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CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT – La Conner High volleyball players storm the court after winning the State 2B Tournament championship at the Sun Dome in Yakima on Friday. La Conner defeated Manson, Brewster, and Tri-Cities Prep before besting Mossyrock in the title round. This is the fourth time La Conner High has won the State crown. – Photo courtesy of Chris Johnson
La Conner is famed for its impromptu parades, most notably during tulip season.
Now volleyball season has followed suit.
A large and festive crowd of parents, siblings, family, friends and volleyball enthusiasts gathered Saturday at Gilkey Square to celebrate the return from Yakima of the state champion La Conner High volleyball team, whose bus was led down Morris Street by a Hook & Ladder engine joined by a procession of private vehicles.
After pausing at the Square to receive fervent cheers, the joyous caravan continued up First Street.
By then, the loud sirens, blaring horns and gleeful voices had swept merchants and customers alike from stores to downtown sidewalks.
Among them was La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes, owner of Trumpeter Gallery.
He and those in his store – part of an already busy Art’s Alive Weekend in town – hustled out to catch championship fever.
“Everybody went outside,” Hayes said. “This is a really big deal. We’re very proud of the girls and what they’ve accomplished.”
As the motorized serpentine slowly wound down First Street there were fans who shadowed its progress, some even bounding up to tap the bus.
While unrehearsed and thus impromptu in textbook terms, thanks to technology there was a bit of planning that went into the parade. Social media notified people through the La Conner School District’s and La Conner community Facebook pages while the team was still in Yakima.
Fans were apprised by texts and cell phone calls of the team’s travel schedule after departing Yakima, giving them the chance to join the parade, and law enforcement to serve as escorts, upon arrival here of the bus.
“That way,” said parent Sunee Lagerwey, whose daughter, Matty, delivered the block against Mossyrock that secured the State crown for La Conner, “everybody had a chance to be part of it.”
The enthusiasm was infectious.
“The parade,” La Conner head coach Suzanne Marble said afterward, “was a moment that will forever be with us. The streets of La Conner were lined with our school, community, merchants and even tourists cheering.
“We definitely live in a pretty incredible town,” she added.
Momentum had been building since Thursday, when La Conner defeated Manson and Brewster in succession, advancing to the next day’s trophy round.
The stage was thus set for Friday’s drama. The La Conner entourage in Yakima was ready from the get-go.
“Our crowd was unreal,” said Marble, a hall of fame coach who had previously guided three La Conner teams to State titles.
The drama also unfolded back on campus. La Conner students jammed bleachers at Landy James Gym Friday afternoon to watch the championship match streamed live.
Marble and Lady Braves players were clearly moved when shown a video of La Conner students viewing the State final in the gym and rooting them on from long distance.
“It was pretty amazing,” Marble said, “to see our school come together and stand behind us. It’s a memory that the girls will always cherish.”
The parade, coming the next day on a beautiful sunlit November afternoon, was likewise the stuff of which memories are made.
The team created memories that are sure to last a lifetime.
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