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Luke Piper fell asleep in Washington, D.C., clutching the glove of One Knox goalkeeper Jonathan Burke. He was the only member of the Piper family − parents Jay and Megan, siblings Norah and Jack − to make it to sleep after the historic penalty kick win over MLS powerhouse D.C. United at Audi Field in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
It wasn't the family's first game and was far from their last, but the historic match became a defining memory for a household that's embraced One Knoxville SC as tightly as Luke did the glove he received April 15.
In a city dominated by college athletics, the Piper family has found a professional club that gives their children an opportunity Jay never had: to learn from and connect with pro athletes in their hometown and to follow the club wherever the game takes them.
Get tickets to see One Knox SC play
Jay Piper grew up playing competitive soccer at Karns High School, while Megan Piper − whose northern Indiana high school didn't offer the sport − ran cross country. The local soccer league the couple chose for their children in Knoxville was acquired by One Knox, providing a recreational experience with a pathway that reaches all the way to the pros.
"I didn't get this vision laid out in front of me," Jay Piper told Knox News. "It's so cool for my kids to get to experience this time where they have this picture laid out in front of what it at least can become."
All three kids are involved in the One Knox Youth Club, and the family sponsors the team as real estate agents through Realty Executives Associates. They are the proud owners of season tickets at Covenant Health Park − Section 207, Row 7 − and have traveled, in addition to the nation's capital, to Chattanooga and Columbus, Ohio, to support the team.
As the children became more invested in soccer, One Knox became more than just the name on their youth jerseys. The club became a centerpiece of their family life, connecting them with players who inspire the children to chase their goals on and off the field.
"It's now just ingrained in our family culture," Jay Piper said.
Jay and Megan Piper wrangled Norah, Luke and Jack for their first One Knox game during the 2023 season, back when the team still played at Regal Soccer Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus.
Norah, the oldest, remembers wearing her No. 9 jersey and the promise Rodolfo Castro made: "If you come to the last game, he said, he'll sign a jersey and give it to me," she told Knox News. Both parties followed through.
Norah, now 12 years old, received a game-worn jersey from Castro. It still hangs in her closet.
A late-summer road trip to Chattanooga during the 2025 season marked the first time the Piper family traveled to support One Knox. Another opportunity didn't present itself until the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, when Knoxville drew its first MLS opponent.
A One Knox win felt like a long shot, Jay Piper said, but he knew the family would regret missing the match.
The kids were called out of school for the eight-hour journey to the nation's capital, where they visited monuments and museums on match day before making the trek to Audi Field − unaware of the historic finish they were about to witness.
Burke made the only save during back-and-forth penalty kicks before Kyle Linhares netted the winning goal for One Knox and dropped to his knees in celebration.
"It felt like (One Knox) lost nine times," 9-year-old Jack told Knox News. "But they won 10 times."
The victory was a monumental moment for the family, while the lessons it taught were bigger than the game itself. As a father, Jack Piper said, "you want your kids to always believe that the most difficult things are possible."
"That's a game where you're supposed to fail," he said. "But everything says that there's no way you can be successful, but they stepped in there as a team and with a belief that they could compete. And sure enough, they did."
As Burke exited the field, he handed Luke the glove off his right hand without being asked. A couple weeks later, he signed it for the boy who has embraced the hometown club as one of its biggest young fans.
Get tickets to see One Knox SC play
The family's relationship with One Knox extends beyond the 90 minutes spent watching the defending USL League One champions on their turf. Each of the kids trains with One Knox players, including captain Jordan Skelton.
After One Knox defeated Fort Wayne FC in a chippy July 15 decision, Skelton asked the kids one question: What's something cool that's going on in each of your lives right now? It could be anything − personal or soccer-related.
"It shows an interest in my kids that's beyond, 'How well do you strike a soccer ball?'" Jay Piper said. "It goes into: 'How are you as a person, and how do you compete, and how do you act when the game's over?"
Norah said Skelton has helped her become a better player, reminding her to stay vocal, scan the field and keep asking for the ball even when she's tired. The advice came in handy earlier this season when Norah helped lead her team to a penalty-kick win during a tournament in Chattanooga.
"I'm so appreciative of their interactions and their interest in trying to help play a role in developing my kids as soccer players, but also as people," Megan Piper said.
Her children have become accustomed to hanging out with professional athletes and have made lasting memories because of it. For 7-year-old Luke, one of the biggest came with the glove that saved the game: "I keep dreaming about that."
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @TrevorMcGee12
Match time: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 vs. Sarasota Paradise (gates open at 6 p.m.)
One Knox record: 10-5-3
USL League One standings: One Knox enters tonight’s match in fourth place with 33 points, while Sarasota (5-10-3) sits in 14th place with 18 points.
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at subscribe.knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How One Knox SC helps the Piper family dream big at home and on the road
Continue reading...
