Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal journalist who was imprisoned in Russia, is now on his way back to the United States and to his childhood hometown of Princeton after the U.S. and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history.

"It's a good day, everybody celebrating his release. Yep, I'm glad - I'm really, really happy for him," said Raul Lopez, a 2011 graduate of Princeton High School.

And nowhere is that more evident than inside Conte's Pizza, where photos of Gershkovich's championship soccer team line the walls.

"After many, many championship wins, we would be here celebrating and Evan spent a lot of hours in here," said Wayne Sutcliffe, Gershkovich's high school varsity soccer coach.

Wayne Sutcliffe watched Gershkovich grow during his four years at Princeton High School before graduating in 2010 and says Gershkovich took the skills he learned on the field - determination, steadfastness, and resolve - into that Russian courtroom and prison cell.

"I could just look at him and see him in a cheeky way smirking and it's kind of like Evan. He's nobody's fool," he said.

From the time Gershkovich was held in March 2023 until now, no one who knew the former soccer standout ever gave up hope he'd make it home.

"We are thrilled about what's happening today, we are thrilled for his parents. We have seen and felt their pain through their eyes and we're over the moon today," said Salvy Baldino, Gershkovich's friend and former youth soccer coach.

"This is probably the biggest win of all of them. He won a lot here along with a lot of players but that's perfect," added Sutcliffe.

The Princeton High School soccer team, in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal, was going to hold an awareness event for Gershkovich on Aug. 25. That event has now transitioned into a welcome home party at Conte's Pizza. They hope Gershkovich can attend in person.