2023 PFN Player Profile: Getting to know Palmerton QB Matt Machalik
Tagged under: District 11, News, Player Previews
Billy Splain | May 7, 2023
Matt Machalik
QB, S
Palmerton
Class Of 2024
Jersey #2
HT/WT 6’1/195
Other sports Basketball
2022 AAA Sportswriters All-State Team – Quarterback, 2022 PA Football News 3A Coaches Select All State Team – 1st Team Offensive Athlete, 2022 Co-Offensive Player Of The Year Colonial League Football Coaches Association All League Team, 2022 1st Team QB – Colonial League Football Coaches Association All League Team, 2022 1st Team DB – Colonial League Football Coaches Association All League Team, 2022 WNEP Channel 16 Dream Team – Quarterback, 2022 Times News Newspaper Player of The Year, 2022 All Star Quarterback Time News Newspaper All Star Team, 2022 All Star Defensive Athlete Times News Newspaper All Star Team, 2022 Morning Call Newspaper – Co Offensive Player of the year, 2022 Morning Call Newspaper – 1st Team QB, 2022 Lehigh Valley Live Newspaper 1st Team QB/DB, 2022 Blue Ridge 13 Cable “FNF” Player of the year, 2022 Blue Ridge 13 Cable Male Athlete of the Fall Season, 2022 EasternPAFootball.com 3A All Star team – 1st Team Quarterback, 2022 Palmerton Offensive M.V.P.
Twitter @MachalikMatthew
Matt boasts a LONG list of accolades. I can’t say anything better than what his head coach Chris Walkowiak said:
“Matt returns for senior season after being chosen a captain for 2022 season as a junior. He possesses the “IT” factor along with tremendous moxie, composure and ultra competitive. He is a hard-nosed kid that is physically and mentally tough. As a passer – he has a strong arm, accurate, keeps eyes down field, can look off defenders, good pocket awareness and can make all throws. He has the ability to extend plays with his legs and make things happen. Excellent character and a no non-sense kid who has a passion for the game of football. Matt holds 5 single season records, 3 career school records and a District 11 record under his belt heading into his senior season. For all these impressive feats, he is equally humble and a true team player. Matt Machalik ended his junior season rushing for 1,216 yards and 22 td’s. He will enter his senior season looking to add to his school record 3,206 yards rushing and 58 touchdowns scored. -Matt threw for 2,554 yards and 31 td’s in the 2022 season and will enter his senior season with 4,526 passing yards and 49 td passes. His career rushing and passing totals have him at 7,732 yards and 89 td’s”.
LET’S GET TO KNOW MATT
Why do you play football?
I play football for a lot of reasons. But the one that I would say why I play it the most is because it’s another family outside of your own. You get to play with your brothers and you play for each other and not for yourself, and just the bonds that football creates through playing it is awesome!
Who is your favorite sports star and WHY?
I would have to say Patrick Mahomes because he is just someone that is fun to watch, and I would say that I like when he changes his arm angle to be able to make tough throws. I would say that I try to play like him.
Do you have a favorite play you remember the most? Explain:
My favorite play would be when I ran up the middle and I think I broke out of like 9 different tackles and I scored. It was just cool to rewatch in film because you would think I would’ve got taken down but I kept driving my legs and got out of the tackles
What was last years season like for you?
I would say last years season went well for me but i’m not satisfied with it. I’m always trying to improve on the little things that I think I could’ve done better. But I was successful and so was my team and I’m proud of the season we had last year but I definitely want more!
What are your goals for this coming season?
My goals for this coming season is to improve on the little things that I need to from last year. Another goal of mine is to help lead the younger kids in the right direction and just help them improve from the beginning to the end of the season.
Who is the best player you ever lined up against?
I would say Dan Lucykanish because in practices when he would run routes and I would play defense he had some nice double move routes that just couldn’t be stopped.
What stadium, HS/college/pro would you love to visit for a game?
I would love to visit Penn State for a game.
What is your favorite Pro team, any sport?
Pittsburgh Steelers is my favorite team because my grandfather likes them so I just grew up liking them.
What game, yours, college or pro, was your favorite game you watched and why?
No answer
What sports movie would you watch every day if you had to pick one and why?
I would watch Greater. I could watch that movie every day because it shows that you can accomplish anything just as long as you work hard for it.
If your mom and dad are screaming at you from the stands, what is it they usually yell?
No answer
Name one thing that you’d love to do in football that may never happen?
No answer
Who is your mentor, the person you want to be like? WHY?
No answer
Name a sport you’d love to play but can’t:
Golf. I do it in my free time with my friends and I enjoy it and it’s always competitive between us so it would just be fun to play as sport.
What is your most embarrassing sports moment?
No answer
Is there anyone in your family, besides your parents, you could consider your biggest fan? Who, Why?
No answer
When you aren’t playing, practicing or training for sports, what is your go to activity and why?
I do a lot of things outside of sports that I enjoy. I hangout with the boys, my girlfriend, and I also golf a lot. I do all these things because I enjoy spending my time with those people.
What is your favorite football memory to date?
My favorite football memory would be when we got the win over Minersville in 2021 to win the division and celebrating with the team in the huddle on the field after the game.
What is your favorite play to run?
I have a lot of favorite plays. But the one I love the most is with the corner pattern because when you put it on the money it just looks good. And that route I feel like I put it on the money a lot
What scares you the most?
Heights
Music of choice:
I like Rap or Rock especially on game days
What was your favorite gift as a little boy? Why?
I don’t remember
What restaurant is your go to when you need a big meal?
Which one? Sheetz or Wawa
I would say Wawa because I love the mac and cheese there.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
My favorite vacation spot would be Florida. I love going down there to the beach and eating at all the good restaurants they have. My go to thing to get at those restaurants is new england clam chowder.
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