Inspiring Conversations with J.C. Knapp of ATHENA FC

Today we’d like to introduce you to J.C. Knapp.

Hi, J.C., please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
ATHENA FC started with a few like-minded families from across Kansas City joining forces so their daughter could play alongside other driven athletes. The collective mission was to enhance each player’s soccer skills, instill the values of teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, and empowering them not only on the field but in all aspects of their lives. Our journey began competing against girls a year older than ours in leagues and tournaments. Led by Gonzalo Vega, the team performed incredibly well, and it wasn’t long before our team of determined young athletes started turning heads with their skill and dedication. As the team performed well and exhibited mature composure, something magical happened. Families across the city expressed interest in joining ATHENA FC, drawn to our mission of empowering girls through sports. This led to the formal creation of ATHENA FC. With the support from our title sponsors, Premier Pediatrics and TREMCO, helped position the club for growth and make an immediate impact. We have built what we believe is the best destination for female youth soccer athletes. We provide resources you won’t find at other youth clubs. We offer youth athletes access to resources such as a Mental Performance Coach and a Health & Wellness Coach that work alongside the traditionally offered Sports Performance Coach and various Soccer Skills Coaches. We are also working to bring a Sports Nutritionist in-house as an additional resource for our families.

ATHENA FC also believes in fostering connections, nurturing relationships, and creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported. We work towards this mission through our Family Experience Director, a youth club resource we have pioneered. Our Family Experience Director, Megan Cope, focuses on enhancing the overall experience for ATHENA players and their families by ensuring they feel engaged and supported throughout their ATHENA tenure.

We also give our time and attention to our broader community through our ATHENA CARES program. Led by Angela Wondra, our CARES program promotes social responsibility, leadership, teamwork, empathy, and life skills development for our female athlete community. And as if that wasn’t exciting enough, local newspaper and television news channels began to take an interest in our story. They saw something special in our club—a story of resilience, empowerment, and the triumph of the human spirit. Through their coverage, we’ve shared our message with an even wider audience, inspiring more girls to lace up their cleats and join the ATHENA family. As we continue our journey, we’re humbled by the outpouring of support from our community and beyond. With each passing day, ATHENA FC grows stronger, fueled by the passion and determination of our players, families, coaches, and supporters. We’re proving that when we come together with a shared purpose, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth ride and we didn’t expect it to be. We all share a deep sense of what we are all working towards, which keeps us focused and is incredibly rewarding. The unwavering support we have received from families fuels us to continue to think of more ways to support our community. We are always learning as we progress to provide more resources and opportunities and develop innovative ways to serve female athletes throughout Kansas City.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
ATHENA FC is an All-Female Youth Soccer Club serving the Kansas City metro. We have female athletes from Greenwood, MO, to Gardner, KS, and anywhere in between. We believe success is more than just winning games – it’s about developing strong, capable young women prepared to take on the world. ATHENA FC offers a unique approach by pairing resources invaluable for youth development not traditionally offered by most youth clubs. We believe that having access to a multidisciplinary support team that includes mental performance coaching, health and wellness coaching, and (coming soon) sports nutrition guidance working alongside traditional soccer skills coaching helps to provide our female athletes with the tools and resources they need to thrive both on and off the field. We believe this approach maximizes our athletes’ potential and supports their long-term success by addressing all aspects of performance and well-being. We know that elsewhere, resources are not equally distributed. Every resource we have is available to our female athletes and their families. Please check out our website for more information at https://athenafcsoccer.com/.

Do you have any big plans?
We always have big plans. One big idea is to offer an “Advantage Academy” club that is neutral, open to all and provides intense training to girls ages 8-12 coached by local collegiate soccer players. We believe in the “See It, Be It” model, where younger athletes can learn from and see themselves striving for a higher level. The collegiate athletes serve as great role models for our younger athletes to strive and work towards, given they continue to give focused intent and determined training. We are also beginning to work through finding an indoor training space of our own. This is still in its infancy, but we hope to manifest it one day. In short, we were not kidding when we stated we are here to benefit all of Kansas City’s young female athletes. We are working towards this goal every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://athenafcsoccer.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenafcsoccer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athenafcsoccer/