Walker Knop

Position:
Distance Freestyle
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Charlotte, N.C.
High School:
South Mecklenburg

Career Best Times: 1:41.83 in 200 free; 4:35.37 in 500 free; 9:23.69 in 1000 free; 15:53.66 in 1650 free; 3:59.65 in 400 IM.
General: An outstanding returning letterman in UNC's distance freestyle group...is the son of former UNC assistant swimming coach Crae Harper Knop.
2010-11 (Freshman): Achieved career best in 400 IM in dual meet versus Duke...achieved a 3.5 in spring semester.
Prep: Graduated from South Mecklenburg High School on June 15, 2010...participated in high school and club swimming from 2006-10...captain of high school swim team as senior...swam both breaststrokes, the distance freestyles (200 through the mile) and the 200 and 400 IMs...was coached in high school by Lesley Berens and in club swimming by Jeremy Knowles...was co-MVP of high school swim team in '09 and '10...2009 conference champion in the 200 free...state qualifier all four years in multiple events...placed second in the 500 free and the 100 breast at regionals in both '09 and '10...at the 2009 state meet he was fourth in 500 free...earned high school All-America honors in that event...swam on a 400 free relay team that finished second at state meet and earned All-America honors...with his club team he was a scholastic All-America in 2009 & '10...took third place in the 1000 free at '09 Southeast Senior Sectionals...a North Carolina All-Star in both '09 and '10...state record holder...junior national qualifier in 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free, 1500-meter free, 800-meter free, 400-meter free as well as 200 IM, 400 IM and 100 breast...short course senior national qualifier in 100 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM, 800-meter free and 1000 free...his men's club squad placed second in 2009 state short course season... a member of Beta Club...North Carolina Scholar.
Personal: Kurt Walker Knop is the son of Crae and Kurt Knop...he was born July 26, 1991 in Clearwater, Fla. ...has one brother and one sister...stands 6-4 tall...undeclared major...his sister Kallie was a rower at UNC, his mother Crae swam for the Tar Heels and his father played football at Louisville...his grandfather coached college football at UNC and was on Clemson staff in 1981 when it won the national championship...hobbies include cooking and electronics.

20 Questions With Sophomore Walker Knop
Section #1: Swimming & Diving
1. The best thing about being a Tar Heel swimmer is being a part of a great program with high goals.
2. My favorite thing about competing for Coach DeSelm is getting the opportunity to improve and get the best coaching out there.
3. Since last year the aspect of my training I've worked on the most is gaining strength.
4. My best friend on another college swimming team is Brett Boston at OSU.
5. My greatest strength as a swimmer is being able to recognize my weaknesses.
Section #2: Hobbies/Interests
1. Away from the pool and academic pursuits I like to spend time at home with my family.
2. The best movie I've seen recently is Harry Potter.
3. If I could compete in another sport at UNC it would be basketball of course!
4. The music act I'd most like to see in person is Bon Jovi.
5. The personal interest I have that might surprise my teammates is that I like to cook breakfast.
Section #3: Food & Beverage
1. After a big meet, I'd like to eat at a buffet spread that included steak, fish, Mom's macaroni and cheese, beans, mashed potatoes, sesame chicken.
2. My favorite beverage is Coke.
3. My favorite food made by a relative is my Mom's mac and cheese.
4. My favorite place to eat in Chapel Hill is Bob Evans.
5. My favorite guilty pleasure food wise is funnel cakes.
Section #4: Personality
1. If I possessed the gift of time travel I'd like to go to when I was a young kid and all my family did everything together.
2. My most prized personal possession is my phone.
3. If I could go to dinner with a famous person it would be Michael Jordan.
4. My dream job is being CEO of a major business corporation.
5. The most interesting person I've met at UNC is Daniel O'Connor on the UNC swim team.