Fans welcomed home the Batavia High School football team Saturday night after their state championship win at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.
Loud cheers erupted from the estimated 500 people as the team buses pulled up to Batavia High.
The Bulldogs defeated Lake Zurich in the Class 7A championship game at Northern Illinois University in a thrilling overtime game, with a final score of 21-14.
It was Batavia High School’s second football state championship in four years.
“It was an exciting game, it was back-and-forth the whole time,” said Chris Lafleur, a 2005 graduate who played football for his alma mater.
Denise Michels brought her crimson and gold pom poms from when she was a cheerleader. Michels, a 2000 graduate, said her husband Ben sported a Bulldogs jersey even though he is a West Aurora High School graduate.
“We are so excited for the boys, parents and coaches. The team represents a proud community. They will always be heroes in our town,” she said.
Denise Michels said the game was “intense” to watch, even from home. “We had to take a few breathers,” she said.
Batavia High School graduates Stephanie and Craig Martin were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bus. Their son Jared is a wide receiver for the team.
“I was a cheerleader and my husband played on the football team. Our hearts are busting with love for all of these boys. We have watched these boys since they were little. This isn’t just a sports win; this is a celebration for our whole Bulldogs family,” Stephanie Martin said.
Diane Anderson is a loyal Bulldogs fan compelled to cheer on the team even though she no longer has children in the Batavia public school system.
The 1978 graduate said she watched the game from a function she had to attend. “We were pacing in the fourth quarter,” Anderson said.
She said her kids are a third generation of high school graduates. She vividly remembers when the Bulldogs brought home their first IHSA Class 6A state football championship title in 2013.
“For those of us who grew up in Batavia and love this town, showing up to express our community spirit is what we do,” Anderson said.
State champions from the 2013 team Kyle Niemiec and Nick Stuttle were there to cheer on the team and their younger brothers, Michael Niemiec and Tom Stuttle.
“They worked their butts off all season long,” said Kyle Niemiec, who was quarterback for his team.
Nick Stuttle said he couldn’t be happier for his younger brother.
“You always want the best for your younger brother,” said Stuttle, was was a wide receiver. “The ultimate end goal for him was to win a state championship. I could not be happier for him.”
Stuttle estimated about half of the 2013 state champion roster turned out in DeKalb for Saturday’s game.
“Batavia is a close community anyhow. But we are definitely a football town. We are one of the few high schools where the alumni keep in touch and support the team,” he said.
Peyton Piron is another 2013 state champion who is the son of Batavia coach Dennis Piron. Peyton was a junior when the 2013 team won the state title. He was a receiver on the team.
Piron, sporting his state championship ring, said his dad has been the coach for seven years.
“One thing about my dad … it’s like these football players are his kids, and I love that. He truly loves them,” he said.
Piron’s younger brother, Tyler, is a freshman at BHS. He was the water boy on the field Saturday. Their sister, Alex, is a freshman in college.
“It was Thanksgiving week, but that was an afterthought for all of us. The whole house was football. Usually on the Friday after Thanksgiving, we put up the Christmas tree. It didn’t even cross our minds because we had a football game on Saturday, that’s all that mattered,” Piron said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
