What a ride: Parade celebrates Cal’s title
Flags fly and the crowd cheers Tuesday morning as the parade honoring the California University Women’s basketball team for winning the NCAA National Championship proceeds through the campus.
The California University cheerleaders and mascot march in the parade through California on their way to the conovcation center fon campus Tuesday morning.
California U cheerleaders march in the parade to the convention center on campus Tuesday.
CAL U mascot hugs a bystander in the crowd during the parade through town and campus.
The CAL U marching bands plays in the parade as it moves through the campus.
High fives, hand shakes and big smiles along the parade route for the CAL U Women’s basketball team.
The crowd cheers for the CAL U women’s basketball team holding the NCAA Championship trophy as they parade through town and the campus Tuesday.
With the NCAA Championship Division II trophy in their arms the California University basketball team rides along in the parade.
The CAL U women’s basketball team rides atop the fire truck as they parade through town and the campus.
The CAL U women’s basketball team sit on the California Fire Department’s ladder truck as they move along the parade route in California.
Students and supporters cheer and take pictures as the parade passes by on campus Tuesday.
The California Women’s basketball team heads to the Convention Center with the crowd right behind them for ceremonies after the parade.
Dr. Bruce Barnhart, Interin Proviost at CAL U, opens ceremonies honoring the women’s basketball team, NCAA National Champions Division II.
Geraldine M. Jones, interim president at California University, addresses the crowd before introducing the women’s basketball team at the Convocation Center on campus.
CAL U women’s basketball coach, Jess Strom, places the NCAA National Championship Division II trophy on the table before opening ceremonies at the Convention Center.
CAL U women’s basketball coach, Jess Strom, addresses the crowd during ceremonies in the Convention Center.
Jess Strom, CAL U women’s basketball coach jokes with her team during ceremonies Tuesday.
Washington County Commissioner, Larry Maggi, presents a plaque from the county commissioners to Jess Strom, women’s basketball coach for winning the NCAA Division II National Championship.
The crowd including cheerleaders cheer for the women’s basketball team duing ceremonies in the CAL U convention center.
CAL U women’s basketball captain, Kaitlyn Fratz, addresses the crowd during ceremonies.
The CAL U women’s basketball team poses with the NCAA Division II National Championship trophy after ceremonies.
Members of the CAL U women’s basketball team hold the championship trophy high above their heads for the crowd.
CAL U women’s basketball team with pom poms dance to the music and cheers after ceremonies honoring them at the Convention Center Tuesday.
The CAL U mascot poses with fans after ceremonies honoring the women’s basketball team Tuesday morning.
CALIFORNIA – Emma Mahady, a senior at California University, knows her travel itinerary well.
Each of the last four summers, in mid-August, Mahady would spend 16 hours – not counting layovers – on airplanes while traveling from her hometown of Albury, Australia, to Pittsburgh so she can be in California for the start of the fall semester.
In one of her final acts as a member of the California women’s basketball team, Mahady was given another ride Tuesday morning, albeit much shorter – about three-quarters of a mile – and on top of a fire truck.
California celebrated the school’s second NCAA Division II women’s basketball championship with a parade through town to the center of campus and a rally in the lobby of the Convocation Center.
“This entire experience was awesome, amazing and unbelievable,” Mahady said. “It still doesn’t seem real. There have been times the last couple of days when I’ve caught myself walking around saying, ‘We won the national championship’ with a cheesy smile on my face.”
There were plenty of smiles, cheers and picture-taking along the parade route. Though the crowd was sparse on 3rd Street in town with only a few curious onlookers, some store owners, borough workers and a preschool class, the route through campus was lined with students, school employees and fans of the team, many of whom were eager to use their cellphone to snap a photo to preserve the moment. Many fans ventured to the Convocation Center to get a photo with the national championship trophy.
Cal interim president Geraldine M. Jones, interim provost Dr. Bruce Barnhart, head coach Jess Strom, Mahady and senior guard Kaitlynn Fratz spoke to the crowd at the Convocation Center. Washington County commissioner Larry Maggi read a proclamation recognizing the Vulcans’ national championship team.
Strom talked about the impact that Shanice Clark, a senior forward who died unexpectedly in January of a blood cell disorder, had on her teammates and how her memory inspired the Vulcans.
“We know that Shanice is up there,” Strom said, pointing skyward. “We miss her and love her.
“These kids have put in a lot of hard work in the last seven months. They have been through a lot. As a coaching staff, we understand what they’ve been through. The way they were able to fight down the stretch is amazing. We are so proud of you.”
Some players said the reality of being called national champion is still taking some time to get used to.
“It’s all starting to sink in,” Fratz said. “Celebrations like this make it feel real, but there are times when I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming and that we really won the national championship.”
California won the national title Friday night with an impressive 86-69 dismantling of California Baptist in the final in Sioux Falls. S.D. The Vulcans finished the season with a 32-4 record and won their final 10 games, capturing Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and Atlantic Regional titles and the second women’s basketball national championship in program history. Cal also won the title in 2004.
“Let’s get another one next year,” Strom told the crowd, drawing a roar of approval.
One of the most unlikely people on the Vulcans’ national championship team is junior forward Lana Doran, a native of Northamptonshire, England. Doran is in her first year at California after transferring from Gardner-Webb, an NCAA Division I school in Boiling Springs, N.C.
“A year ago, I had never heard of California, Pa.,” Doran said. “Now, I’m here and we’ve won a national championship. I haven’t been on a team that was more than a game above .500 since I was 16 years old. The best decision I ever made was transferring to Cal.”