The throng wore the Wildcats colors — blue and gold — and held up various homemade signs that read, “Wildcat Pride, Let’s go Wildcats” and dozens of other.
The city of Springfield organized the event, asking community members to line the sidewalks along South Kensington Place and Limestone Street to Interstate 70.
The team’s bus was a part of a caravan of cars, including Springfield Fire engines and police cruisers that accompanied them to the interstate as part of a community sendoff.
Various city officials were in the crowd .
But it wasn’t just those connected to city government that showed up in force. People of all ages could be found in the different crowds that had emerged alongside the city streets.
There were parents, students as well as their counterparts from the Global Stem Academy, teachers, local business people, healthcare workers and other residents who may not have children in the local school system, but have been following the football season closely.
As the excitement spread in the city this week, some employees made signs that were displayed Friday morning during their lunch breakhat was the case for some of the staff at the Rocking Horse Community Health Center on South Limestone Street. Nettie Carter-Smith, with the health center, said that the football teams historical feat is something that is important to both staff and students.
Many our involved in the community or are from Springfield. Carter-Smith said it was important for them to take some time Friday morning to show support.
“This really is a community event and we wanted to show our support,” she said, adding that the Wildcats’ feat can also inspire other students and youth in the city.
Wittenberg professor Julius Bailey, who stood on South Limestone Street to show support , said that the Wildcats going to their first championship game is something that resonates with multiple generations of city residents.
He said it is attracting older residents who went to both Springfield North and Springfield South, before the schools combined in 2008. Bailey said the Springfield team’s success this year is a unifying experience for a lot of people.
Bailey said it provides people with excitement and gives residents something to be proud of as the this year’s football season has drawn up a lot of emotion.
In addition to those on the team, it is also a point of excitement for those in Springfield’s marching band as well as for students from neighboring schools.
Bailey said this has been a very positive week for his daughter who is on the marching band as well as for a student of his who is not a Springfield graduate but is from Clark County.
The results of the championship game are not in this print edition due to the game starting at 7:30 p.m., Friday evening. However, full coverage of the championship game and its results can be found on https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/ and this news organization’s special epaper for subscribers.
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