Matt Knoop Memorial Park’s soccer leadership legacy trophy is awarded

PARK CITY, Utah — The Matt Knoop Leadership award, given out each year to a Park City High School senior boy’s soccer player, was awarded on Monday night at the sport banquet to this year’s recipient, Colton Sheffert who will be attending California’s Occidental College to play DIII Soccer.

Matt who passed away in 2008 when he was 20 years old’s mother,  Kaye, was in attendance, as she and his father, Dave, try to be every year when the trophy is handed out.

Basin Rec manages the Park and gave congratulations. “Matt Knoop Park really is one of the gems in our community.” Justine Kadziel, Basin Rec Spokeswoman told TownLift. “The turf field is a game-changer-especially with Utah’s unpredictable weather-it gives people a great place to stay active most of the year. And knowing how much Matt loved soccer, it’s really special that this park brings people together to play, connect, and feel close to his memory in such a positive way.” 

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The trophy is awarded to a player who “exemplifies the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and a great passion for the game,” Kaye told TownLift.

Matt had he earned his captain’s armband from doing big picture things like leading training groups and little picture things like picking up trash and gathering equipment on the pitch before boarding buses, coach Anthony Dicicco told the crowd of athletes and their parents.

“We are grateful that the coach continues to hand out this award which keeps Matt’s spirit alive.” Kaye said. “Matt fell in love with the game of soccer at the age of four. His dad was coaching him then when he began to blossom then he fired his dad and joined the club team which went on to win five state cup championships. He played in Europe and was an Olympic Development Program region team member. It brought the greatest joy to him to play for Park City High School.” 

Park City Soccer Club matches are also played on the field there and  Shelley Gillwald, Executive Director, told TownLift they are grateful for the space and grace. 

Sheffert’s family is an extension of his leadership qualities, if not the other way around, as they continually host open house, all-comers free, gourmet, informal dinners on Sunday nights for teenagers from the school in their home for more weeks than not on the 2024 year-round calendar.

During her interview, Kaye, who worked as a teacher for special education students in a high school in Salt Lake City, now retired, echoed many of the same words written on the plaque affixed to the rock located at the entrance of the Park.

Matt was killed while in Brazil serving a mission in the LDS Church when, a car chased down missionaries and ran into him from behind.

One of many noteworthy memories she shared was that he decided to get all the players on one page of community and unity and looking out for one another after one day after soccer practice after school. Before cell phones, he found himself the last one at Dozier Field so he simply chose to walk all the way home the roughly 10 miles, before sidewalk paths, from the high school to his home in the Jeremy Ranch neighborhood. Kaye asked him why he didn’t try to call her to which he relied he just didn’t want to bother anyone. Instead of complaining, he communicated and in the following days his leadership skills shined as he inspired and rallied his friends, his teammates, to  improve their own leadership actions and for all of the athletes to be empowered to look out for each other and check in with each other.