The evening began with the nation’s best NCAA Division II men’s soccer team parading triumphantly into the Community Concert Hall, and ended with the eager faces of kids crowding around their heroes for autographs. In between, there was wild cheering, many words of thanks, and a one-time chance to relive a championship season.   The members of Fort Lewis’ national champion soccer team received their championship rings in a ceremony on Tuesday, March 21. More than 500 soccer fans and proud members of the college community filled the concert hall on campus for the celebration.   “I’ve never before experienced a season of athletic greatness like this one,” Fort Lewis College President Brad Bartel said in his introduction. “We should all be proud to be part of it.”
The Skyhawks won the first national championship trophy for Fort Lewis College on December 4 in a 3-1 victory over Franklin Pierce College. The win capped a 22-0-1 season for the Skyhawks, who also won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships. Fort Lewis also led the entire NCAA Division II in attendance, averaging 1,015 fans in its home games.
Young soccer fans surround their favorite players to collect autographs.	At the ring ceremony, those fans showed their appreciation by standing and stomping and whooping for the champion Skyhawks as video highlights of the season played on a large screen, and as each team member received his championship ring.   The crowd was filled with kids, many from local community soccer leagues. Several of the Fort Lewis players serve the Durango-area community by coaching in these leagues. For some fans, the ceremony was a chance for the community to say “thanks.”   “You were great ambassadors for our community,” Durango Mayor Dale Garland told the team.   The players, in turn, had praise for the city.   “Durango, you guys are awesome,” said Senior Captain Bryan Eisenbraun. “There are not really enough things I can say about you.”   Fans at the ceremony also supported the team by buying prizes like Final Four jerseys and other memorabilia, resulting in more than $5,000 raised for the college soccer program.   The evening’s best moments, however, were not for sale. As the ceremony ended, kids surrounded their favorite players to collect autographs on programs, shirts, jackets—even arms and hands—and to say “hi” or ask a question of their soccer playing heroes.    “You might want to ask the seniors,” Skyhawks Head Coach Jeremy Gunn suggested, “what it’s like coming here four years ago and in your first ten games winning just two, and now four years later no one can beat you. You might want to ask them what it feels like. And if you do you might hear—it feels like being a national champion.”   ###