessions provide valuable experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning, preparing young women for various career paths.

Enhancing Game-Day Atmosphere

The video display, sound system and student production come together to provide a stadium feel to the school, enhancing the overall experience for students and spectators alike.

AHS’s new video display has created a dynamic and engaging environment for students and the community. By focusing on empowering young women and providing them with unique opportunities in sports media and event production, AHS is set to continue providing memorable and entertaining experiences.