Adam Chalfant was our schools first state champion,
i am in no way shape or form a basketball fan but my school has went to the 2a boys basketball state finals a couple times in the past few years, and was only a few points from making it a 3rd last season. Do you think they were ashamed of going to 2a state finals? NO
Our football team made it to the 2a sectional finals for the first time ever, do you think we didn't care because we were only 2a, NO we were extremely proud of the team and our coaching staff for getting things turned around,
Our girls basketball team has won 3 strait sectional titles, looking for a 4th, and is currently ranked number 1 in class 2a, do you think we go around n tell them, oh it's only 2a, or when they are announced as being ranked number 1 in 2a do you think the girls all hang their heads and the crowd laughs, NO. Everyones fired up and applauds.
So you tell me, actually being from a small town and barely having enough kids to be considered 2a, do you think we say oh they don't work hard since we are 2a, or Adam said, I'm better since you guys are class and I'm not.
(Adam did not by the way, he is one of the nicest kids I've ever met)
Point is, class 1a state champions still feel like state champions as much as 5a state champions feel like state champions.