Sad news. I hope they can catch the responsible for this terrible tragedy. My deepest sympathies to the family of this young man.
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Many people in Park City are grieving the loss of a young missionary and high school soccer star killed in Brazil. Elder Matthew Knoop was killed by a hit-and-run driver Sunday. Friends tells us police have no leads in the case. We talked with friends who say Elder Knoop had a way of standing out. People who knew Matt Knoop are feeling a lot of pain. But they can't help but smile when they talk about his victories on the soccer field and his devotion to his faith. As his stake president put it, Elder Matt Knoop was a stand-out young man, literally and figuratively. President Scott Palmer, of the Park City Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, "He was an adult way before his time. Among his peers, he was looked up to, not only physically but spiritually and otherwise." Matt Knoop grew up in the tight-knit Park City community. Ten months ago he went to Brazil to serve The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil. Sunday he was hit and killed by a car in a small town not far from Salvador. President Palmer described him as, "Just a good, well-rounded young man. Not too fanatical about any one thing. Great athlete, good student, but he loved the gospel of Jesus Christ." Elder Knoop played varsity soccer all four years in high school, which was an unusual feat. Mike Guetschow, former Park City soccer coach, called Elder Knoop an "absolutely special" soccer player. Guetschow says Elder Knoop helped his team win state championships in 2004 and 2006, and earned first-team all-state honors as a senior. He watched as the quiet leader matured. "In addition to the outstanding ability, the way that he gave back to the team was taking the younger guys under the wing and leading them through the process," Guetschow said. |