Whether she’s in the stables, in school, or on the field, junior Ava Knight proves her commitment and passion to her activities.

Knight participates in many activities while maintaining a GPA of 4.0. She has been on a competitive equestrian team for five years where she also helps younger riders. Also, she just recently joined the BPHS football team as a kicker after playing soccer most of her life. She quit the school soccer team but still plans on playing for the recreational team in the spring.

“I was feeling out of touch with a sport that I once loved,” Knight said when asked why she decided to join the football team. “Joining the football team was a weird experience. In the past, I have been on school teams that put me down…  It didn’t matter if you were doing amazing or horrible. [The football team] still cheered you on and said stuff that made you feel good just for trying.”

Knight is one of two girls on the football team. At home games, Knight receives her own locker room, but at away games, she occasionally receives her own locker room or she changes in the bathroom or coaches office.

Knight said, “I do think that for the most part I get treated the same as all the other guys on the team.”

Recently, Knight won nationals for equestrian riding in dressage in Dallas, Tx. She also placed ninth in western nationals in Harrisburg. 

After high school, Knight plans to live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere with nothing but an open field and her animals. She also has thought about going into forensic science.

Throughout high school, Knight’s favorite teachers have been Mrs. Sofranko, Mr. Bellini, and Mr. Kovolchic, and her favorite class has been Film as Literature.

When asked who or what inspires her, Knight said: “Luke Combs… he is one of the few people on earth that is genuinely kind and does things for other people even if he doesn’t get anything out of it. I try every day to see the world the way he views it.

Knight’s favorite song is “Doin’ This” by Luke Combs. 

“This song is basically saying… that even if I wasn’t living the life I do today I would still want to be where I am and try to get here,” Knight said.

“I don’t have a fancy reason for why the fall is my favorite. I just simply think that it is pretty and the weather is never too hot or too cold,” Knight said when asked about her favorite season. 

Her favorite movie is “Black Beauty” from 1994. 

She said: “I would watch it on the TV that used to be on the back of the headrests in a car. I would watch it from beginning to end, rewind it and watch it again. At this point, I can quote it word for word.”

Knight has a big family that spreads across the world. Her mom’s side of the family is in the U.S. and her dad’s side is in the U.K. She has two sisters, Jaden and Zoe. 

Knight said: “Zoe and I like to go to the gym together. Jaden and I go on late-night drives to places like Taco Bell.”

This past summer, Knight and her family visited her dad’s side in the U.K for two weeks. 

“While we were there, we hiked mountains and visited castles. We also went to Barcelona. We walked 30 miles in two days,” Knight said about her trip.

Knight has nine pets. She has a bearded dragon named Spikes, a mastiff named Bruce, a Golden Retriever named London, a skinny pig named Butter, a guinea pig named Hotdog, a hamster named Maurice, two betta fish named Luke Combs and Hagrid, and a turtle named Jacob.

Sophomore Anna Kelly, a friend of Knight’s, said: “Ava is one of the funniest people I have ever met. She never fails to put a smile on my face and makes everyone’s day brighter just by existing.”

“Ava is such a little ball of sunshine… I look up to her for always being so confident and happy all the time. She is doing a ton of great things and I’m so proud of her,” said junior Eliza Morrison, another friend of Knight’s.

Knight has received this spotlight and should be recognized not only for being a history-maker by defying gender stereotypes but also for being an astonishing student and friend.