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The victory parade for the Southern Lehigh football team began at Liberty Bell Elementary School and ended at Town Hall park, which is at State and Main streets in the center of Coopersburg.

Frigid temperatures were no match for the Spartan pride of residents who turned out Saturday to cheer for Southern Lehigh High School’s first-ever state championship football team during a victory parade and medal ceremony in Coopersburg.

The parade began at Liberty Bell Elementary School and ended at the Town Center Park opposite Borough Hall, where the ceremony was held. In addition to the championship team, Southern Lehigh Middle School and Southern Lehigh Youth Football Association players and cheerleaders marched in the parade, which was led by a cacophonous convoy of Coopersburg and Upper Saucon Township firetrucks, police cars and ambulances. A number of fans who lined the parade route rang cowbells, which are symbolic in Coopersburg, given the community’s history as a premier Jersey cattle auction site.

Spartan football fans shake cowbells to celebrate the team’s first-ever state championship during a parade held Saturday in Coopersburg.

In addition to being feted by the community, the team was recognized by state Rep. Milou Mackenzie (R-131), who told the players they will remember the feeling of being champions when they are attending their 50th high school reunions someday.

Mackenzie said she plans to invite the team to visit the state capitol in the new year, and added that her son–U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-7), who represents the Lehigh Valley in Congress–plans to ensure that they are recognized at the federal level.

State Rep. Milou Mackenzie (R-131), who represents the Southern Lehigh School District in Harrisburg, congratulated the football team on their state championship.

Another special guest at the medal ceremony was legendary Southern Lehigh High School coach Bob Clark, who oversaw the development of the football program at Southern Lehigh in 1968. Clark recalled the the excitement of the varsity team’s first victory in 1970 and told the 2025 Spartans how proud he is of them.

Legendary Southern Lehigh football coach Bob Clark congratulated the 2025 Spartans on their state championship. Clark oversaw the creation of the football program at Saucon Valley in the late 1960s.

Spartans head coach Phil Sams spoke of his pride in his players, who are not only overachievers on the gridiron but also excel in the classroom. He cited their collective average GPA of 3.4 and the fact that there were no disciplinary issues among this year’s team as evidence of the boys’ character. Sams also thanked his coaching staff, which includes former Saucon Valley football offensive coordinator Ed Chromczak and former standout player Alstan Wolfe. Southern Lehigh Football Boosters President Bella Cutitta was also thanked for her dedication to ensuring that the players always had what they needed.

Spartan head football coach Phil Sams speaks during the ceremony that was held to celebrate his team’s state championship.

Senior team captain Carter Giberson spoke briefly on behalf of all of the captains after the players received their medals.

Senior varsity football team captain Carter Giberson addresses his teammates and hundreds of Southern Lehigh fans who gathered to congratulate the team on its first state championship Saturday during a parade and medal ceremony in Coopersburg.

“From early morning lifts to Sunday night practices under the lights, these guys proved that success doesn’t happen by accident,” he said. “It comes from effort, discipline and unbreakable commitment to the team. Now we can say that the 2025 Southern Lehigh Spartans will forever be state champions.”