A young man of all seasons, Nixa’s Adam McKnight continues to make Eagles fans feel lucky to be witnessing his freshman year play out, as he blossoms into a multi-sport star.
McKnight appears on track toward a historical Nixa career. He’s surely among very few freshmen, and who knows, perhaps the first, to record a start for the Eagles at the varsity level in football, basketball and baseball.
He played quarterback for Nixa’s freshman football team and started at wide receiver for the varsity in Week Four at Branson last fall. He started almost every game for the Eagles’ basketball team at power forward and was a unanimous All-COC First Team pick over the winter. After playing at the jayvee level and serving as a pinch-runner for Nixa’s baseball team in March, he has become a regular starter in right field the past two weeks.
In each sport, McKnight has transitioned very well from junior high ball one year to varsity ball the next.
“Obviously, you want to strive for varsity,” McKnight said. “You’ve got to know your place and you've got to earn it. Nothing is going to be given to you. I kept working and kept doing what I could. I’ve been playing more consistently and done what I can for this team.”
Just like football coach John Perry and hoops coach Brock Blansit, baseball coach Logan Hughes has gained a quick appreciation for McKnight’s skill-set and his mindset.
“He's an athletic kid and he’s a smart kid,” Hughes said. “He knows how to win. No matter what you're doing in life, if you know how to win and expect to win, you’re probably going to do it. He's competitive, no matter what sport he plays. He’s just a winner. He expects to beat you. That's carrying over to the batter's box.”
McKnight wasted little time putting himself among Nixa’s home run leaders by hitting three homers over the past two weeks.
After hitting one jayvee home run, he belted his first varsity home run during a five-RBI effort against Joplin at spacious U.S. Ball Park.
“I hit it and had a feeling it was going to go out. Wind blowing out, so I knew there was a chance,” McKnight said.
He followed up by blasting homers against Willard and Eureka last week.
Naturally, McKnight wasn’t able to get as many reps in the batting cage in January and February as some of his teammates. Since the end of basketball season, he’s gained his timing and rhythm in the batter’s box.
“At the very beginning of the season, it was a little tough because I was just getting out of basketball,” McKnight said. “By game five, I started to dial back in and feeling like my old self.”
“We have a lot of upperclassmen who deserved opportunities,” Hughes said. “(DH) Caleb Jones didn't start at the beginning of the year, but took some opportunities and has run with it. You give a guy opportunities, and when he runs with it, you've got to leave him in there. (McKnight) has been a good spark for us.”
McKnight doesn’t take for granted the manner in which Nixa’s upperclassmen in all three sports have welcomed him.
“Football and basketball have helped me get to know (older players),” McKnight said. “The upperclassmen are good people. They help make you feel a part of the family.
"This team is great to be around,” he added. “They build you up.”
