Valley View Football: A Community Like No Other

Peckville, Pennsylvania – home of the Valley View Cougars, 1992 PA State Champions. 

There isn’t much else to talk about when you think of the Cougars history, as their most significant accomplishment, being an incredible one, has only happened once in their history.

When it comes to the community, however, the Cougars are the biggest and the best to almost everyone. Friday nights at John Henze’s Veteran Memorial Stadium are continuously packed to the brim as fans come to support their Cougars, win or lose.  It’s a movie persona within this town, as people stand behind and support their football team as well as any community can. These people offer meals, services, and advice to any player or coach they see, all with the desire to help their football team win any way possible.

These players have become heroes to the community over the years. As the team has had its stars, so has the community, all being the same people. Players like Zach Venesky, Mike Galantini, Darnell Ashton, and Nyeem Wartman, all high school stars who have become icons for the Valley View community. These iconic figures aren’t bad for people either. These former high school stars, and now college athletes have given children someone to look up to.

With the community looking at these players as heroes, comes children looking at them as heroes, which, in essence, is a great thing. With all the controversy on children looking up to professional athletes because of the recent trouble many have gotten into, being able to use these local athletes as role models is remarkable.

“I think the success of other Valley View football players, and myself, gives the kids a positive role model, someone to look up to and it just shows them that anyone from our area can succeed in whatever it is, not just football, as long as you put in the work.” -Rutgers’ offensive lineman, Zach Venesky

These players all embrace their iconic role. You’ll never try to talk to one of these athletes without getting a hefty hello and their full attention throughout the conversation. They all know exactly how much they mean to this community because they’ve lived outside the stardom themselves. The entire football team knows how much this community looks up to them and they love going out there and competing for them.

“The community has impacted me in a big way. A lot of people stand behind our football program and cheered us on no matter what, and if we ever needed something they would help us no questions asked, so it was a really special thing to have such a supportive community.” -Zach Venesky

It’s like watching Remember the Titans, only the end of the movie when the entire community joins in to stand behind their beloved team. It’s a unique thing that the Valley View district has. You’ll never go to a game, home or away, where the stands aren’t filled. Being part of the community is an instant bond between anyone because you all share the same passion for the team.

These iconic players have and will always be a significant part of the community. It provides a troubled world with light within a small group of people. The three boroughs covering the Valley View School District, Archbald, Peckville, and Jessup, all get to experience a tradition like no other on Friday nights, as they all come for 7 P.M. to cheer on their Cougars.

Whether you go to the games to walk around, simply watch some football, or because you love putting on body paint and leaving the game with no voice, Valley View football has given everyone a reason to forget everything for two hours a week, and just cheer for the team they love.

It’s something most can describe as “special,” but it’s an experience no one feels unless you truly embrace the Cougar Pride. It’s one that a person will never forget, being able to be so apart of something that becomes a lifestyle. The Valley View football program, no matter what anyone says, is a great thing for the small community in Pennsylvania. A community that has, and always will, be joined together by the love they share for their, Valley View Cougars.