Rich Donahue Last season, Hopewell Vikings junior kicker Rocco Marcantonio was able to accomplish the unthinkable.
In Hopewell’s 24-7 win over Quaker Valley last September, Marcantonio tied a WPIAL record with a 55-yard field goal, equaling a mark set 22 years ago by East Allegheny’s Josh Miller.
Marcantonio didn’t even know he set the record until he made it to the sidelines, which left him in disbelief.
“My dad and Coach Mottes came up to me and said that was the record and I was shocked,” said Marcantonio. “I couldn’t believe I actually did it.”
@mwhiteburgh pic.twitter.com/BHEPDZPdTb
— Coach Mottes (@jarma72) September 28, 2024
A record setting kick combined with a great junior season has Marcantonio on the radar of college football coaches. He has already picked up an offer from the Akron Zips, an honor he shares with teammate freshman quarterback James Armstrong.
But as he prepares for his senior season, Marcantonio isn’t resting on his laurels as he’s looking to take his kicking game up a notch, and that’s with more focused training. In order to work on his game, Rocco traveled down to Florida to take part in a prestigious Kohl’s kicking camp.
“I’ve gained a lot of distance on my kickoff and my field goals have gone back a lot,” Marcantonio tells Vikings Sports Now. “I haven’t really started actually training kicking as much as I did this year. I have been hitting more legs and I’ve been working out like two, three times a week. It’s just helping a lot.”
The distance includes making kicks this offseason from 60+ yards, even further than his 55-yard field goal last season.
Take a look at Rocco’s 60+ yard field and the distance he’s now getting on his kickoffs.
Truly #Blessed, thank you @akeriotis21 and @Faster_Fitness for getting me closer to what I strive to be! 💪🏽 🏈 All #GTG 🙏 #weworking #unrivaled pic.twitter.com/eRadN5DffH
— Rocco (@Roccomarc9) March 16, 2025
Added on average 11 yards of distance to my 🏈 kickoffs 🔥 🔥 🔥 Thank you @akeriotis21 and @Faster_Fitness 25/26 is mine, let’s goooo #weworking #Unrivaled pic.twitter.com/GCrnKbBieO
— Rocco (@Roccomarc9) March 16, 2025
Not only does Marcantonio handle the kicking duties for the Vikings football team, but he is also one of the key members of the Vikings soccer team, playing all over the field including at striker.
Balancing one sport can be tough enough for a high school athlete, but two at the same time can be daunting. Not for Marcantonio, who says soccer keeps him performing at his best for both sports.
“Soccer right now is keeping me fit and keeping me in shape,” Marcantonio said. “I’m always active which is good. I’m good at balancing both.”
The Vikings football team will need that balance and big leg to help them make noise in a very competitive Western Hills Conference. After going 4-6 under first year head coach Matt Mottes, Hopewell is looking to take another big step up the ladder in 2025.
That’s what Marcantonio is focused on.
“I see us going pretty far this year. I see us going to the WPIAL finals this year. We’re going to be a really good team, and I think we’re going to do some really good things. We have a really good, hardworking team and the discipline is great. Everyone is getting in the gym and looking great. I think we’re going to do very well this year.”
And if a game comes down to a big kick, Marcantonio is ready for that moment.
“I like pressure. I’m going to be honest, I love it,” Marcantonio stated. “I don’t think there’s any pressure that’s too big for me.”
