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Sarah Hildebrandt Parade Photo Gallery (Sept. 8, 2024)

Posted on September 8, 2024

On Sunday, September 8, the Michiana community joined Penn and P-H-M in giving Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hildebrandt a Heroine’s Welcome!

Before Sarah’s “Welcome Home” kicked off, the local media got some one-on-one time with Sarah, her parents, and Penn Head Wrestling Coach Brad Harper during a news conference. Coach Harper was Sarah’s wrestling coach when she was at Penn; he became her personal coach and coached her at the Tokyo Olympics wear she won Bronze. Coach Harper planned this special homecoming for Sarah. Click to see the full photo gallery below.

Sarah Hildebrandt pre-Parade News Conference (Sept. 8, 2024)
Penn Wrestling Coach Brad Harper, Sarah Hildebrandt, Nancy and Chris Hildebrandt

The parade left from Penn High School and went down McKinley approximately two miles and ended at Zolman’s Tire.

Thank you to all the parade participants who volunteered their time on a Sunday afternoon: Mishawaka and Penn Twp. Fire Departments, St. Joseph County Police, the Marching Kingsmen, Penn Girls and Boys Wrestling Teams, Penn Cheerleaders, Penn Youth Wrestling Club, Rocket Football cheerleaders, and Dr. and Mrs. Thacker. Along with Sarah with her mom Nancy and dad Chris, Sarah’s extended family were also in the parade. Sarah and her parents were in a golden yellow convertible Mustang driven by St. Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman. Thank you to Zolman’s Tire for supplying some trucks.

Sarah Hildebrandt Parade (Sept. 8, 2024)

After the parade was over, hundreds gathered at Urban Swirl in Granger for an Olympic Celebration emceed by Mark McGill. A representative from Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood’s office read a proclamation declaring September 8th as Sarah Hildebrandt Day! U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym read the historical entry on Sarah’s Olympic achievement that he will be submitting to the official U.S. Congressional Record.

Sarah was able to see and catch up with the coach who gave her first break, then Discovery Middle School Wrestling Coach Raoul Donati.

Sarah Hildebrandt Celebration (Sept. 8, 2024) Sarah Hildebrandt Parade Photo Gallery (Sept. 8, 2024) Sarah Hildebrandt Parade Photo Gallery (Sept. 8, 2024)

Sarah threw out free T-shirts featuring her smiley face tattoo on the front and her viral X tweet on the back.

Girl holding a red t-shirt with a white smiley face on it. She is standing outside in front of a building.
People gathered outside a restaurant, some waving, others standing in line; a woman on a stage behind the crowd, holding
Group of people celebrating at an outdoor event.
Young girl holding a red t-shirt with white writing that reads "duck".
Sarah Hildebrandt celebrating her Olympic success with a humorous meme.

Grateful for all the love and support that her hometown gave her, Sarah graciously took hundreds of pictures with all of her adoring fans. She also signed hundreds of autographs on posters, shirts, singlets, wrestling shoes and even foreheads! 

Sarah Hildebrandt Olympic Celebration (Sept. 8, 2024)

Check it all out in the photo gallery below.

This is a photograph of an outdoor event where a group of people are gathered around a man holding a flag, and another
Two young women posing together at a sports event. One is wearing a medal around her neck and they are both smiling.
Family members posing in front of a semi truck at a parade.
An elderly man speaking at an outdoor event, surrounded by a crowd of people and vehicles.
People gathered outside a building for an event, with one individual standing on a stage holding a microphone.
People at a parade holding flags, some are standing while others are sitting on a truck.
People gathered at a parade, waving flags and cheering, with a building in the background.
Two people standing on a bridge holding a sign that reads "USA" and "Olympics". They are waving at the camera.
Woman in a convertible car celebrating victory at parade.
People gathered around a table at an outdoor event, signing autographs on items displayed.
Two people posing with a trophy, one person wearing a red shirt, another in blue and white, and an American flag in
Woman in red, white, and blue jacket posing with older man wearing a medal around his neck.
This is a photograph of an antique car driving on a street during a parade. The car has a yellow sign on its side that reads
Man in red shirt standing next to another man, both smiling, wearing a hat, in front of a restaurant.
People sitting on a flatbed truck during a parade.
Man in red shirt throwing something to crowd at parade.
Parade of cars driving down a street in a small town.
Two women at a table, one signing autographs, other looking on; both are smiling and appear to be enjoying themselves.
People sitting at a table in front of a microphone. A man is holding a red shirt and a woman is holding a blue shirt. They
Two people sitting at a table with a microphone, in front of a banner that reads "PENNHILL" and has a logo for "Fighting
A group of people on a flatbed truck celebrating an event, with some waving flags and others holding signs.
People gathered outside a restaurant, some holding signs, others standing in line, all seemingly waiting for something.
People on a parade float waving to crowd; American flag in background.
Two people standing on a street corner in front of a brick building during daylight hours.

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Last Modified April 7, 2026