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The Columbus Cardinals celebrated their 2024 UIL Class 3A Division 1 State Championship with a parade through the streets of Columbus on Sunday, Dec. 29.
The spectacle started at Schobel’s Restaurant and ended at the Courthouse Square. At the end of the parade the Cardinals were presented with the key to the city by Columbus Mayor Lori An Gobert.
Fire trucks and police cars led the way as the Cards, their coaching staff, the cheerleaders, marching band and other support staff members made their way through the parade route. The fans in attendance did not need any more reasons to cheer but upon hearing the roar of the cheerleaders and the marching band they could not help but be overcome with school spirit.
Columbus is a small town and many of its residents attended Columbus High School, so this State Championship belongs to them too. The fans here absolutely adore their Cardinals and Sunday was a perfect personification of that.
The community support for this team cannot be understated because it was not just the Cardinals football team that won the State Championship. It was Columbus.
Head coach Matt Schobel spoke at the parade, thanking every single person who took time out of their lives to help the team in any possible way. It takes a village to win a State Championship. In this case, it is a town of people who love the school and love sports.
Schobel also left fans with something to look forward to as he ends his speech with his thoughts on the upcoming 2025 season.
“It’s back to work and we will see you again, same place, same time next year,” Schobel said.
With that said, the story of the 2024 Columbus Cardinals comes to a close with a perfect ending to a beautiful season.
