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Knox ready for next challenge
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
While one door is closing, another is opening for Meredith Knox.
The star athlete, student and role model at Washington High School is wrapping up her prep career with the Pam Pack softball team. After four tremendous seasons where she has excelled in every sport she has played, Knox is going out on a high note.
“I think it’s coming together good,” Knox said. “I’m really excited. I think this is a good year to end it because our team is really unified and we all get along really well. We’ve been playing really well, too, so that’s not bad.
“Hopefully, we’ll end with a state championship for my senior year. That would be awesome.”
Knox leads the Pam Pack (17-2, 11-2 Coastal Conference), ranked fifth in the most recent Class 3-A N.C. Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, with 20 RBIs. She’s among the team leaders with 25 hits, batting in the clean-up spot.
“I do like that role,” Knox said. “It makes me feel powerful, but it does come with a little bit of pressure.”
Knox has produced offensively all season, despite taking a year off from softball. She chose to play soccer last year, where she was voted the Daily News’ Player of the Year.
“This year has been great because I skipped last year,” Knox said. “I really missed it. Coming back this year, I was kind of nervous about how everybody would accept me. I’ve just had the most fun I’ve ever had playing softball.
“Personally, I just wanted to help out the team as best I could. I don’t think I’ve done as well as I would have liked to, but you can always do better. There’s always room for improvement, but I’m happy with it.”
Besides being a leader on the softball field, Knox is also strong in the classroom. But it’s Knox’s attitude and personality that her softball coach, Emily Pake, most admires.
“She’s a great player and a great person,” Pake said. “She’s always happy. She’s one of those players who you are excited to see every day.
“When she comes into my classroom in school, if I’ve had a bad day, just seeing her face brightens me up and makes me feel better.”
Knox, last year’s Daily News Female Athlete of the Year, will continue her athletic career at Anderson College. The Trojans, a member of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference, finished 20-32 this season.
Knox will major in history secondary education and minor in Christian ministries. She has hopes of teaching in high school and becoming a coach, while doing youth group leadership as well.
“I’m a little nervous about going to play there because college softball is always what I’ve aimed for,” Knox said. “I’m just hoping I can step up to the plate and perform there.
“I’m hoping to start. That’s my goal. I just want to help the team out any way I can.”
Knox, who will play shortstop or third base, signed with Anderson early. That allowed Knox to play her senior season without having to worry about impressing any scouts.
“I thought there would have been some relief, but there was actually some pressure on me,” Knox said. “I kept thinking that I had to prove why I had a scholarship. I felt like people thought, ‘Oh, she’s going to college so she must be good.’ I just felt like I had to do really well.
“That’s over with. Now I’m just out here having fun with my friends.”
It’s that aspect of the game that Knox truly enjoys.
“My favorite part is definitely the friendship,” she said. “The friendships formed with the players and coaches is the best.”
While Knox does have fun on the field, making it look easy in the process, she said it takes plenty of time to develop into a solid shortstop.
“It takes a lot of practice and a lot of prayer,” Knox said. “God has given me a lot of talent and I just try to practice and do with it what I can.”
Her parents, Kim and Susan Knox, have played an instrumental role in helping Knox become a top athlete and student.
“They’re all my support,” Knox said. “They’ve been to every one of my games. My dad has always been there whenever I needed help, like with hitting, and my mom is there rounding up balls. They’ve just always been there whenever I’ve needed them.”
Playing for her father on the Carolina Lookouts, a traveling softball team, has also helped Knox immensely. She was on the winning World Series team last year, which only boosted her confidence and marketability.
“Travel ball has helped so much,” Knox said. “The practice helps and you also get seen by a lot more college coaches. I love playing for my dad. Me and my dad just get so close on the field. He’s there to encourage me the whole time.”
Her parents were on hand at Thursday’s game, a 10-0 win over New Bern, when Knox was among four players honored on Senior Night.
“The highlight of the season was maybe now,” Knox said, moments after she received gifts from teammates and coaches following that game. “Being on this field for maybe the last time and being with all the girls and coaches, this was a good time.”
As the door gets closer and closer to shutting, Knox looks back with pleasure.
“I’m going to miss it a ton,” Knox said. “I’ve enjoyed high school so much. I couldn’t ask for a better four years.”
