(1990) - Maybe the finest all-around gymnast in school history, John Knowles is the third member of the gymnastics program to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. he was elected to the Hall in first year of eligibility.
The holder of two school records (all-around and vaulting), John was an All-American as a senior (1985) in vaulting, and he qualified for the NCAA Division II-III championships four times.
During his freshman year (the 1981-82 season), John qualified for the NCAA Championships in all-around. He helped the Chiefs win the New England team championship that winter placing first in the vault. As a sophomore, he won the vault again at the New England championships, and was third in thee floor exercise, fourth in all-around, and fifty on the parallel bars. He set the school record in vaulting with 9.80 score against Coast Guard.
As a junior, John won the floor exercise and vaulting titles at the New England's and was second in the pommel hors, parallel bars and all-around. He was named ECAC Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 28, 1984) after setting a new school record in the all-around (51.70) and winning the vault in a meet against Springfield. he qualified for the NCAA Division II-III Championships and finished seventh in the all-around.
In his final season, John was fourth in the all-around at the New England Championships and a US Gymnastics Federation All-American in vaulting after placing third in the national championships.
Since graduation, John was a four-time Bay State Games champion in vaulting and a two-time New England masters all-around champion. He has also coached four USGF junior national qualifiers.
