The University of Central Missouri hosted a parade and pep rally on Monday (March 31) in honor of the Mules basketball team, who won the NCAA National Division II Championship.

UCM named yesterday Mules Gear Day and sent out emails encouraging faculty, students, staff, alumni and members of the community to wear Mules gear to show support for the National Division II Championship basketball team.

The parade started at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Ming and Holden streets and traveled south on Holden to Houx Street, then west to Washington Street, and north to the Multipurpose Building. The pep rally started in the Multi at 6 p.m.

As an UCM alumnus, Warrensburg native and basketball fan, I had to attend the celebration! The last time this happened was five years before I was born, in '84. The parade was fun to watch. It consisted of players riding on different nice trucks, cars and even a fire truck. The band, cheerleaders, Mule Kickers and Mancow the Mule all took part in the parade as well.

For the pep rally, red and black packed half of the Multi. During the pep rally players, Coach Anderson, Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, President Ambrose and Governor Nixon all gave speeches congratulating the team and their fans on the National Championship. The pep rally also consisted of performances by the band, cheerleaders and Mule Kickers. There were also a couple of videos to recall the season, championship game and championship celebrations.

It was difficult to take quality photos, but I manged to get some of the parade and the pep rally.

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