Fort Atkinson enthusiasm and hometown pride were on display as several hundred community members of all ages lined Main Street Friday to give the Fort Atkinson High School boys soccer team an exuberant send off before it left to compete today for the State Championship title.
The team will compete at Marian University in Fond Du Lac today at 11 a.m. facing off against undefeated McFarland High School.
Should the Fort Atkinson team win that match, they will move on to play the final game for the championship title at 7 p.m.
This is the first time in the team’s history that it has competed in the State Championship. Team parents decorated several Main Street businesses with signs in support of the team and organized the send-off parade which took place Friday at 7 p.m.
Parade-goers waved signs, blew horns, and cheered as the team, with a police and fire department escort, was pulled on two wagons through Main Street to receive the well-wishes of its devoted fans.
Following are photos taken at the event.
Event-goers display signs and cardboard cutouts of the faces of Fort Atkinson High School boys soccer team players as they wait for the parade.
A group of team well-wishers gathers near PremierBank.
A crowd on Main Street displays palpable excitement while holding up signs in anticipation of the parade.
A young fan rings a bell engaging passing drivers on Main Street to help spread the excitement.
Signage is displayed on downtown buildings and by parade-goers in advance of the parade.
Community members arrive and organize along Main Street.
A young boy finds a good vantage point from which to view the festivities.
A group of well-wishers find a spot from which to view the parade on the Main Street bridge.
A family brings enthusiasm and pom-poms to cheer on the team.
The face of achievement and hometown pride.
Two heads are better than one.
Fans of all ages arrive on Main Street to cheer the team on.
A young fan dances in place with enthusiasm while waiting to cross the street.
Fans wave as they work their way down Main Street looking for a spot from which to watch the parade.
Fans of both the human and canine variety wait for the parade on the Main Street bridge.
A family waits to see the parade from the steps of the city’s municipal building.
Waiting along Main Street.
A family displays its team spirit.
As the parade enters Main Street, fans wave their signs.
A police escort guides the parade down Main Street.
A City of Fort Atkinson Fire Department truck joins the celebration.
Above two: the team is pulled in wagons along Main Street where they are greeting by cheering fans.
Creative signage is displayed by young fans.
Fans along Main Street display their spirit in support of the Fort Atkinson High School boys soccer team.
Above two: Cardboard cutouts with the likenesses of team members are displayed with pride along the Main Street bridge.
The crowd begins to disperse after the parade.
Enthusiasm continues as these young women look to inspire drivers in cars passing by on Main Street.
The parade is an added bonus for a couple and their pup as they walk along Main Street.
Photos by Kim McDarison.
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Thank you for the great coverage for the Boy’s Soccer Team!
Our pleasure! The parade was fun and congrats to the team on its exciting season.