Coaches Corner: Taylor Knoth…The High School Sensation
By Fran Davis
April 2008
www.FranDavisRacquetball.com
Presented by HEAD/Penn
Taylor Knoth, of Milwaukie, OR, on March 2, 2008 won the 21st National High School Championships in Portland, OR. More than 400 students competed in 70 divisions and he came out on top with not only a Gold Medal in the Boys Singles, but a Gold Medal in the Boy’s Doubles and a Silver Medal in the Mixed Doubles….he is truly ”The High School Sensation”.
Taylor began playing racquetball when he was 7 years old and just 10 years later at the age of 17 has earned a spot in the record books for winning back to back High School National Championships in 2007 (as a sophomore) and now again in 2008 (as a junior)….what a TREMENDOUS feat. Not only has he won this title 2X, but over his 10 year span of playing tournaments, from 1998-2008, Taylor has won 19 National and World Titles at Jr. Nationals and Jr. Worlds, as well as 5 High School National Titles . This does NOT even count all his local tournaments that he has won. Taylor knows what it takes to win and he continuously gets the job done.
What impresses me most about this young man is he is a VERY well-rounded individual and not only plays other sports like basketball and baseball and excels in them, but has a G.P.A. of 3.95. He is a very gifted person.
I began working with Taylor 5 years ago when he was 12. His mother, Annette, saw me coaching other juniors at the Jr. National Championships and decided to talk to me about possibly coaching Taylor. As most parents experience it is very difficult to coach their own kids in tournaments once they reach a certain age. We chatted for quite awhile and then decided to talk to Taylor about the idea of me working with him and coaching him. I went up to Oregon to work with Taylor to see if we had chemistry together as a student/coach….and we did. The first year working together in the Jr. National Championships Taylor won 3 Gold Medals in the Boys 12 & Under Singles & Doubles and Mixed Doubles…and we NEVER looked back.
Let’s get into the mind of Taylor Knoth, The High School Sensation, as I share with you my interview with him:
Fran-When, how and why did you start playing?
Taylor-I was introduced to racquetball at age 7 when my parents gave me a racquet for the first time to hit around with and began playing tournaments at age 8.
Fran-Who was and is your mentor?
Taylor- Dan Sheppick is my mentor and is a great person he is not only one of my best friends, but is a great person that I have looked up to since I first started playing and will continue to look up to for the rest of my life.
Fran-Did you have to give up other things to pursue racquetball or are you able to do it all?
Taylor-For most of my junior year I was able to not only just play racquetball, but was able to play basketball as well. It worked out the entire year until I had the State Basketball Qualifying Game and a High School National Racquetball match at the same exact time. My basketball coach was very upset that I chose racquetball, but it was a choice that I had to make because I am going to go a lot farther and do more things in racquetball than I ever will in basketball.
Fran-When you were playing junior racquetball did you dream of turning pro and was that a goal you pursued all your life?
Taylor-Yes, I have always looked up to many of the pros and wished that I too someday could be playing on the pro tour. I will continue to strive for that as one of my goals.
Fran-Early in your career you could not get a sponsor how hard was that on you psychologically? How did you preserver? How did you stay mentally tough through these sponsor challenges?
Taylor-It was hard especially when I saw that Dan had one, but I just continued to work hard and give back to the sport of racquetball so that someday hopefully I too would get sponsored and sure enough HEAD Racquetball sponsored me. They have been the best, they support me with everything I do.
Fran-Tell us your road to being #1 in your age groups and H.S. National and how do you plan on sustaining the #1 ranking?
Taylor-I became #1 in my age division my second year in 10 and Under and have just continued to work hard since then to sustain my ranking by staying in shape from basketball and working hard at racquetball practice.
Fran-You have been a LONG time member of the US Jr. National Team…how long and why do you continue to play…just winning a title at H. S.?
