Eric Knapper Biography

Dunbar High / (Class of 1986) Dunbar, WV

Classification: AA Boys

Specialty: Sprints

Abilene Christian University / (1987) Abilene, Texas

Eric D. Knapper (born January 31, 1968) is a former West Virginia high school track & field sprinter. Knapper graduated from Dunbar High School in 1986, which was a high school serving the Dunbar and Institute areas of Kanawha County, West Virginia.

The school mascot was the bulldog, and the school colors were black and white. At the end of the 1989–90 school year, Kanawha County Schools closed the school and sent the students across the river to South Charleston High School, beginning in the 1990–91 school year. The building was converted into Dunbar Jr. High School and later into Dunbar Middle School.

The Bulldogs won WVSSAC state championships in boys track & field: 1957, ‘58, ‘59, ‘83, ’84, ‘85, ‘86, ’88, ’89, ’90. The Dunbar dynasty won seven Titles in eight years.

While at Dunbar High School, Knapper was a ten-time West Virginia prep champion, a state runner-up and an eleven-time all-state track selection.

He was a state meet record holder in the Boys Class AA 200-meter dash and 4 x 100-meter relay. His 1985 200-meter dash record still stands after 33 years.

As a Bulldog, he led his team to three consecutive Titles, while earning high point honors twice.

Knapper went to Abilene Christian University in Texas on a full athlete’s scholarship.

His parents are Jerry and Vivilora Knapper. He has two siblings, sisters Michelle and JoJo.

[Youth Track Club]

Eric Knapper competed three years with the Capital City Striders, a youth Track & Field Club in Charleston, WV from 1983 -1985. During his years with the Striders, he annually made it to Nationals in both the 100m and 200m.

In 1983, he ran in the AAU/USA Junior Olympics Games at Notre Dame University in the 100m and 200m.

In 1984, he placed 3rd in both the 100m (10.8) and 200m (22.3) Intermediate Boys Race (15-16-year-olds) at the AAU/USA Junior Olympics Games in Jacksonville, Florida.

In 1985, he ran in the AAU/USA Junior Olympics Games at Iowa City, Iowa.

High School:

Eric Knapper attended Dunbar High School from 1984-1986. While attending Dunbar, he was coached by Steve Caldwell in cross-country and track all three years. He also played golf for three years, basketball in ‘84, and football in ‘85.

[Sophomore Year]

At the 1984 Class AA West Virginia State Track Meet, for the second straight year Dunbar won the Class AA crown, holding off a strong challenge from Fayetteville, 69 to 67 points, respectively. Steve Caldwell’s squad won the Title with several underclassmen, showing the state that this was a dynasty in the making.

At Saturday’s finals, Dunbar’s Eric Knapper just edged Richwood’s Joe Young by one-hundredths of a second in the 100-meter dash, 11.28 to 11.29 seconds. He also anchored the Bulldogs’ winning 4 x 100 and 4 x 200-meter relay teams.

Dunbar’s 4 x 200-meter relay team (Chester, McLeod, Harpold, Knapper) won with a time of 1:30.91, while Hinton was second in 1:32.97. Then their 4 x 100-meter relay team (Seals, Brown, Harpold, Knapper) set a state meet record time of 43.69 seconds, while defeating runner-up Berkeley Springs (45.41).

Fayetteville’s Donald McDowell won high point honors with 32 ½ points, while Knapper would earn 15 of his team’s 69 points.

[Junior Year]

At the 1985 Class AA West Virginia State Track Meet, Dunbar blitzed the AA field with 77 points, earning their third Title in three years. Eric Knapper led the Bulldog’s with 30 ½ points including setting a record in the 200-meter dash. Shady Spring took second behind the victories of distance runner Scott Simpkins.

During Saturday’s finals, Knapper placed second in the 400m in (50.17), won the 100m in 11.39 seconds, the 200m with a record-setting time of 21.82 seconds, and anchored the Bulldogs’ winning 4 x 200-meter relay team (Clark, Williams, Cyrus, Knapper) with a time of 1:32.01.

Dunbar’s Eric Knapper won high point honors with 30 ½ points.

[Senior Year]

At the 1986 Class AA West Virginia State Track Meet, Eric Knapper stole the show, winning four events (100m, 200m, 400m, 4x200m Relay) and leading Dunbar to their fourth consecutive title. Knapper was the meet’s only triple winner.

On Friday, Dunbar High School’s Eric Knapper anchored the Bulldogs’ 4 x 200-meter relay team to a state record. Charles Mosley, Jhaun Jasper, Bryant Cyrus and Knapper turned in a time of 1:30.74 in the trials. The time bettered the 1:30.91 set by Dunbar’s 1984 team in which Knapper also ran the final leg.

On Saturday, Knapper used a strong finish in the 100m to beat Sistersville’s Jeff Swisher in the final five meters to win the event in 11.23 seconds. Swisher was clocked in 11.27. Knapper also won the 200m in 22.33 seconds, the 400m in 50.04 seconds, and anchored Dunbar’s winning 4 x 200-meter relay team in 1:31.16.

Knapper finished with a meet-high 32 ½ points out of Dunbar’s 68, while earning him high point honors.

During Knapper’s high school running career (1984-1986), he scored a total of 78 points at the West Virginia State Track Meet at Laidley Field in Charleston, West Virginia. He would go down as one of West Virginia’s greatest All-Time Class AA-A male track & field athlete’s in sprints. Especially, for having won the 100m and 200m for two consecutive years and ending his senior track season unbeaten in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

What’s more amazing, is that Knapper has held the Class AA outdoor mark in the 200-meter dash since 1986.

High School Running Resume:

State Final PR's:

100 Meter Dash – 11.23

200 Meter Dash – 21.82 (State Meet Record0

400 Meter Dash – 50.04

4 x 100 Meter Relay – 43.69 (State Meet record)

4 x 200 Meter Relay – 1:30.91

State Titles:

1984 – 100M, 4x100 Relay, 4x200 Relay

1985 – 100M, 200M, 4x200 Relay

1986 – 100M, 200M, 400M, 4x200 Relay

Other State Places:

1985 – 400M (2nd)

State Meet All-Time Lists:

4th & 6th 100 Meter Dash AA/A Boys 1980's

7th (Tied) & 9th 200 Meter Dash All-Class All-Time

2nd & 3rd 200 Meter Dash AA/A All-Time

1st & 2nd 200 Meters AA-A Boys 1980's

5th 4x100 Meters AA-A Boys All-Time

1st 4x100 Meters AA-A Boys 1980's

7th 4x200 Meters AA-A Boys All-Time

2nd & 3rd 4x200 Meters AA-A Boys 1980's

[College]

Steve Thaxton, a former pole vaulter from Sissonville, WV, offered Eric a full athlete’s scholarship to attend Abilene Christian University, not his actual track coach Don Hood. Steve Thaxton is now a chiropractor back in West Virginia and was Bon Jovi's doctor for 20 years.

Knapper attended college from the fall of 1986 to the spring of 1987. During his short stint at Abilene he got to compete against Carl Lewis who won nine Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold.

Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private, non-profit university in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ.

[Personal]

Eric is married to Mariana Rocha Knapper, they have been married for 22 years and have three children – son Derryk, son Eric Jr, and daughter Kianna. He currently lives in Whittier, California. Eric was an Interior Communications Electrician in the U.S. Navy (Class of 1989) and Closed-Circuit Television in US Navy (Class of 1991). In 2015, he overcame rectal cancer.

Compiled by Coach Mike McMillion (05/14/18)