>> AH, IT’S GREAT TO CELEBRATE WITH MY TEAM AND BRING IT HOME FOR ONCE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? MIKE: BELLE VERNON ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET FOR STEVEN MACHESKA AND HIS TEAMMATES, WHO ARE ON CLOUD NINE RIGHT NOW. >> IT’S AMAZING, IT’S THE BEST THING EVER HONESTLY. THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW. >> THEY PLAYED AS A TEAM AND HAD HEART, SO I’M VERY PROUD OF THEM. MIKE: STEVEN’S DAD STEVE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO HISTORY, AND HE ALMOST FELL OUT OF THAT SEAT DURING THAT GOAL LINE STAND WHEN BELLE VERNON FORCED A FUMBLE TO SEAL THE TITLE. >> EXCITING, EVERYBODY WAS JUMPING, SHOUTING. IT WAS GREAT! >> IT’S THRILLING, IT’S AMAZING, IT’S TEAR-JERKING, IT’S PHENOMENAL! MIKE: LIKE MACHESKA, MINDI RUOKONEN’S SON, CHASE, IS A SENIOR NOT A BAD WAY TO GO OUT. >> IT STARTED AS FLAG FOOTBALL WHEN HE WAS FIVE-YEARS-OLD, AND JUST WORKED HIS WAY UP UNTIL HE WAS A SENIOR AT AGE 18. MIKE: THE PARTY IN BELLE VERNON IS NOT QUITE OVER YET. NEXT SATURDAY, THERE’LL BE A PARADE CELEBRATING THE STATE CHAMPS. FROM BELLE VERNON, MIKE VALENTE, PITT
'Best day of my life': Belle Vernon Leopards return home as state champs
Updated: 11:02 PM EST Dec 10, 2022
For the first time in school history, Belle Vernon Area High School has a state title for football — an accomplishment that was cause for celebration Saturday night.Leopards celebrate state championship: Watch the report in the video above."It's amazing," said Steven Macheska, a senior defensive/offensive tackle. "This is the best day of my life right now."Macheska and his teammates were welcomed home with a procession of police cruisers and fire trucks escorting them home. When they got off the bus outside their home field, they were greeted by hundreds of their families, friends and classmates, all chanting "BVA!""They played as a team and had heart," said Steven's dad, Steve Macheska. "So I'm very proud of them."Macheska and other parents had a front-row seat to the play that sealed the title. With less than a minute to go, Belle Vernon forced a fumble on a goal-line stand, putting the game to bed."It's thrilling, it's amazing, it's tear-jerking, it's phenomenal," said Mindi Ruokonen, whose son, Chase, is a senior on the team.Ruokonen said the win is special for many reasons, especially since it marked a culmination of years of hard work."It started as flag football and he was 5 years old," Ruokonen said. " just worked his way up until he was a senior at age 18."
BELLE VERNON, Pa. — For the first time in school history, Belle Vernon Area High School has a state title for football — an accomplishment that was cause for celebration Saturday night.
Leopards celebrate state championship: Watch the report in the video above.
"It's amazing," said Steven Macheska, a senior defensive/offensive tackle. "This is the best day of my life right now."
Macheska and his teammates were welcomed home with a procession of police cruisers and fire trucks escorting them home. When they got off the bus outside their home field, they were greeted by hundreds of their families, friends and classmates, all chanting "BVA!"
"They played as a team and had heart," said Steven's dad, Steve Macheska. "So I'm very proud of them."
Macheska and other parents had a front-row seat to the play that sealed the title. With less than a minute to go, Belle Vernon forced a fumble on a goal-line stand, putting the game to bed.
"It's thrilling, it's amazing, it's tear-jerking, it's phenomenal," said Mindi Ruokonen, whose son, Chase, is a senior on the team.
Ruokonen said the win is special for many reasons, especially since it marked a culmination of years of hard work.
"It started as flag football and he was 5 years old," Ruokonen said. "[Chase] just worked his way up until he was a senior at age 18."