Taylor- I got invited to the U.S. Team my second year of 14 and Under by winning High School Nationals as a Sophomore and then secured my spot on my team from finishing first in Boys 14 & U Singles and Doubles at Jr. Nationals in Tempe, Arizona. I don't play High School Nationals just to win, but mainly to be invited to go to the U.S.A camp because the experience you have on the team is unforgettable.
Fran-What is record this season/last season? …anything else?
Taylor-Last season I won High School Nationals as a Sophomore and I got second in 16 and Under Singles and 1st in Doubles at Junior Nationals. Also I placed second at Junior Worlds in Doubles and third in Singles. This Year so far I just won High School Nationals and will be heading to Concord, California to compete in Junior Nationals for my second year in 16 and Under.
Fran- How do you maintain your competitive edge?
Taylor-I maintain my competitive edge not only through my parents continuously pushing me, but mainly through self motivation to be the best that I can be.
Fran-You are one of the MOST exciting players out there to watch how do you go for broke physically all the time? Does it lead to injuries and how is your recovery?
Taylor- I have been going to a weight training class at my club twice a week. This has helped me to stay injury free.
Fran-You have the Jr. National Singles Championships coming up at the end of June how are you preparing for it?
Taylor-Since basketball is now over I am going to work harder than I ever have before for a tournament so that I can make sure that I can secure my spot on the team. I am not going to take anything for granted for there are many great players every year that come out to compete at Junior Nationals. I am going to prepare as if I had never won a national title before.
Fran- How was it when you captured the different titles you have (please list and let me know ALL of your titles …how’d you do it…how did it feel?
Taylor-It was great to win each one, but probably the most significant one was when I won all three divisions at Junior Nationals back to back years in the 12 and Under division. My next most significant group of titles would be winning High School Nationals back to back years last year and this year.
National Championships= 14
World Championships=5
High School National Championships=5 (Doubles and Singles)
Fran-I know your Father and Mother were very supportive and an instrumental part of your racquetball career…tell us about that if you’d like.
Taylor-First of all I couldn't ask for more loving and supportive parents. They have taken me to every racquetball tournament you can imagine and been at each one to cheer and coach me through every point whether it be through the good or the bad and I love them for that. Both work every day to support me and there isn't any thing about them that I would change. I don't know where I would be without them.
Fran-Who’s your coach and how long have you worked together?
Taylor-My four main coaches are both my Mom and Dad, Dan Sheppick, and Fran Davis and we have been working together basically since I picked up a racquetball racquet.
Fran-What advice would you give our “young boys” coming up through the junior ranks?
Taylor-My main advice that I would give to the younger kids is to continue to work hard each and every day and good things will happen. Also give back to the sport and be a great role model as you continue to grow and the kids behind you begin to look up to you.
Fran-What motivates you?
Taylor-My parents and I dig deep within myself to strive to be the best I can be. I also don’t like to lose!
Fran- Where do you go from here?
Taylor –I am starting to look at colleges now. Fran is going to help me so I can go to college and get a good education while I continue to pursue my racquetball dreams. I have proven I can play racquetball while keeping up my grades and that is EXACTLY what I plan to do in college.
CONGRATULATIONS Taylor…your Mom, Dad, your entire family, Dan and I are VERY PROUD of you. There are many colleges I have talked to about Taylor regarding playing for their Racquetball Team and they are VERY interested. Taylor has a great head on his shoulders and with his high G.P.A. 3.95 and his talent in racquetball I know he will have a lot of options open to him.
Thanks Taylor for taking the time to interview with me. I learned ALLOT about you as a player and as a person that I didn’t know before and I am even more impressed now then I have ever been. I am glad we can share your success with the racquetball community as you are an inspiration to all those boys and men out there that play this WONDERFUL sport. Enjoy being the National High School Champion and I will see you in June at Jr. Nationals in Concord, CA to hopefully add a few more National Titles to your career.
Go to www.FranDavisRacquetball.com for details on both my video and camps.
