How an American Fork star changed his team’s attitude and helped them to a state title

Lewis Knecht

School: American Fork

Grade: Junior

Sport: Soccer, Football

If the players were largely the same, then what was the difference between an American Fork boys soccer team that went 8-9 overall in 2023 to winning the Class 6A state championship?

According to Lewis Knecht, the top goal-scorer and assist man for both the Cavemen and in 6A overall, it all has to do with attitude.

“It’s been a lot better experience than last year, it’s been great. I remember last year wasn’t exactly like a positive experience,” said Knecht, who finished the season with 20 goals and 17 assists.

American Fork had not won a state title since the incipient stages of the sport in Utah high schools — when the Cavemen claimed the first two 3A crowns in 1983 and 1984.

Entering this season, there was little reason to believe that the 40-year drought would be broken anytime soon. But it happened when the Cavemen beat Farmington 1-0 in the 6A finale.

“This year was kind of a challenge for me and my teammates to make it as positive as it could be,” Knecht said. “We started reading this book every single Wednesday. It’s called ‘The Energy Bus,’ it basically talks about how negative energy can make the entire team environment or team spirit go away.”

It turns out that Knecht, who is also a placekicker for the American Fork football team, had more than just a little to do with this particular exercise. Reading sections of the book is something that the gridiron Cavemen also do — and Knecht figured it might translate to the soccer team.

“I knew that we hadn’t exactly been doing something correct and I think little things like that can make a big difference. When I played football, I saw that — they read the same book,” Knecht said. “I asked my coach (Casey Waldron) and he thought it was a good idea, too.”