By Jon Johnson
“The champs are here.”
EA Women’s Basketball Head Coach Angelica de Paulo
THATCHER – Eastern Arizona College celebrated its historic National Champion Women’s Basketball Team on Tuesday with a pep rally honoring their achievement.
The team etched their names into the history books by capturing the program’s first NJCAA Division I National Championship with a hard-fought 57-51 victory over New Mexico Junior College.
It is the third overall national championship for the college (EA has two volleyball national championships in 1973 and 1991) and its first basketball championship.
After feeding the various student-athletes, employees, coaches, boosters, and fans with gargantuan grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, the college held its rally in the home of its national championship team, Guitteau Gymnasium, with EA President Todd Haynie giving the introduction.
“They have accomplished Eastern Arizona College’s very first basketball national championship in its 138-year history,” Haynie exclaimed. “Go monsters!”
The Cheer Team continued the excitement, pumping up the crowd for the team’s introduction. Tournament Championship Game MVP Esmeralda Enriquez finished with a game-high 16 points on 5-of-20 shooting, including 3-of-10 from 3-point range, while grabbing five rebounds.
“I just want to say thank you to all you all who came and who came to our games to support,” Enriquez said. “This is my second Juco year, so I am a transfer, and I’m just going to say the culture is the best I’ve ever experienced. I love being part of EA and being a Gila Monster.”
EA Women’s Basketball head coach Angelica de Paulo thanked all those for their support all season, including her assistant coaches, players, administration, boosters, other sports’ athletes, and all who had a part in their championship season.
“It really does take a village,” de Paulo said. “I appreciate the community for all the support; all love on and off the court.”
Also on hand for the celebration was legendary Gila Valley coach Gerald Hekekia. Hehekia is a longtime Gila Valley coach, having coached football at Thatcher and volleyball at Pima, and at EAC, where he led the Gila Monsters’ volleyball team to a national championship in 1991 and runner-up finishes in 1986 and 1992. He was also named National Coach of the Year in 1992 as well as Region I Coach of the Year from 1987-1992.
“It’s about time we have another national champion,” Hekekia said. “But I was so proud and happy for Angi and the coaches and all the players. It is great.”
After the celebration wound down, the players stayed and signed team photos acknowledging their historic victory and providing a keepsake for fans.
