HAMILTON, Texas — Wednesday afternoon Hamilton ISD hosted a victory bell ringing ceremony outside the high school gymnasium to celebrate the 2025 2A D1 football state champions.
The ‘victory bell’ ringing is a special ceremony the Bulldogs do for any of the schools state champions.
The bell was originally on the K-12 school property until Hamilton expanded to their new high school building in 2000.
If you’re a student at Hamilton or an alumni, you’re aware of the bell. And most people can’t remember a time without the bell on campus.
Football players, coaches and managers lined up to ring the bell. They were applauded by students from the elementary and middle school who came out to hear the sound of a state championship ring.
Hamilton principal Gina Pope said, “it’s just awesome because these are just such great kids, great coaches, the community and you saw the little kids getting into it. It’s just an incredible tradition that we have and it’s something we don’t get to do very often. The fact that we got to do this for football is just amazing. And it was just great to see the kids be apart of it.
The celebrations in Hamilton continue on Wednesday with a state championship parade which is set to begin at 5:20 pm. The parade will also highlight the 4-time state championship cross country team.