Thirteen days after their historic NCAA Division III championship game victory, University of Mary Washington men’s basketball players and coaches were feted with a 45-minute trolley ride that zigzagged through downtown Fredericksburg Saturday afternoon much to the delight of adoring fans and the general public.
Hundreds of fans lined the streets, waving at the trolley and cheering the Eagles on throughout the ride. As the trolley rolled down Princess Anne and Caroline streets, many businesses owners captured the moment, including Fredericksburg City Council member Joy Crump and the staff of her restaurant, Foode.
Fans recorded the memorable occasion on their cellphones, and some walked up to the trolley to high-five players. UMW faculty, students, and supporters waited for the team’s return to campus, where several prominent guests were prepared to speak.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the players arrived on campus at the Anderson Center.
UMW Sports Information Director Clint Often introduced the players one-by-one before giving the floor to Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine, a UMW graduate, who heaped praise on the players and coaches for their monumental accomplishments.
“This championship isn’t just big for Mary Washington, but it is a major milestone for the city,” Devine told the crowd, which included Fredericksburg City Schools Superintendent Marci Catlett, a lifelong city resident, among other officials.
Former UMW longtime Athletic Director Ed Hegmann also spoke. Hegmann served as UMW’s men’s basketball coach in the program’s infancy, from 1976-78. He said this year’s team had a special bond.
“The players really love each other — that’s why they were successful this year,” Hegmann said. “At this point, they are legends from here on.”
Tournament Most Valuable Player Kye Robinson posed for photos with fans and autographed T-shirts and basketballs.
“Proud is an understatement,” Robinson said. “We played tough all year, and it really showed in the last game.”
Going into the NCAA tournament, Robinson said his mindset was to dominate. He took preparation seriously, focusing on getting 1% better every day. He said it means a lot to experience the fans celebrating with the team.
Chris Lomax, a UMW assistant coach, praised the players, noting how difficult it is to win a national championship. Lomax said the relationships formed during the journey meant as much as the championship itself.
“This last week was phenomenal,” Lomax said. “And it will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Lomax also described the celebrations in the locker room after big wins throughout the season. For this group of Eagles, it didn’t matter whether a player logged 40 minutes or didn’t play at all — they celebrated together.
Winning a national title was everything head coach Marcus Kahn had dreamed of, and he said the team grew stronger throughout the season. Kahn was also thankful for the fans who traveled to support the Eagles during the NCAA tournament, saying their presence gave the team significant momentum.
“The last-second buzzer-beater put-back shot by Colin Mitchell was a storybook ending,” Kahn emphasized when reflecting on the conclusion of the 75-73 championship game victory over Emory on April 5 in Indianapolis.
Guard Jadon Burgess said the team set a goal after a run to the Sweet 16 in 2025. That season ended with a loss to Emory, and the Eagles were determined to get back to that point and beyond.
“We put in a lot of hard work,” Burgess said. “I really trusted my coaches’ ability to lead us, and winning a national championship was a dream come true.”
