​Luke Piper fell asleep in Washington, D.C., clutching the glove of One Knox goalkeeper Jonathan Burke. He was the only member of the Piper family − parents Jay and Megan, siblings Norah and Jack − to make it to sleep after the historic penalty kick win over MLS powerhouse D.C. United at Audi Field in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.It wasn’t the family’s first game and was far from their last, but the historic match became a defining memory for a household that’s embraced One Knoxville SC as tightly as Luke did the glove he received April 15.In a city dominated by college athletics, the Piper family has found a professional club that gives their children an opportunity Jay never had: to learn from and connect with pro athletes in their hometown and to follow the club wherever the game takes them. Get tickets to see One Knox SC playHow One Knox became ‘ingrained’ in Piper family culture Jay Piper grew up playing competitive soccer at Karns High School, while Megan Piper − whose northern Indiana high school didn’t offer the sport − ran cross country. The local soccer league the couple chose for their children in Knoxville was acquired by One Knox, providing a recreational experience with a pathway that reaches all the way to the pros.”I didn’t get this vision laid out in front of me,” Jay Piper told Knox News. “It’s so cool for my kids to get to experience this time where they have this picture laid out in front of what it at least can become.”All three kids are involved in the One Knox Youth Club, and the family sponsors the team as real estate agents through Realty Executives Associates. They are the proud owners of season tickets at Covenant Health Park − Section 207, Row 7 − and have traveled, in addition to the nation’s capital, to Chattanooga and Columbus, Ohio, to support the team.As the children became more invested in soccer, One Knox became more than just the name on their youth jerseys. The club became a centerpiece of their family life, connecting them with players who inspire the children to chase their goals on and off the field.”It’s now just ingrained in our family culture,” Jay Piper said.Jay and Megan Piper wrangled Norah, Luke and Jack for their first One Knox game during the 2023 season, back when the team still played at Regal Soccer Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus.Norah, the oldest, remembers wearing her No. 9 jersey and the promise Rodolfo Castro made: “If you come to the last game, he said, he’ll sign a jersey and give it to me,” she told Knox News. Both parties followed through.Norah, now 12 years old, received a game-worn jersey from Castro. It still hangs in her closet.Knoxville soccer club teaches life lessons to the Piper childrenA late-summer road trip to Chattanooga during the 2025 season marked the first time the Piper family traveled to support One Knox. Another opportunity didn’t present itself until the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, when Knoxville drew its first MLS opponent.A One Knox win felt like