As the next door starts to creak open, Knox is hoping the next four years will be just as enjoyable.
The star athlete, student and role model at Washington High School is wrapping up her prep career with the Pam Pack softball team. After four tremendous seasons where she has excelled in every sport she has played, Knox is going out on a high note.
“I think it’s coming together good,” Knox said. “I’m really excited. I think this is a good year to end it because our team is really unified and we all get along really well. We’ve been playing really well, too, so that’s not bad.
“Hopefully, we’ll end with a state championship for my senior year. That would be awesome.”
Knox leads the Pam Pack (17-2, 11-2 Coastal Conference), ranked fifth in the most recent Class 3-A N.C. Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, with 20 RBIs. She’s among the team leaders with 25 hits, batting in the clean-up spot.
“I do like that role,” Knox said. “It makes me feel powerful, but it does come with a little bit of pressure.”
Knox has produced offensively all season, despite taking a year off from softball. She chose to play soccer last year, where she was voted the Daily News’ Player of the Year.
“This year has been great because I skipped last year,” Knox said. “I really missed it. Coming back this year, I was kind of nervous about how everybody would accept me. I’ve just had the most fun I’ve ever had playing softball.
“Personally, I just wanted to help out the team as best I could. I don’t think I’ve done as well as I would have liked to, but you can always do better. There’s always room for improvement, but I’m happy with it.”
Besides being a leader on the softball field, Knox is also strong in the classroom. But it’s Knox’s attitude and personality that her softball coach, Emily Pake, most admires.
“She’s a great player and a great person,” Pake said. “She’s always happy. She’s one of those players who you are excited to see every day.
“When she comes into my classroom in school, if I’ve had a bad day, just seeing her face brightens me up and makes me feel better.”
Knox, last year’s Daily News Female Athlete of the Year, will continue her athletic career at Anderson College. The Trojans, a member of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference, finished 20-32 this season.
Knox will major in history secondary education and minor in Christian ministries. She has hopes of teaching in high school and becoming a coach, while doing youth group leadership as well.
“I’m a little nervous about going to play there because college softball is always what I’ve aimed for,” Knox said. “I’m just hoping I can step up to the plate and perform there.
“I’m hoping to start. That’s my goal. I just want to help the team out any way I can.”
Knox, who will play shortstop or third base, signed with Anderson early. That allowed Knox to play her senior season without having to worry about impressing any scouts.
“I thought there would have been some relief, but there was actually some pressure on me,” Knox said. “I kept thinking that I had to prove why I had a scholarship. I felt like people thought, ‘Oh, she’s going to college so she must be good.’ I just felt like I had to do really well.
“That’s over with. Now I’m just out here having fun with my friends.”
It’s that aspect of the game that Knox truly enjoys.
“My favorite part is definitely the friendship,” she said. “The friendships formed with the players and coaches is the best.”
While Knox does have fun on the field, making it look easy in the process, she said it takes plenty of time to develop into a solid shortstop.
“It takes a lot of practice and a lot of prayer,” Knox said. “God has given me a lot of talent and I just try to practice and do with it what I can.”
Her parents, Kim and Susan Knox, have played an instrumental role in helping Knox become a top athlete and student.
“They’re all my support,” Knox said. “They’ve been to every one of my games. My dad has always been there whenever I needed help, like with hitting, and my mom is there rounding up balls. They’ve just always been there whenever I’ve needed them.”
Playing for her father on the Carolina Lookouts, a traveling softball team, has also helped Knox immensely. She was on the winning World Series team last year, which only boosted her confidence and marketability.
“Travel ball has helped so much,” Knox said. “The practice helps and you also get seen by a lot more college coaches. I love playing for my dad. Me and my dad just get so close on the field. He’s there to encourage me the whole time.”
Her parents were on hand at Thursday’s game, a 10-0 win over New Bern, when Knox was among four players honored on Senior Night.
“The highlight of the season was maybe now,” Knox said, moments after she received gifts from teammates and coaches following that game. “Being on this field for maybe the last time and being with all the girls and coaches, this was a good time.”
As the door gets closer and closer to shutting, Knox looks back with pleasure.
“I’m going to miss it a ton,” Knox said. “I’ve enjoyed high school so much. I couldn’t ask for a better four years.”
As the next door starts to creak open, Knox is hoping the next four years will be just as enjoyable.
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