After being postponed by weather twice in January, the Ganado ISD Championship Parade and Celebration couldn’t have had better weather and a better date.
With Super Bowl LIX just a few hours later, the Ganado community and Jackson County celebrated its own Super Bowl of sorts, the Ganado Indians’ Class 2A Division II State Football Championship.
Bright sunshine, temperatures in the low 80s, and an afternoon breeze greeted fans and families in short-sleeve championship T-shirts along the parade route and in the stands at the football stadium.
The Pride of the Tribe marching band, itself a state runner-up in the fall, played the school song, the cheerleaders cheered and stood most through most of the event, and local and state dignitaries congratulated the team and presented framed proclamations.
Dignitaries included Ganado Mayor Clinton Tegeler, Jackson County Commissioner Wayne Bubela, Jackson County Judge Jill Sklar, State Rep. and former county sheriff Andy Louderback, Christian Palacios, a 2017 Ganado graduate who works for U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud, and Superintendent Dr. Jonathon Szymanski.
“When I tell you I am honored to be here, I am truly honored to be here,” Palacios told the crowd and team. “I know what you all accomplished and what it means to this community. It was the dream of every young man and every young woman who walked these halls and put that jersey on to represent this great town, and to be the first to appear in a state championship and win it.
“So what you have accomplished is a dream come true for us all, and you did it in the most fashionable way possible – three overtimes? I remember, because I was in the stands that day. I think you gave me like three heart attacks.”
Before the team arrived, Sklar, Bubela and Louderback expressed their pride in Ganado for having brought the county its first football championship.
“That’s pretty historic,” Sklar said. “This county is heavy (into) football, and when it happened we all kind of looked around going, ‘how is this the first one?’” Bubela noted that talented teams had made playoff runs before, but had fallen short “We’ve had teams in the past very, very deep and just couldn’t quite get over that hump,” Bubela said. “This group of young men finally took that last step.”
Louderback applauded the effort and commitment necessary for the Indians to win the title.
“It kind of shows the work, dedication, and commitment to a program and to a goal that’s probably one of the hardest things to attain in the United States – a football state championship at any level, and especially here in Texas where football is so popular,” Louderback said. “When you finally get every part of a system come together and enable you to win one, it’s an achievement.”
After the celebration concluded, longtime Ganado resident and fan Jeanette Labay was filled with pride by seeing the Indians win the state championship, and again with Sunday’s events.
“They were awesome, that’s all I can say,” said Labay, whose grandsons Luke and Logan Bures played on the team. “They were just an awesome team. I never saw anything like that, you know? I’ve had other kids play, my kids played, but I never saw anything like this.”
For the players, seeing the outpouring of love and support from people throughout Ganado and Jackson County was impactful.
“It means everything,” senior defensive back and wide receiver Luke Bures said. “It’s very special. It means a lot for everyone to come out here and support us, like they did all year. It was a dream come true.”
He wasn’t surprised, though, to be capping off the season with a community celebration of a state championship.
“We were very set on making it and winning it, too,” Bures said. “The year before, obviously we were very close and had a very good team. Going through the offseason and well on through the playoffs to the last game we definitely planned on winning.”
Senior quarterback Bryce Ullman said being able to celebrate a championship with the community was special.
“It’s just a blessing, it really is,” Ullman said. “It’s an honor to be out here. It’s just an honor to accomplish something so great for Ganado, for the town, something that they’ve wanted their whole lives, and we’ve finally got it.”
Ervin said that the community’s interest and support made a huge impact on the team.
“It was really important,” Ervin said. “They’re a big part of the success that we’ve had, whether it’s the time that they put into youth football around here, or just the support any time we need some help, whether it was on the way to Arlington, at Arlington. Anything we need, we’ve got a great community. They’re all for the kids in everything they do. It’s special to be a part of a community like that.”
Seeing the extent of the community celebration didn’t surprise him.
“It was like this when we came back from the state game,” Ervin said. “There were not as many, but for the time of night that it was, there was quite a few people. Just being around here, I’ve been in Ganado now seven or eight years, and just seeing the community support in everything, whether it’s band, baseball, softball, football, basketball, they support the kids here in everything they do, and that’s what makes Ganado special.”
