 and yesterday those newly crowned state champion thunder hawks returned home to their waiting fans after a police escort guided the team home fans young and old packed the IRA Civic Center and Grand Rapids yesterday to welcome back their state champion boys hockey team I mean I was just a puddle to see all the people standing on the side of the road honking their horns as they drove by to see everyone lined up in the streets I mean it didn't really sink in until we got here all these people are just family to everyone here you know you recognize so many faces we see them all year long and we just love these people to death the class 2 a state title was the first for the thunder hawks since 1980 and the boys couldn't have been happier to bring a banner home to finally achieve all your childhood goals with your best friends it's just amazing you couldn't ask for a better town to grow up and this is the best place I would have ever wanted to grow up and I couldn't ask to grow up anywhere else in the entire world I just love it here and even though all the pop and circumstance will eventually die down this team will always be remembered by two words state champs it doesn't sound as good as it feels I could have much but it sure sounds really good and to come back here and like 30 40 years and be able to say you're part of a tradition to hang an orange batter it's truly it's just amazing if you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland news please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland public television