The Gateway school board agreed to pay for a portion of the purchase of rings for the 2019-20 football team that won a WPIAL championship last season.

The varsity football team went 12-3 and won the WPIAL Class 5A title for the second time in three years when they beat Peters Township in November.

Ken Stancovich, president of the Gateway Football Boosters Association, pleaded with the school board during a Jan. 21 meeting for financial assistance for the remaining funds needed to purchase the rings. Without the help, families of the football team would pay around $165 per ring.

He said the association has earned donations for a little more than half of the total $12,700 needed to purchase another round of championship rings.

“We’re now running dry,” Stancovich said.

Tony Petrocelli, a Gateway High School alumni and Hall of Fame Director, helped raise 100% of the funds needed to purchase championship rings two years ago when the football team went to Hershey to play for a state title. The undefeated Gators ended up falling to Archbishop Wood 49-14. It was the first time since 1969 Gateway had a shot at winning a state title.

Stancovich said the excitement surrounding the Gators then was enough to raise the money for the rings. But this year, the excitement was not as wide-ranging.

The board unanimously approved a resolution stating the district would contribute no more than $6,000.

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