Whistles, applause and cheers of support warmed the air in downtown State College on what was officially State High Winter Sports Day.

"Now, therefore, I proclaim Monday, March 31, 2003, to be State College Area High School Winter Sports Day in the borough of State College," Mayor Bill Welch declared.

The State High boys' basketball team grabbed a 76-71 overtime win against Chester in the PIAA Class AAAA championship on March 22. They are the first team from Centre County to win a state title in basketball. The girls' team made it to the Western Regional Finals, where they lost to Oakland Catholic.

And Drew Frank, coach of the Little Lions, was named Class AAAA coach of the year on Thursday.

"We're proud that they made it to the finals, to the state championships," State College resident Linda Muthler said of the boys' team.

She and her family lined up on Westerly Parkway to cheer on the "Parade of Champions," which began at State High's North Building, where members of the school's sports teams and their supporters piled into cars and trucks.

"I wasn't expecting all of this. But it doesn't happen every year, so you have to take it all in," said senior Gabe Norwood, 18, a guard on the boys' basketball team. "It would help if the weather was a little nicer."

Chilly weather and a few flurries didn't stop players from tossing candy and miniature basketballs to onlookers

"It was fun," said Muthler's son, Collin, 10. He and his friend caught basketballs along the parade route.

The parade weaved its way across Westerly Parkway and to the Municipal Building on Allen Street.

"We're all very proud of your achievements," Dick McCarl, Borough Council president, said to the crowd of players and supporters assembled at the Municipal Building. "You can be proud of your success as individuals, as members of the team and as members of the State College Area School District."

After McCarl spoke, Welch issued the proclamation, noting many players' accomplishments, and Superintendent Patricia Best accepted it.

The school district's motto, Best said, is "We are the future." "With young people like this as our future," she said, "the future is in very good hands."

After that, mini basketballs flew into the crowd. And, if the cheers and flying balls were any indication, the players enjoyed the event.

"I think this is really great for us to have our own rally for winter sports," said Katlyn Stupar, 17, a junior on the girls' basketball team, before the parade left the high school.

State High's sports success this year is not limited to basketball.

Swimmer Molly Crispell won the Class AAA girls' state championship in the 200-yard freestyle Friday. And wrestler Matt Kocher won the PIAA Class AAA championship at 140 pounds on March 8.

"We just wanted to get everybody together and celebrate the great accomplishments of the high school athletes in the 2002-03 season," Casey Keiber, promotion director for Dame Broadcasting, said before the parade kicked off. Dame Broadcasting sponsored the event.

Parents and other community members seemed to appreciate that.

"The kids work really hard all year," said State College resident Susan Keister. Her son is a swimmer, and she said she was there to show support for the swimmers and other teams that participated in the parade.