It wasn't the family's first game and was far from their last, but the historic match became a defining memory for a household that's embraced One Knoxville SC as tightly as Luke did the glove he received April 15.
In a city dominated by college athletics, the Piper family has found a professional club that gives their children an opportunity Jay never had: to learn from and connect with pro athletes in their hometown and to follow the club wherever the game takes them.
Get tickets to see One Knox SC play
How One Knox became 'ingrained' in Piper family culture
Jay Piper grew up playing competitive soccer at Karns High School, while Megan Piper − whose northern Indiana high school didn't offer the sport − ran cross country. The local soccer league the couple chose for their children in Knoxville was acquired by One Knox, providing a recreational experience with a pathway that reaches all the way to the pros.
"I didn't get this vision laid out in front of me," Jay Piper told Knox News. "It's so cool for my kids to get to experience this time where they have this picture laid out in front of what it at least can become."
All three kids are involved in the One Knox Youth Club, and the family sponsors the team as real estate agents through Realty Executives Associates. They are the proud owners of season tickets at Covenant Health Park − Section 207, Row 7 − and have traveled, in addition to the nation's capital, to Chattanooga and Columbus, Ohio, to support the team.
As the children became more invested in soccer, One Knox became more than just the name on their youth jerseys. The club became a centerpiece of their family life, connecting them with players who inspire the children to chase their goals on and off the field.
"It's now just ingrained in our family culture," Jay Piper said.
Jay and Megan Piper wrangled Norah, Luke and Jack for their first One Knox game during the 2023 season, back when the team still played at Regal Soccer Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus.
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Norah, the oldest, remembers wearing her No. 9 jersey and the promise Rodolfo Castro made: "If you come to the last game, he said, he'll sign a jersey and give it to me," she told Knox News. Both parties followed through.
Norah, now 12 years old, received a game-worn jersey from Castro. It still hangs in her closet.
Knoxville soccer club teaches life lessons to the Piper children
A late-summer road trip to Chattanooga during the 2025 season marked the first time the Piper family traveled to support One Knox. Another opportunity didn't present itself until the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, when Knoxville drew its first MLS opponent.
A One Knox win felt like a long shot, Jay Piper said, but he knew the family would regret missing the match.
The kids were called out of school for the eight-hour journey to the nation's capital, where they visited monuments and museums on match day before making the trek to Audi Field − unaware of the historic finish they were about to witness.
Burke made the only save during back-and-forth penalty kicks before Kyle Linhares netted the winning goal for One Knox and dropped to his knees in celebration.
"It felt like (One Knox) lost nine times," 9-year-old Jack told Knox News. "But they won 10 times."
The victory was a monumental moment for the family, while the lessons it taught were bigger than the game itself. As a father, Jack Piper said, "you want your kids to always believe that the most difficult things are possible."
"That's a game where you're supposed to fail," he said. "But everything says that there's no way you can be successful, but they stepped in there as a team and with a belief that they could compete. And sure enough, they did."
As Burke exited the field, he handed Luke the glove off his right hand without being asked. A couple weeks later, he signed it for the boy who has embraced the hometown club as one of its biggest young fans.
Get tickets to see One Knox SC play
One Knox SC inspires young athletes through soccer training
The family's relationship with One Knox extends beyond the 90 minutes spent watching the defending USL League One champions on their turf. Each of the kids trains with One Knox players, including captain Jordan Skelton.
After One Knox defeated Fort Wayne FC in a chippy July 15 decision, Skelton asked the kids one question: What's something cool that's going on in each of your lives right now? It could be anything − personal or soccer-related.
"It shows an interest in my kids that's beyond, 'How well do you strike a soccer ball?'" Jay Piper said. "It goes into: 'How are you as a person, and how do you compete, and how do you act when the game's over?"
You must be registered for see images attach
Norah said Skelton has helped her become a better player, reminding her to stay vocal, scan the field and keep asking for the ball even when she's tired. The advice came in handy earlier this season when Norah helped lead her team to a penalty-kick win during a tournament in Chattanooga.
"I'm so appreciative of their interactions and their interest in trying to help play a role in developing my kids as soccer players, but also as people," Megan Piper said.
Her children have become accustomed to hanging out with professional athletes and have made lasting memories because of it. For 7-year-old Luke, one of the biggest came with the glove that saved the game: "I keep dreaming about that."
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @TrevorMcGee12
Match day at Covenant Health Park
Match time: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 vs. Sarasota Paradise (gates open at 6 p.m.)
One Knox record: 10-5-3
USL League One standings: One Knox enters tonight’s match in fourth place with 33 points, while Sarasota (5-10-3) sits in 14th place with 18 points.
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at subscribe.knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How One Knox SC helps the Piper family dream big at home and on the road
Continue reading...
